Category: Central India

Categories
Central India

Chandrakoop Varanasi: An Ancient Well of great spiritual importance

Varanasi is the spiritual capital of India and, as such, is home to countless temples and religious ghats. While many of these temples are renowned all over the country, others are not so popular. Chandrakoop is one such little-known place of reverence in the ancient city. It is this temple and its religious importance we shall focus on.

All you need to know about Chandrakoop Varanasi

Chandrakoop or Chandra Koop is actually a well. However, unlike other well, it is not a mere water source but has great spiritual importance that is unknown to most, including many locals.

The Chandra Koop well is a part of the Siddheshwari temple in the Siddheshwari Mohalla, close to the Vishwanath Gali. Siddheshwari temple is very close to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple too, and it is very popular as it is home to the Chandreshwar Ling.

The Chandreshwar Ling, according to Hindu mythology, is one of the nine Shiva Lings that are part of the Navgraha Shiv Lings. Especially during the Poornima and Amavasya (full moon and new moon days), unique prayers are offered on the temple premises, and hundreds attend them. You can visit it between 6 am to 9 pm period to pray comfortably at the temple daily.

Within the Siddheshwari temple, Ii is located on the same temple premises as the Chandreshwar Ling, one of the nine most important idols. They are a must-visit place for praying for any Lord Shiva devotee.

The ling and Koop are thus worshiped together. Merely peering in the well can cleanse one’s mind, body, and soul.

What sets this well apart is the belief that this well can predict your future. Well, not entirely, but you can learn whether you are about to die in the near future. Hence it is sometimes called future predictor well.

The name of the well, ‘Chandra Koop,’ is two words Chandra (which means moon) and Koop (which means a well). Chandra here is the Moon god in Hinduism. According to the mythical legend, this deity was a great devotee of Lord Shiva and dug the well to show his dedication. He prayed for several years so persistently and selflessly that Lord Shiva finally decided to appear. Lord Shiva thus blessed the place with his cosmic presence.

If the myth is to be believed, the well might actually be older than the divine river Ganges. You must drink water from it to complete the pooja.

Okay, now that we have covered mythology, let us answer the question everyone must be curious about. How can a well tell you when you are about to die?

Well, you must first reach the temple (preferably have the Darshana) and then head to the compound where the well is located. Now peer down at the water in it. The chances are you will be able to see your shadow in it. However, if you do not see your shadow, well, then you are close to the end of your life. How long? According to locals, no more than six months.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s)

There are several questions that the readers may have about Chandrakoop Varanasi and its spiritual importance. The following are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s):

Question: How to reach Varanasi?
Answer: As the great spiritual capital of not only Uttar Pradesh but India, Varanasi enjoys good connectivity with the rest of the country and the world. You can reach it:
By Air: The Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (V.N.S.) is located within Varanasi itself and receives regular domestic and international flights. You can easily fly directly to Varanasi from all major Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, as well as from a few international destinations.
By Train: Varanasi Junction (B.S.B.) is Varanasi’s main railway station and is well-connected to various major cities across the country. Many trains, including several express and superfast trains, operate to and from Varanasi. You can easily check the availability of trains and book tickets through the official website of the Indian Railways or any other reliable ticketing platform.
By Road: Varanasi also has excellent road connectivity with all neighboring cities and states. National Highway 2 (NH2) passes through Varanasi and makes it easily accessible by road. You can easily reach Varanasi by private car, taxi, or bus from all nearby cities like Allahabad, Lucknow (capital of Uttar Pradesh), and Patna. Regular bus services are also available from different parts of Uttar Pradesh and other states as well.

Question: How to Reach Chandrakoop once you reach Varanasi?
Answer: To reach the well, you must first reach the Siddheshwari Devi Temple. This temple is located in the Siddheshwari Mohalla, close to the Vishwanath Gali. You can use public transport, auto-rickshaws, taxis, or a private vehicle to reach the address. From the crossing, you can move towards the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Gate No. 4. However, instead of stopping there, you must keep moving northward till you reach the Raja Katra Chowk. From the intersection right after you cross the Raja Katra Chowk, you can turn right, and after a few steps, the temple will be on your left side. From there, you must explore the temple and look for the Chandreshwar Ling and Chandra Koop in the interior.

Question: How long will it take to explore this temple?
Answer: A couple of hours will suffice to explore this temple.

Question: When to visit this temple?
Answer: Like with all temples, visit during auspicious occasions if you are spiritual. In this case, Shivratries in particular and New Moon days and full moon days are such occasions.
Do share your thoughts, comments

Categories
Central India Historical Places to Visit in India Spiritual Hubs

Unveiling the Divine: Discovering the Ten Most Famous Shiva Temples of India

Ten Most Famous Shiva Temples of India

Shiva is one of the principal deities in Hinduism and has been called Mahadev or Supreme God. He is revered and worshipped across India and has numerous Shiva temples throughout the country, each with its own unique significance and architectural beauty. Today we bring you a list of the ten most famous Lord Shiva Temples of Inda.

Ten Most Prominent Shiva Temples of India

Somnath Temple 

The first and one of the most famous Lord Shiva Temples in this list, Somnath Temple, is situated on the western coast of Gujarat. It is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Jyotiglingas are divine representations of Lord Shiva. It has a rich history and has been destroyed and reconstructed sixteen times throughout the centuries. The Dwadash Jyotirlinga pilgrimage begins with the Somnath Temple.

The nearest airport is Diu Airport, and Veraval Railway Station is the closest railhead. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Somnath. Various state and private transport buses also connect Somnath with major cities in Gujarat.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

Located in the spiritual capital of India, Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh, Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the holiest sites for Hindus and a prominent temple of Lord Shiva. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is believed to be the centre of the universe.

The anxiety city of Varanasi enjoys good connectivity by air, rail, and road. The nearest airport is Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, and Varanasi Junction is the major railway station. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a local means of transportation to reach the temple.

Brihadeeswarar Temple

Another famous Lord Shiva Temple, Brihadeeswarar Temple, is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. It is also known as the Peruvudaiyar Kovil and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built by the Chola dynasty in the 11th century and is still renowned for its magnificent architecture.

The nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli International Airport, and Thanjavur Junction is the closest railway station. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a local bus to reach the temple.

Kedarnath Temple

Located in the Garwal Himalyan ranges of Uttarakhand, Kedarnath Temple is another important pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is also believed to be one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and holds immense religious significance.

