Kashi Mahakal Express is a great help for the pilgrims who want to travel to some of the holy towns of India, namely, Varanasi (Kashi Vishwanath), Mahakaleshwar (near Ujjain) and Omkareshwar (near Indore). Three of these places are also a part of 12 jyotirlingas, the sites that are considered possessing spiritual vibes of Lord Shiva. The train is the first overnight journey-private train of India that began to run on the routes of 20 February 2020.
Must-Know Interesting Facts About Kashi Mahakal Express
One of the interesting things about this train is that passengers can listen to the devotional songs that are played via cassette. Another notable thing is that it connects the 3 Jyotirlingas, namely, Omkareshwar, Mahakaleshwar, and Kashi Vishwanath. Besides this, the following are exclusive facilities
On-board passenger information and entertainment system
Modular toilets
Free travel insurance
Tea/coffee vending machines
Fire and smoke detection
CCTV
Suppressant system
Complimentary bedrolls
Round the clock security and special vegetarian meals
Kashi Mahakal Express route and stops
The Kashi Mahakal Express runs between Varanasi and Indore following two, one of the routes is via Sultanpur and the other through Prayagraj. The train that runs via the first route stops at Ujjain, Bina, Jhansi, Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Sultanpur stations. The train on the second route stops at Ujjain, Jhansi, Kanpur Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Bina and Allahabad stations.
Booking Tickets for Kashi Mahakal Express Train
You can only book the tickets online on IRCTC website and also via the mobile app “IRCTC Rail Connect”. The online booking has 120 days reservation period. There is no concession available; however, you do not need a ticket for children below 5 years of age. All the passengers have covered under complimentary travel insurance of Rs 10 lakh while on a journey via train. If the train gets canceled owing to any reason then the passengers will get an automatic refund.
Kashi Mahakal Express train timings
Talking about the Sultanpur route, the train (#82401) departs from Varanasi at 2:45 pm on Tuesday and Thursday every week. It arrives at Indore around 9:40 am on Wednesday and Friday morning. The returning train (#82402) is again bi-weekly, departing from Indore at 10:55 am on Wednesday and Friday every week and arriving at Varanasi at 6:00am the Thursday and Saturday morning.
On the Prayagraj route, the train (#82403) departs once a week from Varanasi at 3:15 pm every Sunday arriving at Indore at 9:40 am the following day. Train no. 82404 departs from Indore at 10:55 am every Monday and arriving at Varanasi at 5:00 am the following morning.
Timings of the Mahakal Express Train
Train on Sultanpur route
Train Number
Departure City
Time of Departure
Days of Departure
City of Arrival
Time of Arrival
Days of
Arrival
Stops
82401
Varanasi
2:45 pm
Tuesday/ Thursday
Indore
9:40 am
Wednesday/ Friday
Ujjain, Bina, Jhansi, Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Kanpur, Lucknow, and Sultanpur
Returning train
Train Number
Departure City
Time of Departure
Days of Departure
City of Arrival
Time of Arrival
Days of
Arrival
82402
Indore
2:45 pm
Wednesday/ Friday
Varanasi
6:00 am
Thursday/ Saturday
Train on Prayagraj route
Train Number
Departure City
Time of Departure
Days of Departure
City of Arrival
Time of Arrival
Days of
Arrival
Stops
82403
Varanasi
3:15 pm
Sunday
Indore
9:40 am
Monday
Ujjain, Jhansi, Kanpur Sant Hirdaram Nagar, Bina and Allahabad
This time we (Ghoomophirosisters) planned to pay a visit to one of the most popular temples in India, Dwarkadhish Temple. Irrespective of which road you decide to take when in Dwarka, you will land at Dwarkadhish temple standing elegantly on the western tip of incredible India exactly at the meeting point of River Gomti and Arabian sea. The sight of the temple becomes evident as soon as you enter Dwarka. Dwarkadhish is one of the loveliest temples that you will ever visit having a rare ancient structure that bears testimony to centuries. Right from the morning when the deity wakes till night when deity goes to sleep, there is plenty of activity going around in the premises giving you the celebration vibes and essence of Shringar Ras. Sri Dwarkadhish temple at some places is also popularly known as Jagat Mandir.
Depending upon the place where you want access to Dwarkadhish Temple, it is well connected to different parts of the world by road and rail. You can simply take a flight to Delhi from any part of India and from there you can take a train that drops you at Dwarka Railway station from where the temple is only at a distance of 1KM. We were already on our road trip from Rajkot to Dwarka.
Where to stay at Dwarka
There are plenty of hotels near the temple that offer good services at a decent price. You can opt to stay at one of the following hotels Hotel Roma Kristo, Hotel Guruprerna, Hotel City Palace, Hotel Devkinandan and Hotel Nilay that are at a distance of nearly one to two kilometers from the temple. We (Ghoomophirosisiters) stayed at VITS Devbhoomi.
Origin and history of Dwarkadhish Temple
As per the Pandas here the temple is claimed to be 5244 years old built by the great-grandson of Lord Krishna, Vajranabh. However, the present structure of the temple is basically an amalgamation of the parts spread widely and dates back to somewhere between 8th to 18th CE. The temple today stands at an elevation of around 80 meters or 250 feet having a 25 ft long flagstaff at the top. Dwarkadhish Temple is home to one of the 4 Shankaracharya Peethas, that is, Sharda Peetha.
Other Temples in the premises
There are a lot of other temples also with in the premises. These are Kusheshwar Mahadev, Navgrah Yantra, Aniruddha and Pradyumna Temple, Rishi Durvasa Temple, Amba Ji Temple, Devaki Temple, Radha Krishna Temple, Beni Madhav, Purushottam Rai & Balram Temples, and Pattarani Mahal. There are other small temples dedicated to Jambavati, Saraswati, Laxmi, Radhika, Satyabhama, Mahalaxmi Narayan, and Bal Gopal. Shakti temple or Chalati Mata temple situated on the 4th floor that is closed for the public.
Two gates of Dwarkadish Temple
Unlike other temples that usually have a single entrance, the Dwarkadhish temple has two entrances. The two entrances to the temple, north, and south are called Moksha Dwar and Swarg Dwar. There are 56 steps on Swarg Dwar side leading to temple from Gomti Ghats which according to the storytellers represent 56 Koti or 56 Crore Yadavas.
When to visit Dwarkadhish Temple
Throughout the year, you can visit the temple without having to worry much. However, what would be the best time to visit the place strictly depends on the purpose for which you want to visit the temple. If you are planning to set out on a holy pilgrimage to Dwarkadhish temple then winters are the ideal time. You can plan your visit anytime between the months of October to February as then the climate is also very cool and pleasant. In case you simply desire to pay a visit to the temple, then you can opt for other months as then the temple is supposed to be less crowded with the majority of visitors being locals leaving you ample time and space to explore the temple properly.