The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, and the nearest railway station is Rishikesh. From there, you can travel to Gaurikund, the base camp for Kedarnath, by road and then undertake a trek or hire a helicopter to reach the temple

Amarnath Temple

Located in the beautiful Amarnath cave, Jammu and Kashmir, Amarnath Temple is famous and unique for its lingam, which is made of ice that forms naturally inside the cave.

It attracts thousands of devotees during the annual Amarnath Yatra. The temple is situated in the Amarnath cave, which is accessible through Pahalgam or Baltal. Srinagar International Airport is the nearest airport, and Jammu Tawi Railway Station is the closest railhead. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach the respective base camp.

Lingaraj Temple

Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, is another prominent Lord Shiva Temple of India. Built-in the 11th century, it is dedicated to Harihara, a combined form of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu.

Bhubaneswar has an airport, Biju Patnaik International Airport, and a railway station, Bhubaneswar Railway Station. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a local means of transportation to reach the temple.

Ramanathaswamy Temple

Located in Rameswaram, in the southernmost state of India, Tamil Nadu, Ramanathaswamy Temple is one of the most sacred temples in this list. A famous Lord Shiva temple, it is visited, according to a mythical legend, by Lord Rama, the protagonist of the great India epic Ramayana (hence the name of the temple).

Rameswaram has good connectivity by road and rail. The nearest airport is Madurai International Airport, and Rameswaram Railway Station is the major railhead. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a local bus to reach the temple.

Nataraja Temple

Nataraja Temple is dedicated to the cosmic dancer form of Lord Shiva. The temple is located in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. It is renowned for its unique architecture and the Chidambara Rahasya, a hidden deity representation.

The nearest airport is Chennai International Airport, and Chidambaram Railway Station is the closest railhead. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a local bus to reach the temple.

Mallikarjuna Temple

Situated on the banks of River Krishna in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh, this famous Lord Shiva Temple is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas and is dedicated to Mallikarjuna, a form of Lord Shiva. It is a significant pilgrimage site in South India. It is a place where Shakti Peetha and Jyotirlingam reside together. Adi Shankara composed his Shivananda Lahari here.

The nearest airport is Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, and Markapur Road Railway Station is the closest railhead. From there, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Srisailam. State transport buses and private buses also connect Srisailam with major cities in Andhra Pradesh.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s)

There are several questions that the readers may have about the famous Shiva temples of the country. The following are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s):

Question: Name the twelve Jyotirlingas.

Answer: The twelve Jyotirlingas are the following

  • Somnath
  • Mallikārjuna
  • Mahakaleshwar
  • Baidyanath
  • Omkareshwar
  • Bhimashankar
  • Vishwanath
  • Nageshwar
  • Kedarnath
  • Rameshwaram
  • Trimbakeshwar
  • Grishneshwar

Question: What is the best tie to visit these temples?

Answer: Except for Amarnath temple, almost all prominent Lord Shiva temples are best visited on Shivratri.

If the reader has any other questions, they should feel free to ask them here.

All you need to know Kawad Yatra including 2023 guidelines

Categories
Architectural Central India Culture

Jajpur HACT – A look at the city’s heritage, art, culture & tourism

For those unacquainted with the district, it is incredibly easy to confuse the city with one of the recognised havens of tourists – Jaipur. While the pink city has deserved all its popularity, the capital of Rajasthan is not what we are discussing here. Jajpur, which is the e subject of discussion here, is in South India and has a history, heritage and culture about as old as Jaipur. If you haven’t heard about the city, give us a chance to tell you about this town by exploring it from various perspectives.

Heritage, art, culture & tourism of Jajpur

Heritage of the city

Jajpur has always been important in Indian and Hindu history. The place has been mentioned in the great war epic of the country, Mahabharata, as well as puranas like Skanda Purana and Shiv Purana. The region was a forest once and went by the name of Champak Van. It was in this jungle Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe according to Hindu traditions, did a yagna of which the majestic warrior goddess Durga was born. The name of the district, ‘Jajpur’, is thus driven from the word ‘yagna’. The kund where Lord Brahma did his yagna can still be visited today.

Understandably, the district has a temple dedicated to the goddess Durga. The majestic temple, perhaps the biggest tourist attraction of the district, is a Shakti Peeth and is name Biraja Devi Shakti Peeth in Biraja Kshetra. The name of the temple is ‘Biraja’ is a nickname of the goddess and means ‘without king’. The centre statute of the temple celebrates the annihilation of the demon Mahishasur by the goddess, who is depicted in the form of a buffalo. One of the most remarkable things about the statue is her crown which shows miniature shivling, a crescent moon and a small depiction of Lord Ganesha. The temple also has many other shivlingas. Just outside the temple, you will find Nabhi Gaya, a well where the local Hindus perform the last rites of their loved ones.

Another reason for the popularity of the district is its popularity as a pilgrimage centre for the Baitarni river. The district also boasts of some other valuable temples as well. Apart from that, Lord Baraha Temple, Jagannath Temple, Trilochaneswar Temple, Daswasamedhaghat, Ratnagiri, and Udayagiri remain some of the other most valuable temples of the region.

Art in Jajpur

Jajpur’s architecture is best visible in its temples. You will find temples built in the Kalinga style as well as other styles. Apart from the great Kalinga empire, the region continued to have a rich history, particularly as the immense resources of the region made it an important urban hotspot, even making it the capital of Odisha for a few centuries.

As such, the region has a rural population with centuries-old traditions of painting, sculptures, handicrafts, etc. One of the most important of these is painting, and the Jajpur school of painting takes up three main branches – Jhoti, Chita and Muruja. Folk paintings of these styles remain a valuable part of the local lifestyle. We shall discuss these forms in a moment.

Odiya is one of the oldest languages in the district and continues to be the predominant language spoken by the people. Apart from that, about a tenth of the population speaks Urdu, and another tenth speaks some Adivasi languages. From before the times of the Kalinga empire, the region has also made valuable contributions to literature and remains one of the hotspots of Odiya Literature. Abimanyu Samanta Singhar and Manjula Krushna Prasad Bas are some of the most prominent literary figures. Some other important contributors include Braja Sundar, Birupakshya Kar, dramatist Kamapal Mishra Upendra Tripathy, who writes children’s literature, essayist Baikuntha Nath Rath, and the fiction writer Govind Das.

The best way to enjoy the local culture is Jajpur Mahatosav which has grown to be incredibly popular, even attended by major politicians and celebrities from Bollywood and other popular personalities alike. The district truly comes alike during the event, and it is a great chance for local artists to perform. A fair is also organised.

Culture of Jajpur

The people of Jajpur are representatives of the age-old culture of respecting traditions. One peculiar tradition here is that women worshipped the goddess Laxmi in the month of Margasira. The festival is held during the harvest season as grains are being thrashed and stored. The auspicious occasion is celebrated by decorating the mud walls and floors of the houses with murals made of white rice paste. These are called Jhoti or Chita and are the perfect blend of art and culture. The folk painting tradition has not only decorative objects but tries to establish a relationship with the divine through potent and meaningful symbolism.

Apart from that, Muruja is a painting drawn on the floor with powders of different shades using powder of various colours obtained from different materials. For example, white powder is obtained by grinding the stone, green powder is generally obtained from dry leaves, black powder is normally obtained from burnt coconut shells, the yellow powder can be obtained from petals of marigold flowers though turmeric can also be used, and red powder is easily obtained from red clay or bricks. Muruja is drawn using this powder during rituals in the form of a Mandala.

Apart from that, during the holy month of Kartika, women observe penance and draw some muruja designs around the Tulasi Chaura.

Tourism

If you have read this article so far, you will have realised that the district has several incredible tourist attractions. If taken holistically, these attractions can easily take two or three days of your time. If you are from outside Odisha and a devout Hindu, then you shall probably want to combine your trip with that pilgrimage to the golden triangle of Odisha – Bhubneshwar, Puri and Konark. Being located at a distance of a mere hundred kilometres from Bhubneshwar, Jajpur can be an easy add-on for such a tour especially given that it adheres well to the religious theme of the tour.

Apart from that, you can also visit the district any time of the year and for its own attractions as well. Though the district is excellent throughout the year, we recommend visiting it during Jajpur Mahatasav as you will also get a chance to enjoy the fair as well as a chance of being audience to performances from your best artists as well as many local talented artists.

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s)

There are several questions about art, culture, heritage, tourism and other aspects of the Jajpur district. The following are some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.s) :

Question: How to reach Jajpur?
Answer: You can reach via Bhubneshwar Airport, which is well connected to the rest of the country, and from there, take a cab ride via National Highway 16. It has its own railway station and enjoys good road and railway connectivity with nearby cities. Locally, you can travel with rickshaws.

Question: What are some of the souvenirs to buy in Jajpur?
Answer: You can consider buying handicrafts, paintings, statutes, etc.

If the reader has any other questions, they should feel free to ask them here.

The Bottom Line

One can easily wrap up the above discussion by concluding that Jajpur is an incredible miniature representation of India’s cultural depth and should be visited by everyone at least once.

Categories
Central India Culture Tribal

Mandana Art of Madhya Pradesh : A Dying Beauty

Madhya Pradesh has countless attractions to offer to the tourists – forts, palaces, Hindu temples, Jain temples, mosques, most delicious diversity of food, art, and culture. In this article, we bring to limelight one of its most valuable offerings Mandana Art.

Mandana paintings are the wall and floor paintings traditionally done in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, India. They are painted in homes to protect them, to draw health and wealth, to welcome gods into the house, for celebrations on festive occasions, etc. Similar paintings are also created in the most of the parts of Nepal and are called Mandala.

In Madhya Pradesh, the art is mostly used to decorate floors while in Rajasthan it is used both on walls and floors. The Village women in the Sawai Madhopur area of Rajasthan are known to possess the skill for developing simplistic designs to perfect symmetry and accuracy. The art has its roots in one of the oldest tribal communities of India, Meenas.

The word ‘Mandana’ in local languages means decoration, or more exactly, beautification. The resultant drawings are called Chitra Mandana – ‘Chitra’ here simply means drawing or painting.

The creation

The Mandana art can only be created on clay walls or floor. The ground that is to act as the canvas for Mandana art is first prepared with a mixture of cow dung, rati (which is a local clay), and red ochre. Lime and/or chalk powder is used for making the motif. The other tools used are a piece of cotton, a tuft of hair and/or a rudimentary brush which is made out of a date stick.

The Motifs

The motifs of the design include Lord Ganesha, peacocks, women at work, tigers, floral motifs, etc. Peacocks are the most frequently occurring and, one might claim, the signature motif of these works.

 

This love for repetition of these simple motifs, that seem to stand by themselves without trying to narrate any stories, puts in one’s mind Carl Gustav’s Jung’s theory and ideas about archetypes and archetypal symbols.

That said, it is not to say that Mandana art is closed to innovations. Over the years, the artists have introduced several new motifs – tractor, bus, bullock-cart, cycle, motorcycle, etc.

The simplicity of the motifs is also visible in the scheme of colors which are used to fill the drawings as the last step in completing the work. Normally as few as two colors are used – often red and white.

 

In some of them like tapki Ke Mandanas, the motifs are placed in a way to form a geometrical shape – a rhombus, a circle or a rectangle. This love for geometrically perfect shapes is once again something a Jungian could smile at.

Importance during festivals

The motifs are associated with good luck and are thus called ‘Shubh Manglik’ and survive in some regions only in celebration of some of the festivals. Teej is a semi-popular festival that often involves the use of Mandana art or some rudimentary form of it. Another popular example in which it survives is ‘rangoli’.

A dying art

Mandana art is dying and the artists are finding less and less employment even within villages as the number of concrete houses is on the increase and concrete is not receptive to this art which can only be created on walls of clay and anyway there are fewer takers of the art as it is.

There are many reasons to save this art. Its creation combines two qualities that rarely go together in most modern arts – simplicity and beauty.

Again, its use of natural material as its tools speaks highly of how eco-friendly our traditions were – and not to say inexpensive.

It is also a source of traditional employment for women in a country and community where employment for women was very rarely encouraged traditionally. There is something feminine about the aesthetic of the work itself. You won’t see a lot of warrior men in the works, for example; and motifs like peacocks and flowers are so much more attractive to women.

And the paintings no matter how simple is never without a part of the artist’s soul in it. A part of the artist’s life – and that of the artists that previously did the same work is contained in those works – telling us of their lives and experiences. The simplicity of such art forms as Mandana can be deceiving and might make an outsider consider it to bo be devoid of meaning when the very opposite is the truth.