Best time to visit Dwarkadhish Temple
It is important to known the Dwarkadhish Temple Timings before heading out to pay a visit. The temple opens for the devotees at 6.30 AM with the awakening of the deity and remains open from 6:30 AM to 01:00 PM. It opens up again at 5:00 PM and finally, the doors are closed at 9.30 PM when deity goes off to sleep. You, therefore, ought to plan your visits in between these hours which is pretty much convenient. We (Ghoomophirosisiters) went to the temple in the early morning around 6.30 AM. Though each hour of the day has unique things to offer to you at the temple in the morning the rush of the devotees is comparatively less. This means that you get to explore the premises peacefully without having to rush. In the morning at 6.30 AM we attended the Mangla Arti and witnessed Mangla Darshan from 7.00 to 8.00 followed by one hour of Abhishek Pooja from 8.00 to 9.00 AM. From 9.00 to 9.30 we attended Shringar Darshan followed by 15 minutes of Snanbhog after which we explored the temple. Within the strict timing of the opening and shutting of temple doors, you at least need an hour to explore every nook and corner of the temple.
Dhwaja Arohan/ Flag Changing Ceremony
When at Dwarkadish temple, one thing that you will not miss in any case is the huge swaying flag right on top of Shikhara. Every time you look at the temple, you will amazingly find a different flag placed there. The reason behind this is that the flag is changed 5 times a day, three times in the morning and two times in the evening. There is a full-fledged ceremony followed each time the flag is changed. Following an elaborative puja, the family who sponsors the flag change also feed the Brahmins of Dwarka. The flag is brought to the temple on the head with pomp and show accompanied by dancing and singing and is offered to the deity. Thereafter, the Brahmin community goes up to change the flag. Once you have sponsored the flag you ought to wait for 2 years to do it once again. Except for black any color can be used to design the flag and is supposed to have an emblem of sun plus moon. There are dedicated tailors who are aware of all the rules and dimensions of stitching the flag.
Festivals celebrated at Dwarkadhish Temple
There are plenty of pious festivals that are celebrated with great zeal and energy at Dwarkadhish Temple. One of the most important festivals that are celebrated here is the birthday of Lord Krishna known as Janmashtami. Another festival celebrated here is Holi that comes in the month of March every year. Rukmini Vivah or in other words the wedding of Lord Krishna and Rukmini on Ekadashi of Chaitra month is another interesting festival celebrated on the premises. Basant Panchami, Akshay Tritiya, Deepawali, Ram Navami, Sharad Purnima, Dhanteras and New Year are some of the other events celebrated here.
Guggali Brahmins are responsible to perform all the rituals as well as ceremonies of Dwarkadhish Temple. The temple is visited by devotees throughout the day. There is no time in the temple when you feel that it is empty or overcrowded. One thing that we would like you to know is that you are not allowed to take photographs within the premises neither are any sort of electronic gadgets allowed inside the temple. Carry Tulsi and Marigold garlands to offer to the deity that you simply need to show to the deity and then you are supposed to get it back with you.
Jyotirlingas are the divine places of Lord Shiva where he resides in different forms. The meaning of this particular word also resembles its meaning. The word ‘Jyoti’ means light which is also called ‘radiance’ and lingam or linga means ‘sign’ or ‘image’. So the word Jyotir-linga means ‘Radiant signs of Lord Shiva’. There are currently 12 main Jyotirlingas in India and there is a story behind the formation of all these Jyotirlingas.
The Story behind the formation of Jyotirlinga
In Shiv Purana you will hear an incident that took place thousands of years ago. When Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma were discussing who is supreme and that discussion turns into an argument. Then lord Shiva appears there to settle their argument. He made the infinite pillar of light appear there and that pillar pierced all the three worlds when it appears. Then lord Shiva told both of them that whoever finds the light first will be the supreme God.
They both went in the opposite direction and after a while, they both didn’t find the end of the pillar. So Lord admitted defeat and told Lord Shiva he couldn’t find the end while Lord Brahma lied saying he did find the end of the pillar. Seeing him lying, Lord Shiva got furious and cursed Lord Brahma. That no one is going to worship Lord Brahma even though he has created this entire universe.
In that anger, the Lord Shiva infinite pillar of light appeared on the earth in 64 places in the form of Lingodbhava. From those 64 places, only 12 are majors, and they now are known as the 12 main Jyotirlingas of India. In each Jyotirlinga Lord Shiva resides in some form of deity and blesses all the people.
The Somnath Jyotirlinga, in Gujarat it’s located in Prabhas-Kshetra. This is the first Jyotirlinga, which is why it makes the most pilgrimage sites in this list. There is a story behind how this Jyotirlinga formed. The son of Lord Brahma Prajapati Daksha had 27 daughters that married the moon. The moon was paying attention to the most beautiful daughter of them all named Rohini.
Prajapati Daksha after seeing the lack of affection from the Moon towards his other daughters. He got angry and cursed him that his light and the beauty that he is so proud of will get lost. So to remove that curse The Moon worshipped Lord Shiva for a long time in this place and asked him to remove the curse. Since that time Lord Shiva resides here in the form of Lord Somnath.
This Jyotirlinga situated in the beautiful city of Dwarka. Which is also famous for being the house of Lord Krishna as well. The Jyotirlinga of Dwarka gets visited by thousands of people every year. They come to see the statue of Lord Shiva which is 25 m tall, the garden and especially the view that you get of the Arabian sea from there. Here in this temple, Lord Shiva resides in the form of Nageshwar.
Timing: Every day from 4:30 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 9:30 pm
Nearest railway station: Karjat station
This shrine of Lord Shiva where he resides here in the form of Bhimashankar. It’s located on the Banks of River Bhima, and there is a structure or you can say a sculpture of Lord Shiva. That sculpture worshipped by thousands of people. This beautiful shrine was built by Bhima who was the son of Kumbhakarna. In this amazing place at the time of Maha Shivratri, everyone celebrates it with great energy and enthusiasm. Also, the best thing about this place is that it shows the bond between Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati as there is a Parvati temple close by this temple.
Trimbakeshwar
Location: Maharashtra
Deity: Trimbakeshwar
Timing: Every day from 5:30 am to 9:30 pm
Nearest railway station: Igatpuri railway station
This temple situated at Brahmagiri mountain which is in the place of the origin of Godavari River. Also known as Gautami Ganga because Gautami Rishi prayed Lord Shiva to live here. So after that Lord Shiva resides there in the form of Trimbakeshwar. The best thing about this shrine is the formation and how it’s built from the inside. You can see three pillars inside this divine shrine that resemble the 3 principal dignities of the universe Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Shiva.
Grishneshwar
Location: Aurangabad
Deity: Grishneshwar
Timing: Every day from 5:30 am to 9:30 pm
Nearest railway station: Daulatabad Train station
This divine shrine located near the Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves. One of the best things that you will see in this shrine is how massive and impressive the architecture of the temple is build. There are many Gods and Goddesses craved in the structure of this red stone temple. The temple that Ahilyabai Holkar built in the past. Now the locals there call this as Gru Someswara and Kusum Eswarar. There are many other things that you can find by going there and hearing from the locals.
Vaidyanath
Location: Jharkhand
Deity: Vaidyanath
Timing: Every day from 4 am to 3:30 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm
Nearest railway station: Jasidih Junction
This divine temple in Jharkhand has an interesting story behind it. The most ‘Gyani Pandit’ Ravana who worshipped Lord Shiva for his entire life, he one day asked Shiva to come with him to Lanka. Then Lord Shiva told him to take this Shiv-Linga and make sure you don’t drop it or put it down anywhere. If you can do that then only I will come to your Lanka with you. When he was carrying that Shiv-Linga, Lord Vishnu tried different magics and in many clever ways made him put the Shiv-Linga down. Since that time at that place, Lord Shiva resides there in the form of Vaidyanath.
This divine shrine of Lord Shiva located in Mahakaleshwar was made by a 5-year-old kid named Shikar. That kid was inspired by the King of Ujjain. Since that time Lord Shiva resides here in the form of Mahakal and also this is one of the 7 Mukti-Sthal in the whole of India. The word Mukti means freedom of your souls from your body. So this is the place to go and experience the nerve ending the life of eternity.
Nearest railway station: Omkareshwar road train station
The shrine of Omkareshwar which also means ‘the sound of Lord Shiva which is Om’ this Om word is often used in many mantras and to mediate all over the world. So this shrine is located in Madhya Pradesh at an Island called Shivapuri. It’s believed that thousands of years ago in this place there was a war between Gods and Demons. So all the Gods prayed to Lord Shiva to help them with the victory in this war. So Lord Shiva helped them while coming there in the form of Omkareshwar. Since that time he resides here as Omkareshwar.
This divine temple which is also called The Golden Temple of the city Varanasi. Situated in the beautiful state of Uttar Pradesh. The temple was the creation of Ahilyabai Holkar. The devotees believed that this is one of the first Jyotirlinga where the impact of God was experienced. So in this temple, Lord Shiva is worshipped and resides in the form of Kashi Vishwanath. This particular temple is believed where God blesses you, so you can have happiness and liberation.
Nearest railway station: Rishikesh after that you need to change many buses and even walk in the end.
In the Himalayan Range at 1200 ft lies this amazing temple of Lord Kedarnath. This shrine is also a part of 4 Dhams and to get here you must walk a lot and there are things that you need to consider before coming here. The temple only opens from May to June as the weather conditions make it hard to visit any other month. You have to cross both holy rivers of India which are Ganga and Yamuna to get here. It’s believed that if you bath the Shiv-Linga here with the water from Ganga and Yamuna it will help you get rid of your problems, and bring you inner peace.
Timing: Every day from 5 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 9 pm
Nearest railway station: Rameswaram railway station
In the city of Rameswaram, this amazing temple with a more amazing story is located. This is one of the most visited temples in the Southern part of India. It is believed that when Lord Rama had to cross the ocean by building the Rama Setu bridge to get to Lanka he worshipped Lord Shiva by making a Shiv-Linga till the time he rested in this temple. That Shiv-Linga still exists and is also named after Lord Rama. This divine shrine is also considered as one of the 4 Dhams in India.
Mallikarjuna
Location: Andhra Pradesh
Deity: Shiva, Parvati, and Bhramaramba
Timing: Every day from 4:30 am to 10 pm
Nearest railway station: Markapur railway station
In the state of Andhra Pradesh at the top of the Shri Sails Mountain, this divine shrine of Lord Shiva is situated. Once you get there you will be fascinated with the architecture and the sculpture of this holy shrine. This shrine is also listed on the 52 Shakti Peethas list of India. In this temple deities like Shiva, Parvati, and Bhramaramba resides. So if you look at it this is for sure one of the best 12 Jyotirlinga in India.
There’s this thing that makes India different from the rest of the world and that is the culture and the religious beliefs that we have. There are many religious beliefs and almost 330 million Gods and Goddesses that make India the country it is. Every God and Goddess have their own shrine and stories behind the formation of the shrines.
Although there is one story of the Goddess Sati that left a huge mark in the history of Hinduism. The marks that Goddess Sati left are now known as the Shakti Peethas and there are many of them in India and outside India as well. So today we will talk about the Shakti Peethas outside India.
What is Shakti Peethas?
Now before we can head on to the list of Shakti Peethas outside India, let’s know a little about them. Shaktipeeths or Shakti Peethas are the shrines of Goddess Sati where it’s believed that body parts of Goddess Sati corpse fell.
The story behind the Shakti Peethas
The son of Lord Brahma, Prajapati Daksha had a daughter named Sati when Sati was born she was raised with the stories of Lord Shiva, and when Sati got in the age of marriage she decided to marry Lord Shiva. Prajapati Daksha didn’t like that decision and was hurt when Sati married Lord Shiva. So later to insult Lord Shiva Prajapati Daksha held a massive Yagna where he invited everyone but not Lord Shiva.
After hearing about that Sati went to her father’s place and there everyone including his father insulted Lord Shiva. Hearing all the hurtful words Sati couldn’t bear and ended up giving her life there only when Lord Shiva came to know about Sati’s death he got furious and started doing ‘Tandav’ while holding Sati’s dead body. Later to calm Lord Shiva down, Lord Vishnu chopped Sati’s dead body into 51 pieces which later fell in different places which we now call as the Shakti Peethas.
Shaktipeeths outside India
Shikarpur
Location: Bangladesh
Body part: Nose
Opens on: Almost every day
Resides as: Shakti Sugandha
The divine temple of Goddess Sati where she resides and is worshipped by the people in the form of Shakti Sugandha is located at the Banks of Sonda River near the Barisal town. The locals here also call the Goddess Sugandha as Devi Tara.
Sri Shail
Location: Bangladesh
Body part: Neck
Opens on: Almost every day
Resides as: Shakti Maha Lakshmi
The holy shrine of Goddess Sati where she resides and worshipped in the form of Shakti Maha Lakshmi is situated in the Jaunpur village in Bangladesh. Goddess Maha Lakshmi is very well known for bringing the money or wealth with her and worshipped by every businessman and in every house.
Shivaharkaray
Location: Karachi Pakistan
Body part: Eyes
Opens on: Almost every day
Resides as: Shakti Mahishmardini
Just near the Parkai railways station in Karachi, you will find the hokey temple of Goddess Sati where she resides and is worshipped in the form of Shakti Mahishmardini.
Chandranath
Location: Bangladesh
Body part: Right-arm
Opens on: Almost every day
Resides as: Shakti Bhawani
When you go to the top of the Chandranath hills in Bangladesh there you will find the holy temple of Goddess Sati where she resides and is worshipped in the form of Shakti or Maa Bhawani.
Guhyeshwari
Location: Nepal
Body part: Both knees
Opens on: Almost every day
Resides as: Shakti Mahashira
This divine temple of Goddess Sati where she resides and worshipped in the form of Shakti Mahashira is located in Kathmandu Nepal near the temple of Pashupati Nath. This temple was made in the 17th Century by a king named Pratap Malla.
Nainativu
Location: Sri Lanka
Body part: Anklets
Opens on: Almost every day
Resides as: Shakti Indrakshi
In Sri Lanka when you go near the capital of Jaffna you will find Nallur where this divine shrine of Goddess Sati where she resides in the form of Shakti Indrakshi is located. This is also believed that in the time of Ramayana Sri Ravana and Lord Rama used to worship Shakti Indrakshi.
Mansa
Location: Tibet, China, and Mansarovar. This is because the temple is just at the foot of Kailash Mountain that connects it with all this.
Body part: Right Hand
Opens on: Almost every day
Resides as: Shakti Dakshayani
The divine temple of Goddess Sati where she resides in the form of Shakti Dakshayani is situated at the foot of Kailash where her Right hand is believed to have fallen. This divine shrine is famous for its stone slab form and many people visit here.