Mandana art in new platforms

The Mandana art might be getting exiled from its home of centuries – the walls and floors of houses but it has found newer places to exist. One such place is the canvas. More and more painters are being inspired by Mandana art and streaming their art through the centuries-long language of expression developed over centuries by Mandana artists.

Another place it is getting its foothold on is fabrics. The traditional designs and artworks are increasingly getting trendy, thus giving a new place for Mandana art to survive.

Conclusion

We hope that Mandana art manages to find survivors in these forms if not in its traditional art. If you love the mesmerizing simplicity with which they strike one, please do consider buying some Mandana art worked goods and let us hope the art regains its old popularity. Cheers. J

Categories
Central India Itinerary

5 days itinerary for Punjab

Punjab is called the land of five rivers. And Punjab has a unique combination of culture and beauty of nature that interacts with many peoples. Every year many visitors visit Punjab. I recently have been Punjab and in this article, I’m sharing my experience. I’m sharing with you what I visited in five days’ holiday and what I learned from the people of this city. If you don’t visit once in your life then I think you don’t enjoy your life. No doubt Punjab is famous for its culture but also famous for its delicious food and tests as well. So I suggest If you plan for any trip then you have to visit this time Punjab and spend some time here.

Day 1– Arrived at Chandigarh

When I was visiting Punjab, first I reached Chandigarh airport then I booked a cab to reach the hotel. Many people think that you are new then a taxi driver traps you. But no my dear friends I personally feel that they also take care of their passenger. You can hire a guide as well if you want. They visit you with all the important places that you should visit. So back to my talk, when I reached the hotel then I took breakfast. And ready for the visit to Punjab, I was really excited because I love to meet new people and see the culture. I went to the sheesha mahal, qila Mubarak and NIS and our guide explained to us why it is famous. In the afternoon, I ate chole bhature that famous and really delicious. I still remember the taste of Punjab’s food. After ate lunch, I spent my afternoon in kali Mata temple, dukh niavran gurudwara and then I visited the local market of Patiala. And also buy some stuff for me. If you visit Punjab then you can buy a handmade sari or handmade decorative things that suites in your house. I enjoyed very much in Patiala market and captured some pictures. When I visited the local markets of Patiala then it was 5 o clocks, I can’t imagine time ran out so fast. Now I left the market and reached the garden in the Chandigarh. So I visited the rose garden, it is famous for its natural beauty. Next, I went to a rock garden, and sukhmana lake after 7 o’clock and sector 17 as well at night. Now I feel too tired then I returned the hotel and took my dinner and then took rest because I had to wake up early morning for visiting the next day.

Day 2- Patiala to Fatehgarh to Ludhiana

The second day I woke up at 5 a.m. I felt very tired because I roam too much the first day but also very excited to visit new places. I ready for leaving the hotel packed my bag. In the morning I had a heavy breakfast because I had to travel long-distance approximately 30 km. During traveling Patiala to Fatehgarh I visited tohar mal haweli, Amm khass bagh, joty swaroop, as well as organic gill farm that is located in the sanhali village. I enjoyed so much of my journey Patiala to Fatehgarh now I reached here finally and I was very much hungry. So I ate lunch in a restaurant and then started the next journey that is Fatehgarh to Ludhiana. The distance between Ludhiana to Fatehgarh is 60 km. I reached Ludhiana at night so I took my dinner and went to the room for taking rest.

Day 3- Ludhiana to Jalandhar

So this time I was in Ludhiana, I woke up and took heavy breakfast in the Ludhiana hotel. After took breakfast I left the hotel and enjoyed my further journey. During traveling Ludhiana to Jalandhar, I enjoyed it really and on the way, I visited so many places like malerkotta and gurudwara mehdiana. This gurudwara is famous for its architectural carved creativity on the walls. Next, I saw a nur mahal located in doaba. When I reached Jalandhar so it was a time like approx 8 pm so I just took my delicious dinner in the magnificent haveli. During dinner, I enjoyed Punjabi folk music, bhangra dance which is famous and unique of Punjab. After enjoying all the dance and music I stayed a night in this haveli.

Day 4- Jalandhar to Kapurthala to Amritsar

I woke up early morning and left for the next journey. I took my breakfast on the way of Jalandhar to Kapurthala. And also visited some places like panch mander, Jagatjiit place, factory of rail coach, durbar hall Moorish. I ate my lunch during traveling Kapurthala to Amritsar that is located 60km away.  I reached Amritsar at night so I went to the golden temple that is famous in Punjab. Many pilgrimages come here to pray to god. Moreover, the golden temple holds the attraction of tourists. Next, I went to the Jallianwala bagh and visited the old market of Amritsar. Next, I ate dinner with Punjabi special tadka.

Day 5- Amritsar to Anandpur sahib

This was my last day so I check out from the hotel and went to the Paonta sahib village. This village is famous because of guru Gobind Singh and also visited the Anandpur that is the birthplace of Shri keshgarh sahib. So I spent my whole day in both villages and stayed in Anandpur hotel.

Departure-

I took a heavy breakfast from the Anandpur hotel and check out from the hotel. And I traveled Anandpur to Chandigarh airport and finally I back to my home.

I really enjoyed the 5 days itinerary for Punjab. Hope you also enjoy my journey!

Categories
Central India Spiritual Hubs

Shiva, Sculpures, and Sarees – the amazing experience of Maheshwar

History, culture, art, craft, Bollywood and natural beauty come together to create the unique experience one finds in the beautiful city of Maheshwar. A city as old as history and a bit more, it is considered to be the same as the ancient historical city Mahishmati.

The literal meaning of the name of the city, Maheshwar, means ‘the abode of Mahesh’. Mahesh, in turn, means ‘Great God’ and is a title given to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva though is only one of the gods worshipped in hundreds of temples here which are of great spiritual importance to Hindus because of the city being mentioned in two great Hindu epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata.

If all this is not enough, the city has nationwide popularity for its Maheshwari Sarees. It is also the rural settings of this very little city which formed the backdrop in several Bollywood movies including ‘Pad-man’.

How to reach

The financial capital of Madhya Pradesh Indore is home to the airport nearest to Maheshwar and is just ninety kilometers away from Indore. We highly recommend taking a two day trip from Indore – first visiting another town of spiritual importance, Omkareshwar and then heading to Maheshwar which is just sixty-five kilometers away.