Yogeshwari
Location: Bangladesh
Body part: Palms of her hand and soles of her feet
Opens on: Almost every day
Resides as: Shakti Yogeshwari also called as Goddess Jashoreshwari
The divine temple of Goddess Sati is situated in Iswaripur village in the district of Khulna. It is said that Goddess Shakti resides here as Goddess Jashoreshwari.
Jayanti
Location: Bangladesh
Body part: Left thigh
Opens on: Almost every day
Resides as: Shakti Jayanti
The divine temple of Goddess Shakti Jayanti is situated at Kalajore in Bangladesh. The locals also call it the Nartiang Durga Temple where the Goddess Sati resides in the form of Shakti Jayanti.
10. Hinglaj
Location: Pakistan
Body part: Top part of her head
Opens on: Almost every day
Resides as: Shakti Kottari
This divine temple is not easy to visit if you are Indian because there will be lots of trouble when you go to this temple which is situated in Balochistan a few Kms away from Karachi. It is believed that the top part of Goddess Sati’s head fell here and from that time Goddess Sati resides there in the form of Shakti Kottari.
11. Gandaki
Location: Nepal
Body part: Forehead
Opens on: Almost every day
Resides as: Shakti Gandaki Chandi
In the beautiful country of Nepal near the banks of Gandaki river lies this divine shrine of Goddess Sati who resides here in the form of Goddess Shakti Gandaki Chandi. You can also find here the Ancient text encrypted by Lord Vishnu himself in this holy land.
12. Bhavanipur
Location: Bangladesh
Body part: Left ankle ornament
Opens on: Almost every day
Resides as: Shakti Aparna
The divine temple of Goddess Shakti Aparna is situated in Sherpur village, it is said that in this holy place Goddess Sati’s left ankle ornament was fallen. You can not visit this place so easily as it comes to Bangladesh now and you will need to get permission to enter there.
Ever wonder that Ram and Sita from Ramayana were the epic travelers, who during their exile of 14 years traversed almost the India and parts of Srilanka.
For a few, it might be a fiction, but what is interesting is that the journey mentioned in Ramayana during his exile has its footprints across India.
Sharing the list of Places that Ram, Sita Lakshman, and his Vanar Sena traced and some places which are related to Ramayana otherwise and how these places are popularly known to the modern world.
Ayodhya
Ayodhya, a small place near Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh is the birthplace of Ram, where he was born to Kaushalya and King Dashrath. It is where Ram Rajya actually exists. Currently, Ayodhya is also known as the temple city of India due to the plethora of temples. The celebration of Ramnavmi is worth watching in Ayodhya.
Janakpur
Janakpur is the birthplace of Sita. The legend goes like that she was not born to Raja Janak, instead, he found her while plowing the land and her presence brought the rains to the place, which finished the long-lasting drought of Janakpur. Ram was married to Sita in Janakpur only.
Currently, it is known as Sitamarhi and is now south-east of Kathmandu. There is a special festival and celebrations occur on the marriage anniversary of ram & Sita. Janakpur is also one of the holy sites on the route of Parikrama (holy circle) which is carried out by devout Hindus as a form of worship along with Ayodhya, Kashi, and Brij in India.
Allahabad
In order to go beyond Ayodhya, when exile was given, Lord Rama along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman crossed the river Ganga from Prayag, which is popularly known as Allahabad now. The place is famous for its Sangam point and witness tourists during Kumbh Mela.
Chitrakoot
Currently situated on the borders of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, this place is famous for its beautiful Hindu scriptures. In Ramayana, it is the place where Bharat came to persuade Ram to come back to Ayodhya, and when Ram denied, he took his slippers. The trio spent a lot of time here. In the current Chitrakoot, everything relates to Ram.
Chitrakoot is a spiritual retreat, thronged almost throughout the year by the travelers, who have a penchant for the unknown and unexplored
Dandakaranya
Dandakaranya is a present-day Bastar which includes parts of Odisha, Chattisgarh. The trio was believed to stay in these Jungles for the majority of their exile time. Khar and Dhushan were killed by Ram in these jungles only.
Nashik
Modern-day Nashik, is the home of the trio and find its mention in Ramayana as Panchvati. Nashik got its name because, it is here, where Lakshman actually cuts the Suparnkha nose. Ram built a small home at Panchvati and it is where events like Sita abduction happened. Visit the Kala Ram Mandir which is one of the most famous temples in Panchavati. Among other places, you could visit the Sita Gufa (The Cave of Sita) and Kapaleshwar Mandir. Every 12 years pilgrims come here to witness Kumbh Mela.
Hampi
Kishkindha or modern-day Hampi (Karnataka) was the kingdom of apes. It is the place where the famous Sugriv Bali fight happened during Ramayana. Today, Hampi is one of the UNESCO sites. Ram and Lakshman met Hanuman and Sugriv at Kishkindha only.
You can visit Virupaksha temple, Vitthala temple. There is a cave on the bank of the Tungbhadra river where Sugriva is said to have hidden Sita’s jewels for safety. There are marks and streaks on the rocks, which are said to have been made by Sita’s ornaments.
Lepakshi
Lepakshi Lepakshi is a famous archaeological place in Andhra Pradesh. In Ramayana, this is where Jatayu ( demi-god in the form of the eagle) tries to fight Ravana. Jatayu gets hurt and falls down by the time Rama arrives. Jatayu is rewarded in the form of moksha (liberation) by Rama. It is said that this event happened in Lepakshi
Veerbhadra Temple is the must-visit place while you are in the city. A large Nandi, which is supposed to be the largest in the world takes care of the city.
Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram, which is currently one of the char-dhams is the place, from, where Ram and his vanar sena actually started their journey to Srilanka. The place is famous for the beautiful Vivekananda temple and Shiv Temple. The story says, Sita also established a shivlinga on her way back from Srilanka.
Dhanuskodi
Dhanuskodi is now an abandoned coastal village. It is at the tip of Pamban Island. The interesting part of Dhanuskodi is the existence of Palk Strait (Rama Setu). It is believed that Rama with the help of apes built this bridge to go to Lanka. However, there are many mysterious things about Rama Setu which will surprise you!
Ashok Vatika
Modern-day Hakgala Botanical Garden in Srilanka is the Ashok Vatika where Sita was where Sita, was held captive after her abduction. The legend goes like, Sita denied stay with Ravana and chose to stay under the Ashok tree, waiting for Ram throughout her abduction.
Talaimannar
This was Lord Rama’s first stop in Sri Lanka from where the conflict with Ravana’s mighty army began. After a lengthy battle, Lord Rama killed Ravana and then made Vibhishana as the king.
Currently, this place is located on the northwestern coast of Mannar Island. You can reach here by road from Mannar which links the island to the rest of the country through a causeway.
Most of the above places hold prime importance and are on the pilgrims’ bucket list. Needless to say, Ram literally traveled to the whole India, parts of Srilanka and Nepal too. This travel itinerary is indeed an interesting one especially for those who want to relive mythology.
In India, there are many different religions and cultures that we follow but the majority of the peoples are Hindu. Which is why there are many stories of Hindu Gods and Goddesses in the past that left their mark in the Hindu culture. Thousands of people go there every day just to visit and worship the marks left by Gods and Goddesses.
What are 4 Dhams?
4 Dhams known as Char Dham in India are the names of the most pilgrimage sites in the whole of India. Many Indians just want to visit them once in their life before they die, the Char Dhams are one of the most sacred places for Hindus.
Char Dhams of India
1. Jagannath Temple, Puri
Location: Odisha
Main deity: Lord Jagannath
Nearest railway station/Airport: Puri Train station or Bhubaneshwar Airport
Opens on: Every day for 24 Hours
Places to stay: Hotel Jagannath Darshan, Basanti Hotel and Hotel Oyo 6295.
The Jagannath temple is located at Puri in the state of Odisha. Here in this temple, Shri Krishna resides in the form of Lord Jagannath. This temple is the only one in the whole India where you will see Lord Krishna’s sister Subhadra and brother Lord Balabhadra getting worshipped with Lord Krishna who resides here as Lord Jagannath.
Odisha people also celebrate a special day in this temple which is known as ‘Ratha Yatra’ Ratha means chariot Yatra means journey. This is one of the most important Dham in the Char Dhams of India. In this temple it is also believed that all of them represent the main 3 deities, Lord Jagannath represents Lord Vishnu, Lord Balabhadra Represent Lord Maheshwara which is another name of Lord Shiva, and Subhadra Represent Lord Brahma.
Opens on: Every day from 5 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 9 pm
Places to stay: Vel Residency Hotel, Hotel Royal Residency, and Hotel Park Plaza.
In the southern part of India, there is a place called Rameswaram which is famous for being one of the Pilgrimage sites in Indian because of the Ramanathaswamy Dham. The place also has a history that during the Treta-yuga Lord Rama built a bridge of stones from here to Sri Lanka during his quest of finding Goddess Sita.
The temple is well known because while the Time Lord Rama stayed there he made a Shiv-Ling to worship Lord Shiva and since that time Shiv-Ling remains there and Lord Shiva is worshipped there in the form of Linga and named Shri Ramanath Swamy. In this story also Lord Rama represents Lord Vishnu, his brother Lord Lakshman represents Lord Shiva, and Hanuman represents Lord Brahma.
3. Dwarkadhish Temple
Location: Gujarat
Main Deity: Lord Krishna
Nearest railway station: Dwarka Train station
Opens on: Every day from 6:30 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 9:30 pm
Places to stay: Shri Krishna Hotel, Hotel Gomti, and Hotel Nand Nandan, VITS Hotel
The Dwarkadhish Temple is located in the State of Gujarat in the city of Dwarka. This temple is situated where the Gomti River meets The Arabian sea. The temple is known as one of the Dhams as it’s the place where Lord Krishna in the Dwapar-yuga decided to make this place his residence.
Since that time this place is worshipped and the Dwarkadhish temple also resembles Lord Krishna. On the day of Lord Krishna’s birth, which is known as Janmashtami, the whole city of Dwarka celebrates it with so much energy and decorates the whole city and the temple is filled with the ‘Bhog'(offering) for Lord Krishna in the Dwarkadheesh temple.
4. Badrinath Temple
Location: Uttarakhand
Main deity: Lord Vishnu
Nearest railway station: Rishikesh railway station, after that you need to take a bus to get there.
Opens on: 30 April 4:30 am till October\November.
Places to stay: Sarovar Portico Badrinath, New Hotel Snow Crest, and GMVN Tourist Rest House.
The Badrinath temple lies in the Garhwal Hills in the state of Uttarakhand. This divine temple of Badrinath was the first Dham in the all 4 Dhams to be found. It is said that in the Sat-yuga at this place Narayana the incarnation of Lord Vishnu came here for Tapasya. When he came there at the spot the berry tree which is called Badri in Sanskrit.
So at that place, the berry tree grows to save Narayana from sun rays and rains. It is also believed that it was Goddess Lakshmi who became that tree to save Narayana from sun and rain so he can finish his Tapasya in peace. That is why the place is called Badrinath, just like Shiva- Parvati since that time Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Narayana are also called Badri-Nath.
So as we saw that other than Badrinath temple every other Dham is very close to the railway station and opens on every day of the year. While for Badrinath temple you might need to do some planning of how you will go and where you will stay all kinds of things because you will be going in the hills.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
It’s having sunk in the sea in its very gold age – a fate that is sometimes justified as punishment to hubris of its people has earned Dwarka the title of ‘Atlantis of the East’. The city has the honor of being ruled by Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Though for God’s own city and having earned the title of one of Chaar Dhams (four most important pilgrimage places for Hindus, the other three are Badrinath Jagannath Puri and Rameswaram) after Shankarachrya’s visit to it as well as one of the Saptapuri (seven most important religious cities for Hindus) the first impression it might create will probably not be very good one.
Located on the western shore of the Okhamandal Peninsula on the right bank of the Gomti River, it is a small city with a population of about 40000 only.
When to visit Dwarka?
Winter that is October to February is the ideal time to visit Dwarka as the climate remains pleasant. The summers can be too hot while the rains can be too heavy making them far from the ideal time to visit the city.
You might, however, be willing to make the exception to be in Dwarka at the time of Lord Krishna’s birth, that is, Janmashtami. This festival is marked by several all night long celebrations as bhajans and sermons are part of the festivities. At midnight there is a reenactment of Krishna’s childhood period in the form of cultural Garba and Raas dances. The local boys would create a pyramid and a young boy in the costume of Krishna will climb up this pyramid to strike a pot holding butter reenacting one of the mischievous acts of Lord Krishna.
How to reach Dwarka?
Porbandar Airport is the nearest one. One of the reasons why you might be inclined to use the option is to be in Porbandar – the birthplace of Mahatama Gandhi. After landing here you might hire a cab or use public transportation to reach Dwarka. Dwarka also has its railway station and is well connected to major cities of the country by roadways.
Locally you must at least once try traveling on a chhakda, a rickshaw run on a motorcycle engine – the vehicle that one sees in all kinds of colors on the streets of Dwarka.
What to buy in Dwarka?
Most popular souvenirs you can buy in Dwarka include image of Dwarkadish (another name of Lord Krishna), peacock feathers, corals, toys, Indra Jal, conch shells, chakrashila (small round corals that sometimes even float in water), Gopi Chandan (the soil from Gopi Talaav) Dwarka Shila, Gomti Chakra etc.
What to eat in Dwarka?
While in Dwarka, you must at least once try Gujarati thali that has several spicey dishes like e dhokla, bakarwadi, etc. and sweet delights like Puran Poli, basundi, etc. This heavenly meal must go along with some buttermilk.
Where to stay in Dwarka?
Dwarka has several accommodation options catering to people with all sizes of pockets and preferences. One of the advantages of choosing a more luxurious hotel is that they offer amazing views of Gomati, Dwarkadesh mandir or the Arabian Sea depending on their location. We stayed at VITS Dwarka, a simple hotel with all basic amenities.
History
Dwarka is considered to be the first capital of Gujarat. It was established as the capital of Saurashtra. When Yadvas migrated to this place from Mathura, it was called Kaushathali and was over time Christine’s as Dwarka
The mythology tells us that Lord Krishna settled here fleeing Jarasandha, the king of Magadh, to avoid unknown war. A friendly population here took him as their King as it was he who had delivered them from Kansas, their cruel ruler, and son of Ugarsena, who had first established the kingdom here. It is said that Lord Krishna ran his administration from Bet Dwarka. Some archeological investigations have discovered some drowned ruins (probably drowned because of erosion) proving that the myth is not without some truth – according to the myth, Krishna is also said to have reclaimed 12 yojanas or 96 square kilometers (37 sq mi) of land were originally reclaimed by Lord Krishna from the sea to create Dwarka.