Where to stay

Maheshwar being a religious town is not lacking in the budget accommodation. A part of Ahilya Fort has been converted into a luxury hotel Fort Ahilya Heritage Hotel which is where we stayed. There is also an MP Tourism resort ‘Narmada Retreat’ at a distance of a mere one kilometer which offers a lovely view of the Narmada river. The lodging options don’t offer too great a variety here.

Best time to visit

Narmada Jayanti and Mahashivratri are two of the annual festivals that are celebrated with lots of passion in two towns of Omkareshwar and Maheshwar. During these seasons, they have their ghats adorned with lights and maha parties are performed at their ghats.

Best Places to see

  1. Ahalya Fort

The Ahalya Fort is named after Rajmata Ahilya Devi Holkar. She is one of the most legendary rulers of the region. She is considered a saintly figure.

This fort which is the best landmark of the town of Maheshwar still stands in all its splendor on banks of Narmada. There are some beautiful carvings of elephants and scenes of daily life from times of Holkar rule including some images of dancers and musicians.

A part of the Ahalya fort has now been converted into a hotel while another part is not open to the public. That said, you get to see Ahilya dwar where the great queen held a public audience – almost daily, and attended to the grievances of her subjects.

We also saw some amazing portraits of Holkar rulers, arms, etc. The male rulers are shown with a sword in their hand but the queen Ahilyabai is shown carrying a Shiva linga in her hands and is adorned with a simple white sari – a symbol of her widowhood. According to a local legend, the queen despite her immense wealth had only three sarees – all of them white, all of them Maheshwari and all of them woven by herself. This legend besides the simplicity of the palace itself, so different from lush ways of palaces elsewhere in India show what a simple life the queen must have lived.

One of the artifacts on display here is famous for the cravings is the Chhatri (mausoleum) of Vitoji Rao Holkar, who was the younger brother of king Yashwant Rao Holkar. The artifact is Built on a high plinth and supports two bulbous domes.

Another artifact that caught our eye is Ahilyeshwar Shivalaya. Built like a Shiva temple, it is the chhatri of the queen Ahilya Bai Holkar and was built on orders of her daughter Krishna Bai

There is a museum within Ahalya Fort. Another division is the weaving center of Rehwa society. You can find and buy the popular Maheshwari sarees here.

The name of the society comes from Maa Rewa, a local name of the Narmada river. Richard Holkar of the Holkar dynasty and his wife Sally started this weaving project in order to create employment opportunities for the local women and in order to save the dying industry of Maheshwari sarees which now, thanks to the efforts of the project, has now regained the old popularity. The weavers have now diversified into other forms of clothes too – dupattas, scarves, shawls, etc. A Maheshwari saree is thus obviously a perfect souvenir from the town of Maheshwar.

  1. Narmada Ghats

Maheshwar is home to twenty-eight ghats. The most important ones of these Ghats are Ahilya Ghat, Mahila Ghat, Peshwa Ghat, and Phanse Ghat. At Mahila Ghat, you will also get to see the artifact known as Laxmi Bai ki Chhatri – the chhatri of Ahilya Bais daughter, Krishna Bai

The Narmada river also avails you of boating adventures in its tranquil waters.

The Narmada river is itself the biggest attraction of both Maheshwar and Omkareshwar. Of the five most sacred rivers of India – Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Godavari, and Kaveri, Narmada has been considered the holiest. In fact, according to a local legend, when Ganga feels unclean, she takes the form of a black cow and arrives here under cover of darkness to cleanse herself in the waters of the Narmada. It is thus no wonder that countless pilgrimages pay a visit to the town to take a dip in the waters of the majestic river.

The Narmada river is also called Shankari which literally means the daughter of Shankar (Lord Shiva). According to a popular Hindu legend, she was borne out of a teardrop that fell out of Shiva’s eyes.

A local saying is Narmada ke kankar utte Shankar which means that Lord Shiva lives in each and every pebble on which the Narmada flows. This is particularly true in the case of river’s Ghats at Maheshwar as according to a local legend, it is believed to be the site ancient city of Somvanshya Shastrarjun Kshatriya. This ancient city was the capital of king Kartavirya Arjuna who is also known as Shree Shastrarjun and is mentioned in the Sanskrit epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Shastraarjun is said to have given a humiliating defeat to Ravana according to a local legend. one day the King Sahasrarjun and his 500 wives were picnicking on banks of Narmada. When the wives wanted a vast play area, the King is said to have stopped the Narmada with his 1000 arms. Ravana, who was flying by in his Pushpak Vimana decided to worship Lord Shiva in the empty river beds and made a shivalinga out of the sand and began to pray. When Sahasrajuna’s wives were done playing, he let the waters flow which Ravanas shivalinga away. Angered by this, Ravana challenged Sahasrajuna who, accepting the challenge, gave him a humiliating defeat.

And at the banks of the river, you can still find cylindrical pebbles, locally called Banalingas because they look so much like shivalingas. These ballingas are worshipped across India and, if you have a Hindu religious frame of mind, they make perfect souvenirs.

  1. Sahasradhara

Sahasradhara (the name literally means a thousand streams) is a place near Maheshwar where one can see the Narmada in all her majesty divide, as the name suggests, into thousands of tiny streams.

  1. Temples

There are, as we mentioned before, over a hundred temples in the town of Maheshwar – many of these are the results of the devotional nature of its legendary queen and, the city’s mythological importance is the reason behind the others.

Sahasarjun temple is one of the most important temples in the town.

As per a legend contained in Sabha Parva in Andhra Mahabharata, a nishada king named Nila ruled over Mahishmati. His daughter was an amazing beauty. She and Agni, the God of fire, fell in love with each other. The princess would always stay near the sacred fire of her father, and her presence would blaze with vigor. It won’t blaze even if fanned unless it was agitated by the gentle and tender breath of her lips. Agni took the form of a Brahmana and started visiting her. The couple was caught, the angered king wanted to punish the Brahmin with death but when Agni revealed his true identity, King sought forgiveness. Agni agreed to forgive him and even swore to protect his kingdom on the condition that the great king should sanctify pleasure out of pure love a legitimate action in his kingdom, and thus liberate the kingdom of the custom of marriage – a rather feminist story for ancient times. Even to this date, Sahasrarjun temple lights 11 lamps in honor of Lord Agni blessing the Kingdom.

There is also an amazing Baneshwar Mahadev Temple. This temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is situated on an island in the middle of the Narmada. According to local mythical beliefs, a heavenly line – an axis of sorts from the North Star passes through the point of this temple to the earth’s very center.