The main temple has suffered a lot at the hands of Muslim invaders and the temple was destroyed and had to be rebuilt several times.
What to see in Dwarka?
1.Chhappan Sidhi ghat (Gomati Ghat)
Near the glorious Dwarkadhish temple is Gomati Ghat which is our first stop. The ‘chappan’ or 56 refers to the numbers of steps we must climb up to the swarg dwar after a dip in the river to purify ourselves. River Gomti is believed by Hindus to be the daughter of the sage Vashishtha. You might also float oil lamps or feed flour balls to the fish. The ghat is full of small shrines dedicated to gods like Samudra (God of the Sea), Saraswati, Lakshmi, etc.
Some important temples in the ghat area include the Samudra Narayana (Sangam Narayana) temple, which is at Gomati Sangam Ghat – the point of the confluence of the Gomti River with the sea, the Chakra Narayana temple where there is a stone with an imprint of a chakra as a manifestation of Lord Vishnu’s weapon, and the Gomati temple, which has an idol of the goddess Gomati which, so the legend goes, was brought to earth by the sage Vasishta, Lakshminarayan Temple etc.
There are several other activities you can do at the Gomati river which is one of the best ways to enjoy the panoramic views of the city and the river. You can go boat riding – for a fare of mere twenty rupees between 9 AM to 4 PM. You can also go to camel riding. Plan your activities according to your schedule
Tulabhar
Tulabhar is large weighing scales that are used to make devotees able to donate food grains equal to the weight of their bodies. If you can donate seven items weighing the same as you – Wheat, Sugar, Urad Daal, Moong Daal, Desi Ghee or Clarified Butter and Oil, you will get Moksha. The ingredients are mixed to form 3 categories of donations that cost differently – that is Uttam, Madhyam and Sukshma costing Rs 120/-, Rs 80/- and Rs 40/- per kg respectively. The donation goes to widows, small temples, poor brahmins, etc.
The legend says that Satyabhama who was the third wife of Krishna was tricked by Narada to donate wealth equal to Lord Krishna’s weight. Satyabhama accepted the challenge and made Krishna sit on side of the Tulhabhar. On the other side, Satyabhama added little by little all her wealth but even all the Queen’s treasures would not match the weight of Krishna. She begged from and added the wealth from other wives but still, nothing happened. In the end, she requestee queen Rukmini to help her who put only a single leaf of Tulsi Plant and the weighing scale tilted the other way. When everything else but the Tulsi leaf was removed the scale still tilts towards the leaf. The message of the story is that you can win god only by devotion not by wealth.
Sudama Setu
Bridging the two shores of the Gomti River is the Sudama Setu – a bridge named after Lord Krishna’s best friend. It offers a panoramic view of the city and the beautiful river.
2.Dwarkadhish Temple
Having dipped in Gomti, we are now ready for the main destination of the temple – Dwarkadish temple.
This 2500-year-old temple is the most important landmark in Dwarka. Much like the Somnath temple, it is designed in Chaulkya style of Architecture.
All valuables have to be deposited at a counter before entering the temple. After that, a priest would lead the gather in exchange for a voluntary contribution he will ask for in the end.
The main shrine is five stories long and has two entrances. It was first built by Raja Jagat Singh Rathore and is hence also called Jagat Mandir.
The word ‘Dwar’ means door and word ‘Ka’ means Brahma, the Creator. In ancient times, its port was considered to be the gateway Moksha (Salvation). The main entrance to the Dwarakadhish temple, the north entrance, is thus also called Moksha Dwara (Door to Salvation).
The main idol is the one-meter tall, four-armed idol of Lord Dwarkadhish. It is made of shiny black stone and is elaborately ornamented. There are of course several other shrines devoted to other deities.
The 52-yard flag of Dwarkadhish temple (the number of yards being symbolic of administrators temple has had) is changed 5 times a day – thrice in the morning and twice in the evening. The family sponsoring the flag brings it amid a ceremonial procession full of singing and dancing. The raising is cheered blissfully by the devotees.
Sharda Peeth
Dwarka has the privilege of being sanctified as the seat of Adi Shankaracharya (788-820 AD), who established four maths (religious centers or seats) in four different directions in the country. The Dwarakadhish Temple is a part of the Char Dham pilgrimage considered sacred by Hindus after Adi Shankaracharya visited the shrine. Sharda Peeth withing the temple has some beautiful libraries.
Important Rules and tips that you must remember during the Gujarat Temple Tour
You must be dressed decently while entering the temple.
Shoes, skirts, shorts, and belts are not allowed inside the temple.
Cameras and mobile phones are strictly prohibited. There is a space outside where you can deposit all such stuff
The temple visiting hours are 6:30 am to 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
5.Flag hoisting timings: 7 AM –8:30 AM, 8:39 AM – 10:30 AM, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM, 5:30PM.
3.Panch Peer
Next to the temple is a small shrine the Muslim name of which is a little strange given that it is devoted to five Hindu Brahmins who fought and were martyred to defend the temple against a Muslim invader Mohammad Shah in 1241 – Virajee Thakar, Nathu Thakar, Karasan Thakar, Valjee Thakar, and Devasee Thakar.
Swami Narayan Mandir, Dwarka
Located very close to thDwarkadish temple, Swami Narayan Mandir is a divine shrine dedicated to Lord Swaminarayan, who is another avatar of Lord Vishnu.
5.Dwarka Beach, Lighthouse and lake
Very close to the Dwarkadesh temple, the beach is a great place to relax in the evening. It has a lighthouse – 43 meters high, ideal for the panoramic view which is open to visitors from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM perfect place to enjoy the sunset.
6.Okha Port and Byet Dwarka
Once you are done with the Dwarkadesh temple you can head to Okha Port and take a jetty to the Byet Dwarka also known as Beyt Shankhodhar (after Shakhsura, a demon of the island that was killed by Lord Vishnu). Several seagulls accompany one as the ferry makes the way to its destination. Remember to carry along some food as you will want to and can feed them. Private boats are also available – expensive but hassle-free.
The island is supposed to be the administrative seat of Lord Krishna. It is also the place where Lord Krishna was reunited with his childhood best friend Sudhama. It is surrounded by several shrines while the main temple built by Guru Vallabhacharya of the “Pushtimarg Sampradaya 500 years ago. Besides Lord Krishna, you will find temples devoted to Lord Shiva, Matsya (another avatar of Lord Vishnu), Rukmini, Trivikrama, Devaki, Radha, Lakshmi, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Lakshmi Narayan, Hanuman, etc. It remains closed from noon to 5 PM. The island is probably one of the most beautiful parts of the whole state. Coral reefs, beautiful beaches, etc invite you to enjoy a stunning sunset.
A visit to the Hanuman Dandi Temple is a must once you are here. This important temple is situated around 5 km away from the main Dwarkadish Temple in Dwarka. The temple is built at the location in the place where the monkey god Hanuman and his son Makardhwaj, born from a crocodile’s swallowing a sweat drop of Hanumana, first met. The temple is unique in the sense that it is the only place in the entire country to house the idols of both Makardhwaj and Hanuman.
Hanuman Dandi temple is another important temple. The temple has many images of Hanuman and his son Makardhwaja born of his sweat that was drunk by a crocodile.
Dunny Point
Dunny Point is an incredibly awesome eco-tourism site within few kilometers of Dwarka. The sea here has rich algae beds and one can spot several species of marine animals like starfish, sponges, jellyfish, sea cucumbers, marine turtles, sea snakes, sea feathers, sea anemones, dolphins, etc. It is located on the very end of Byet Dwarka and is an ideal place for swimming, bird watching, camping, star gazing, etc.
7.Rukmani temple
Rukmani Temple is a small temple that is an almost 1600-year-old temple located in a deserted area and is dedicated to Lord Krishna’s wife Rukmini. The temple is a gigantic marvel of art and architecture with countless carvings on its walls.
The temple’s location at a distance from Dwarkadesh temple is not without a reason. According to the legend, Rishi Durvasa, who was the Kul Guru that is clan teacher of Yadavas (Krishna’s clan), lived in his ashram at Pindara which is some distance away from Dwarka. Krishna and Rukmini once went personally to his ashram to invite him for a meal at their court with all their chariots. Rishi Durvasa accepted the invitation but, on the caveat, that the chariot should not be drawn by horses or any other animals but by Krishna and Rukmini themselves to which the latter agreed.
Now Rukamni was a queen and not used to pull the chariots. After some time her throat went dry and she looked pleadingly at her husband who understood her need. He tapped his right toe on the earth and it brought out Ganga water. She had her fill of water but was so eager that she forgot to make an offering of it to Rishi Durvasa first according to the tradition. Durvasa who was known for his bad temper cursed them to get forced to live apart. Even now their temples stand apart.
Rukmini Patra
In the temple, you will find a printed version of Rukamani Patra which is a sort of love letter written by Rukmani.
The legend says she was originally to be married to Sisupala the king of Chedi but, having heard high praises of Sage Narada, she fell in love for him and decided to marry him.
This is when she wrote a love letter to him – praising him, showing her intention to marry him and asking him to kidnap her in the middle of wedding proceedings. Finally, knowing the possibility of bloodshed that might be caused, she tells him if he does not come, she will wait for him all her life. The whole letter is contained in Severn Sanskrit shlokas (the printed version of the letter offers their Hindi translation too).
This letter is read to Dwarkadish at his temple every night before he is out to sleep. If you are a woman who wants to marry a particular man then reading this letter might help your chances.
As per the plan, Krishna did kidnap her and they got married at Madhavpur Khed a village near Porbandar next to the sea on the Ekadashi or the 11th day of the fortnight of Chaitra month and then married again in Dwarka.
The wedding celebration continues to be held here as a procession would leave from Dwarkadesh temple to Rukmani temple.
8.Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple
Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas as mentioned in the Shiv Purana. Unlike other Shiva linga, the linga here is made of Dwaraka Shila, a porous stone marked with small wheels, found in the Gomati creek. The shape of the linga here is different from others. Located in the Deodar vegetation, it also houses a majestic 80-feet Shiva. The temple is opened between 06:00 a.m. and 07:00 p.m.
Nageshvara Jyotirlinga Mandir is a temple dedicated to Shiva, and one of the twelve Jyotirlingas (meaning the radiant sign of The Almighty) is deified here in a subterranean cell.
Timings: 6 AM to 12:30 PM; 5 PM to 9:30 PM
9.Gopi Talao
Gopi Talav is just 4 km from the Nageshwar Jyotirlinga Temple. It is a pond that is linked to Lord Krishna’s childhood friends – gopis who could not bear the separation after Lord Krishna moved to Dwarka and thus were reunited with him here on the night of Sharad Purnima (full moon) where they would dance and play with him. The Gopis later merged into the soil and turned into yellow clay, known as Gopi Chandan.
10.Bhadkeshwar Mahadeva Temple
Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Mandir is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is nearly 5000 years old. It was built around a self-manifested Shivaling found in the Arabian Sea. It gets submerged in the sea during monsoons. It is one of the best places to see the sunset in Dwarka.
Gita Temple
Constructed by the Birla group in 1970 to propagate the teachings and values extolled in the Bhagwad Gita, the Geeta temple is a simple and elegant structure made of marble close to Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple. walls are inscribed with verses from the holy book. It also offers accommodation options for pilgrims
Nearby Places
Somnath
A trip to Dwarka is often coupled with Somnath because of the religious importance of both these places. Somnath temple is the very first of 12 Jyotirlingas and one of the most important temples for Hindus and is another important place for pilgrimage located at a distance of 257 kilometers from Dwarka, to be covered by road.
Madhavpur Beach
The place where Lord Krishna married Rukmani, this beach falls on the way from Dwarka to Somnath and is one of the best beaches in Gujrat.
Porbandar
The birthplace of Mahatama Gandhi falls on the way from Dwarka to Somnath.
Mool Dwarka
Mool means ‘root’ And this is supposed to be the spot where Lord Krishna rested before reaching Dwarka.
Gir National Park
Located at a distance of 70 kilometers from Somnath and 281 kilometers from Dwarka, this National provides you an amazing opportunity to see Asiatic lions among other exotic animals.
Conclusion
This is all from us on God’s city Dwarka. We hope you loved this article. 🙂
Gujarat is a dry and very much vegetarian place something that shows the rich influence of Hinduism on the state but it is its temples we see the influence most strongly. The state holds some of the most important temples and spiritual places of Hinduism and many of them are in the form of a spiritual belt that runs alongside the Arabic sea coastline of the state. The places devoted to these temples have also grown to learn to entertain tourists in other ways and so are a natural choice for your trip. Here we bring you a complete itinerary of all that you can see in a tour of a spiritual belt of Gujrat :
Dwarka
We start our journey along the spiritual belt of Gujrat with God’s residence Dwarka, also known as the Atlantis of the East. Dwarka is the empire of Lord Krishan, one of the reincarnations of Lord Vishnu. Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatama Gandhi, has the nearest airport and from there you can take a cab. Dwarka is well connected to the rest of India via roadways and railways.
The city is home to several very important temples and the most important of these temples is 2500 Dwarkadish temple which after the visit of Shankravharya to the place is also one of four Perth (or four most important pilgrimage places) in India.
Before you visit the temple, take a dip in Gomati at Chappan Ghat. The river is in proximity of a number of other temple’s including Samudra Narayana or Sangam Narayana temple, which is at Gomati Sangam Ghat – the place of merger of the Gomti River with the sea, the Chakra Narayana temple where there is a stone which has an imprint of a chakra – supposed to be a manifestation of Lord Vishnu’s weapon, and the Gomati temple, which has an idol of the river goddess Gomati who, so the legend goes, was brought to earth by the great sage Vasishta, Lakshminarayan Temple etc as well as other attractions like a lighthouse, an amazing sea beach etc.
You must also visit the nearby Rukmani temple, a temple with a very unique story and personality. It is said a visit to Dwarkadesh temple is not complete unless you also visit the Rukmani Temple. Another very important temple is Nageshwar temple, one of twelve jyotirlingas in India. Bhadreshwar Maharaj Temple is another important temple located on the Arabian Sea. The Shivlinga here is self-manifested and gets submerged into the sea during monsoons.