Sapta Martuka Mandir is another important temple and boosts of seven shrines devoted to seven goddesse. This temple is located on a small ghat.

Some of the other temples include Bhawani Mata Mandir, Ram and Krishna Mandir, Rajrajeshwar Mandir, Chaturbhuj Narayan Mandir, Khedapati Hanuman, Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, Narsingh Mandir, Ganesh Mandir, Chintamani Ganpati Mandir, Pandharinath Mandir, , Banke Bihari, Anant Narayan Mandir etc.

What to buy at Maheshwar?

We have already mentioned how Ballingas are unique souvenirs only to be found in Maheshwar. Another souvenir that has made Maheshwar popular all over India is its Maheshwari sarees.

Maheshwari sarees, now regaining their old familiarity, are woven using conventional wooden looms and are traditionally colored using vegetable dyes which make the original quality of these sarees expensive. There are ones that use chemical dyes and are less costly but these we didn’t find that beautiful.

The popular colors for the Maheshwari Sarees include angoori (grape green), gul bakshi (magenta), dalimbi (deep pink), tapkeer (deep brown), jaamla (purple), aamras (golden-yellow), etc. The pallav or aanchal of these Maheshwari sarees have five stripes of two alternating colors – of which one is always white.

The zari and kinari are used to embellish the Maheshwari sarees which often have a rich golden border and two gold bands on the pallav. These sarees are characterized by reversible border making it possible to wear both sides. Suited to the hot climate of Madhya Pradesh, these sarees have a light cloth which, so to speak, floats on your body and thus make them perfect wear in Indian Summers.

Places Near Maheshwar worth visiting

Kaleshwar and Jwaleshwar mandirs are some important temples located just a little outside the town. Take in as many of these temples as you can before taking the bus to your next destination.

The chances are you will come here via Indore which is one of the best tourist attractions in itself and has several forts and attractions of its own – including the best variety of street food you will find in it.

We recommend combining your journey to Maheshwar with Omkareshwar which is only 3 hours journey away from Maheshwar and is an island of great spiritual importance among Hindus and offers beautiful sights that will be loved by tourists even if they are indifference to its spiritual importance.

We hope you have an amazing trip. 🙂

Categories
Central India National Parks

Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary: An Awesome Experience

Madhya Pradesh is emerging as an alternative tourism hotspot standing apart from conventionally popular tourist destinations. And for very good reasons, It has so much to offer – temples, wildlife, indigenous garment industry which has receives fame all over the country. Today, we shall talk about one of the many pleasures it has to offer – Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary. This sanctuary is located in the Sidhi District of the state. Established in 1978, it spreads over an area of about 478 sq. kms.

The sanctuary is home to over a hundred species of flora and fauna. Among plants you will find here,  tall teak trees, mango groves, orchids gigantic creepers, etc are predominant. It boasts of a number of wild animals including Tiger, Panther, Deer, Sambhar, Hyenas, Chinkara, Cheetal, Wild Boar, Black Buck along with an incredible diversity of birds.

How to reach Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary?

The nearest airport to Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary is at Khajuraho, from where you can take the bus. The nearest railhead is at Rewa while Sindhi Bus station is the nearest station. The self-petrol or diesel vehicles are the primary means of transportation within the sanctuary. These vehicles are not yet five years and add splendidly to the experience.

When to visit Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary?

The time from November to June is good to visit the sanctuary. Though given Madhya Pradesh’s climate, we recommend the winter season – that is, November to February.

Our visit to Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary

We arrived at Sanctuary and were greeted by beautiful dry deciduous mixed forest cover. We hired a vehicle and were quickly on our way exploring the abundance of the wildness of the sanctuary. We had some beginner’s luck as we came across a couple of deer our having their breakfast.

However, this bit of good luck was followed by two hours of dryness excepting some sighting of the birds. Just when we thought it was getting boring though we were greeted by a sight of a tiger on his way to someplace in all the splendidness and coolness that only this royal animal could boost. We also had the luck of coming across a Black Buck toward the evening.

We spent the night in a Suit within the Sanctuary playing antakshari with other tourists and left the day after.

Where to stay in or around Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary?

Two cool suites are available in the Bagdara wildlife sanctuary for accommodation – we ourselves stayed in one of these and we highly recommend that you do not miss the experience of spending a night in the wilderness. There is also a forest rest house.

Places around Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary

The benefits of visiting the Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary are not limited to the Sanctuary itself. A number of other attractions, including some other sanctuaries, are located nearby. We highly recommend visiting the Goura Hillock which has some splendid rock paintings.

Some tips

  1. Please do not litter in the Sanctuary.
  2. Visit the Goura Hillock and check out the rock paintings while you are here. You may also be interested in other sanctuaries nearby.
  3. Try to find accommodation within the sanctuary to get the best out of the trip.

That is all from us here at Ghoomophiro. Have you been to Bagdara Wildlife Sanctuary? How was your experience? Please do tell us in the comments below. 🙂

Categories
Central India Group Travel Itinerary Solo Women Travel Spiritual Hubs

Best of Amritsar in 24 hours

Amritsar in Punjab is more than just a city filled with history, it is the cultural capital of Punjab. When we planned to visit Amritsar, we just had 24 hours to explore the best of the city and since there was so much to do, we prioritized the top-places to see. We landed in Amritsar via road early morning at 6 am. The sky was filled with the hue of sunrise and the entrance of Amritsar is adorned by a beautiful dome-shaped welcome sight. Amritsar, the place that played an important role in Indian history during British Raj got its name derived from a lake surrounding the Golden Temple. Amrit Sarovar, literally meaning a holy pool of nectar surrounds the Harmandir Sahib. These stories were told to us by our cab driver who was a resident of Amritsar, so we left it up to him to let us experience the food, culture, sights of Amritsar in the best ways possible.

1 Golden Temple aka Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara

We started our day with a visit to the iconic Golden Temple. Thankfully, we were already dressed in traditional Indian clothes so we already had a dupatta to cover our heads which is mandatory before you enter the Gurudwara. Since it a popular pilgrimage and we were there on a Sunday, we had to wait in long queues before we got inside. But even there, we were just enjoying the architecture and observing how immersed people were in their prayers. After paying our respects, we moved to the langar area and had prasad. The community meals are offered to every person who visits the Gurudwara and the langar was delicious. Moreover, the halwa (known as kada in Punjabi) is given as prasad to everyone. The Gurudwara also allows people to stay there for free if they offer service at the temple in return. We did not have much time or we would have loved to experience that as well.

  1. Jallianwala Bagh

The next stop on the tour was the infamous Jallianwala Bagh. Though Jallianwala Bagh is just one km away from the Golden Temple, it takes some time to reach there because that area remains quite crowded. As soon as we entered the garden, we were reminded of the heart-wrenching tragedy that took place there back during the British rule in 1919. There is a memorial in the garden commemorating the Martyrs who were massacred there. The well in which people jumped to save their lives can be seen but one look inside the dark well is enough to give you a nightmare for days. We could also see the bullet holes in walls and there are boards everywhere to help tourists who do not know what happened in Jallianwala Bagh. Paying our respects to the martyrs of Jallianwala, we refrained from clicking many pictures there as we usually do. But just being in that space reminded us of how far India has come and how many people have laid down their lives to make it independent.

  1. Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum

After Jallianwala Bagh left us reminiscing on the History, we visited the Maharaja Ranjit Singh palace which is now in the shape of a museum. The Palace is preserved as it was 400 years ago when the king used to live there. Now, the swords, armors and other historical artifacts are kept there for the visitors to see. There were many paintings in the Museum as well, along with other belongings of the King like the old currency. It was quite a quick visit to the museum before we went to the most-awaited spot on our visit to Amritsar- The Wagah Border.

  1. The Indo-Pak Border

Right after our tour of the museum, we went to the Wagah Border. The Wagah Border has a parade that starts at 5 pm and we were lucky enough to reach there by 4:30 pm so we could still watch the hour-long parade live. We could not find good seats since people start coming in from 2 pm to find a seat. There is a huge rush on the Indian side of the border. There is tight security present there but we were allowed to carry essentials like water bottles, our sunglasses, and phones. The entire parade is a sight to behold and afterward, one the crowds started to disperse, we went and clicked some pictures with the soldiers. From the Wagah Border, we could easily see the other side- Pakistan and wondered why there wasn’t as big a crowd gathered on that side of the border as well.

  1. Go shopping

No trip to Amritsar is complete without shopping for Amritsari jutti. There is a Kapra Bazaar near the Golden Temple where we went to buy the famous Phulkari cloth and look for Amritsari Jutti. The -Kameez, Dupatta or Phulkari-cloth. We also bought some dresses from the Kapra Bazaar but the best place to buy Amritsari Jutti, as suggested by many locals there is the Raunak Store in Pink plaza. Amritsari Jutti is leather footwear traditionally called Jutti. It complements the traditional Indian-wear and is a great ethnic-wear accessory.

  1. What’s Punjab without Punjabi Food?

Throughout the day, we munched on local Amritsari cuisine. The day began with Aloo Parantha with extra butter and a glass of Lassi for breakfast at a local Dhaba. Then the langar at Golden Temple worked perfectly as lunch and for snacks, we had jalebi and Amritsari Lassi at a Dhaba near Golden Temple. For dinner, there are plenty of options in Amritsar but it is a bit hard to find pure vegetarian restaurants. There is a place called Brother’s Amritsari dhaba that serves delicious Paneer Butter Masala, Daal Makhani, Channa and Naan. We got the veg thali which had salad and raita as well as Amritsari Papad.

When it was finally time to leave Amritsar, we realized that within 24 hours, we had seen most of the popular places in Amritsar, shopped and enjoyed Punjabi delicacies while being entertained by our cab driver’s Punjabi commentary on everything.

Categories
Architectural Central India Culture

Mandu – Your Next getaway from Delhi

Madhya Pradesh is full of small cities and towns that are relatively less known among tourism lovers and are historical delights that often need a day or less to visit them. The walled city of Mandu is one of the most important of these towns

Mandu or Mandavgad is an ancient city located in the Malwa region of western Madhya Pradesh, India, at 35 km from Dhar city. It is located at a distance of 100 kilometers from Indore, the capital of Madhya Pradesh. It is a great option to consider for your next weekend getaway.

How we reached Mandu?

First, you need to reach Indore. Indore is nicely connected to the rest of the world via rail, road, and airways. From Indore, we took a bus to Mandu as railway connectivity leaves much for asking. You can also take a taxi from Indore.

When to visit?

The weather is most pleasant in monsoon. We will recommend avoiding both the coldest and, particularly, the hottest times of the year. If you are considering it as an add-on for a tour to Indore or Madhyapradesh, consider the local festivals or events you might be interested in.

Where to stay?

Mandu has several accommodation options catering to all pocket sizes. We stayed at Malwa resort though it was not too much to recommend, it met our most immediate accommodation needs

What to see in Mandu?

 The Darwazas (Gates)

Madu is a walled city. It is surrounded by a 37-kilometer wall which is punctuated by 12 gateways. Naturally, these were too many to keep one’s interest in seeing them all in but the gates are probably the first thing you will see in Mandu as they are located at entrance themselves.

Roopmati’s Pavilion

This pavilion is a large sandstone structure that was originally built as an army observation post. Rani Roopmati, who was the love interest of Baaz Bahadur, is said to have lived here. It is said she would often gaze at the Baz Bahadur’s Palace which is situated below (and next in our list of Mandu’s attractions) and also at Narmada river, flowing through the Nimar plains far below, a river which she revered.

Baz Bahadur’s Palace

Just next to Roopmati’s pavilion is Baz Bahadur Palace and can be seen from the pavilion. Baz Bahadur built this palace in 16th-century structure.

Rewa Kund

Rewa Kund was the reservoir constructed by Baz Bahadur for supplying water to Roopmati’s Pavilion.

Darya Khan’s Tomb complex

Darya Khan was an important minister in the court of Mahmud Khalji II, and his tomb lies in the walled complex along with another tomb, a mosque, a pond, an inn, etc. Hathi Paga Mahal (literally Elephant Leg Palace) is located on the south-eastern side of the Complex and is crowned with a massive dome.

Shri Mandavagadh Teerth

Next in our list of sites worth seeing in Mandu is Shri Mandavagadh Teerth. It is dedicated to Lord Suparshvanatha and belongs to Shwetambar Sect of Jainism. The 3 feet tall idol of Lord Suparshvanath is seated in a padmasana posture. The fort also has a smaller temple dedicated to Lord Shantinath and there are ruins and idols of several temples – according to one source, there were once as many 700 Jain temples here.

Chaturbhuj Sri Rama temple

This temple of Mandu is unique for feature a Lord Rama statue, the only one of its kind – that shows him with four arms.

Jama Masjid

Mandu’s Jama Masjid is said to be inspired by the great mosque of Damascus and tries to replicate the Damascus Mosque in its simplicity as well as architectural style-with large courtyards and grand entrances. In the front, there are ruins of Asharfi Palace. The complex of buildings has a seven-story winning memorial at the north-east of the palace as well as a Rama Temple, which was built by Maharani Sakarwar bai Pawar in 1769 AD.

Hoshang Shah’s Tomb

The tomb of Hoshang Shah is yet another important monument in Mandu as it is considered to be India’s first marble structure. Its dome, marble latticework, porticoed courts, and towers show the influence of Afghan architecture. It has been said that it served as a template for the construction of Taj Mahal.

Jahaz Mahal

Jahaz Mahal (literally Ship Palace) and also known as Water Palace of Mandu is a palace located between two artificial lakes and gives the appearance of being a ship floating in the water. This wonderful two-story architectural marvel was built by Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din-Khalji and served as a harem for him.

Hindola Mahal

Last in our list of sights to see in Mandu is Hindola Mahal. Hindola Mahal literally meaning Swing palace gets its name from its sloping side walls. Though the architectural splendor shows that this palace has enjoyed a rich past, historians are in no agreement as to the time of its construction or the purpose it served.

Conclusion

The best way to visit Mandu is either on a weekend getaway from Delhi or a one-day trip while being on an extended tour in Indore. A possible plan might involve visiting it after you are done with Indore and then head to Maheswar and/or Omkareshwar. The lack of tourists in this town will make you feel like discoverer or new tourist attractions.  J

Categories
Central India National Parks Travel Trends

A White Tiger Safari in Mukundpur, Rewa

Tigers are majestic. The word ‘royal’ is redundant in name of Royal Bengal Tigers, our national animal. However, another class of tigers perhaps outdo even the Bengal tigers – the white tigers who gave the title to Arvind Adiga’s Man Booker award-winning book ‘The White Tiger’.

Theoretically speaking there is not much difference between white tigers. They live, love and bread in similar conditions and habitat and very much similar nature. And yet white tigers are loved far more – perhaps because of their rarity … or perhaps it is absurdity of their existence, you almost get the sense that they should not exist, nature defies its own rules in letting them come into existence, perhaps breaking away from its own set, rigid ways to create something beautiful.

It is this majesty of white tigers that infatuated us with a strong desire for white tigers. And there was one and only place to do it – Mukundpur where the world’s first white tiger safari was held. And Munkunpur very well deserved the honor of being the place where maiden tiger safari should be held as it was also the very place where first white tiger of the world was spotted by Rewa king Maharaja Martand Singh in 1951.

About Mukundpur

When speaking of tigers, Madhya Pradesh quickly comes mind – especially when the subject is white tigers. It is perhaps one of the most gifted places when it comes to being home to most royal of all creature

Mukundpur is a village in Satna District of Madhya Pradesh State, located at a distance of 478 km from the state capital, Bhopal. The beautiful village is surrounded by water bodies on one side and by the forests on the other. It got its name from Maharaja Mukund Dev, since whose birthplace it was and attracted the attention of wildlife enthusiasts for first time in 1951 when the first white tiger was spotted here by Mahara Martand Singh.

The tiger that was sighted by Maharaja Martand Singh was named Mohan. Mohan was probably a result of genetic mutilation, however, the mutilation was so beautiful that Maharaja encouraged breading via Mohan to produce more white tigers. It is from Mohan that all white tigers of the world have descended.

How to reach Munkunpur?

By Air:

The nearest airport is at Rewa which is located at a distance of 15.6 km. You can hire a taxi from there.

By Rail

Rewa located at a distance of 15.6 km has the nearest railway station. You can hire a taxi from there.

By Road:

You can hire taxis from several of nearby major cities including Rewa and Lalitpur.

The White Tiger Safari

The white Tiger Safar at a Mukundpur was one of the high priority items on our itinerary during our tour to Bhopal. We took a long detour just in order to enjoy it first catching a train to Rewa and then hiring a taxi from there. We reached Mukundpur a bit tired but what was held in there can freshen up any wildlife enthusiast.

We started by visiting the zoo first. We took a golf car to see the zoo and we got a chance to see the white tigers as well as several other animals – such as bears, black bucks, lions, etc. The sight of all the exotic animals was thrilling but white tigers stood in their own league.

The safari was opened from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The tickets were very reasonably charged. We seated ourselves in the safari van and let ourselves enjoy the mesmerizing view of tigers. Within the very first hour, we got a chance to see a deer who passed by the van though we failed to click it.

But after that, nature seemed to have turned it back on us for next few hours as we roamed around in the beautiful sights created by natural vegetation but our eyes starved for a sight of the grand prize. Even near the pond where tigers were most likely to be sighted – given the love of all wildlife for drinking water and tiger’s best chance of finding his prey there, we achieved no success.

At a little of 3 p.m. when we were already at the end of our hopes, someone in the van started screaming in excitement. And yes, it was a white tiger lying a few feet away oblivious to the excitement his sight has caused among us, lesser mortals, in the van.

It seemed to be lazying about, but even that was enough for us to go click happy (a rare privilege granted to us). We clicked its pictures, in one he was yawning and even in that picture it seemed so cool. Perhaps tigers just can’t help being cool.

It was a majestic sight. And it stayed there – for what? like fifteen minutes, letting us admire him and his royal indifferent ways before getting up and walking away in the direction away from us. Our guide told us it was named Raghu and was one of the first tigers to be brought to the reserve.

And this was the highlight of the safari. Nothing much happened after that.

What to take back home?

We highly recommend buying some locally handcrafted goods made of bamboos as the perfect souvenir one might get from Mukukndpur.

Travel Trips:

  1. Please note that photography is not generally allowed during the tiger safari.
  2. Follow the rules of the tiger reserve and the instructions given by the staff of the reserve

Conclusion

It was a 478-kilometer distance we had to travel on trains and buses just to reach Mukundpur from Bhopal and then an equal distance on our way back but the unique experience which was waiting for us there was more than worth it. We are even considering going for another safari there soon.

We hope you loved reading our memories. J

Exit mobile version