Byet Dwarka is a small island in Dwarka which is supposed to place where Lord Krishna’s palace was. It is home to several important temples too and also a Dunny Point – an amazing place to see aquatic wildlife living in natural conditions.
All these temples can be visited in a single day if planned well.
Somnath Temple
Dwarka to Somnath temple distance – 258 kilometers
Several important spiritual places fell on the way as you move toward Somnath temple. Mool Dwarka is the first place in the region where Lord Krishna. The word ‘Mool’ in fact means root.
Madhavpur beach is the place where Lord Krishna married Rukmani, this beach falls on the way from Dwarka to Somnath and is one of most romantic beaches in Gujrat.
Somnath temple is the very first of 12 Jyotirlingas and is one of the oldest and the most important temples of Hinduism. The temple is a marvel of Hindu architecture and wealth and its importance can be estimated from the fact that it has been destroyed and rebuilt over seventeen times during its rich history. The temple is said to have been built by moon God Soma after Lord Shiva helped him cure himself of the curse he got as a result of preferring one of his wives over others. The moon god also has a temple dedicated to him here – Shashibhushan Temple, one of the few temples that worship him.
The importance of this temple dates back before the temple as the local Triveni Sangham where three Rivers – Hiran, Kapila, and Saraswati merge into the Arabian Sea was a spiritual pilgrimage site long before the temple was constructed here. Sangham is also worshiped as cementing the place of Lord Krishna.
Another important spiritual site is Baldev Gufa which is located at a distance of just 4 kilometers from the Somnath temple and is said to be the place where Baldev or Balrama (the elder brother of Lord Krishna) disappeared into while entering the Netherlands and returning to his original form of Sheshnaga.
Somnath Prabhas Patan Museum is home to several valuable artifacts from ancient India including pillars, stone apsaras, statues of Lord Agni, Uma Maheshwara, Lord Vishnu, Parwati, Natra Bhairava, etc but what makes it worth a visit is a very unique section that is dedicated to holy Rivers of the word. In here, samples of waters of many revered rivers like the Nile, St Lawrence, Danube, Tigris, Murray, etc are kept.
The beautiful island of Diu is a mere 90 kilometers from here.
Junagarh
Somnath temple to Junagarh – 90 kilometers
Junagarh is home to several most important spiritual places as well as other tourist attractions.
Dattacharya temple is located at a height of 999 steps and is an important temple dedicated to Lord Dattacharya. You must start early and by the evening you shall have a chance to visit Amabji temple on Ambaji Shikhar not much further off. Amba Ji temple is one of the 64 Shakti peeths and is dedicated to Maa Amba. It is a very important pilgrimage place in Hinduism.
One of most important Jain temple’s of Gujrat is also located in Girnar Hills here. Mallinath temple is located at the place where Neminath who was the 22md Tirthankara became a monk here. The temple parallels the architectural genius of Hindu temples of the region and has several idols. Several other important Jain temples are also located in the region.
Damodar Kund is a temple dedicated to Lord Damodar Ji is another important place of pilgrimage among Hindus.
Mahabat Maqbara (a unique combination of Indian, Islamic and Gothic architecture), Uparkot Fort (a fort from times for Ashoka the great), Ashok Shilalekh – an Ashoka Edict, Darbar Hall Museum (dedicated to showcasing luxurious lifestyles of Nawabs), Darar Hila (perfect for trekking), Sakkarbaug Zoological Garden (spread over 490 acres and built by Bank Nawabs of Junagarh, it is home to over 500 animals and 600 birds), Wellington Dam (an amazing picnic spot), Moti Baug (located within Agriculture University and home to beautiful greenery and a large water tank) and Science Museum are some of the non-spiritual places worth seeing in the region; however the one that gets our highest recommendation is Gir National Park. Home to amazing Asiatic lions as well as over 2300 other fauna species, Gir National Park is not easy to miss.
We recommend adding these temples to your itinerary as per your time and money constraints as well as interests.
Palitana
Junagarh to Palitana – 175 kilometers
The next stop in our tour of the spiritual belt of Gujrat is Palitana. Previously known as Padliptapur or city of temples, Palitana has over 850 temples in Shatrunjya region only.
Shatrunjaya (figuratively the place of victory against the enemy) Hill a holy pilgrimage site for the Jains. The enemies referred to in its name are inner enemies. The hill is home to several Jain temples that get completely deserted during nights as even the priests leave the temples after dusk. The temples are envelopes within walls and grouped into 9 different enclosures called thanks. Each tunk has a central temple and several minor temples scattered around it.
Chaumulh temple has a four-faced Adinath as its chief deity. It was built in the 17th century and its architectural genius is based on Jain symbolism. The temple is open on all sides and the roof is square-shaped and consists of several squares with a Dome above them. The central five of these dom-topped squares form a square and represent five hills of spiritual importance to Jains.
The amazing Adishwar temple is another architectural wonder of Jain culture and is another one of the important Jain temples. It has roofs made of marbles cut in shape of dragons.
A Muslim shrine that is dedicated to Angar Pir is located not much further off. Childless couples make offerings of miniature cradles here in Hope of being rewarded with children.
We also recommend visiting the temples dedicated to Sampriti Raja, Kumarpal, Rampal, etc assuming you have time enough.
Bhavnagar
Palitana to Bhavnagar – 55 kilometers
The historical town of Bhavnagar has several small temples clustered near each other
BAPS Shree Swaminarayan Temple dedicated to Shred Swaminarayan is an artistic genius with its Wal paintings, carvings, terracotta paintings, etc. Located in a tranquil natural scene, it has a very spiritual atmosphere and offers activities for elders and children.
Another temple, Bhavnath Mahadev Temple is a very important temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It comes especially alive during a five-day celebration surrounding the festival of Shivaratri.
The Shree Takhteshwar Temple is another temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is supported on 18 carved pillars. A triple eyed statue of Lord Shiva stands inside its beautiful hall. The temple also offers a stunning view of the Gulf of Camboy.
Yet another temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Nishkalank Mahadev Temple in Bhavnagar is buried under the sea and you can only see a pillar and a flag on a heavy tide day.
Khodiyar Temple is if great spiritual importance among pilgrims of devotees of Khodiyar Maa traverse. The temple also has two dharamshalas. It also has a lake and is a very good picnic spot.
Nilambag Palace, Mangalsinhji Mahal, Bhav Vilas Palace, Gaurishankar Lake (a scenic artificial lake built by Shree Gaurishankar Oza, the Deewan of Bhavnagar, you will also find a Balvatika for Children, a temple of Lord Shiva, and another royal palace nearby), a seaside palace-cum-hotel at seashore of Ghagha, Victoria Park (rich in fauna but particularly famous birds it is home to), Barton Library (a Gothic structure and one of the oldest libraries of the state. Also home to a museum.), Darbargadh (Once the ruling seat of Royal family, it is now SBI headquarters), Ganga Deri or Ganga Jalia Talav) (a miniature of the Taj Mahal constructed entirely in marble), Gandhi Smriti (a memorial library dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi) etc are some of non-spiritual attractions of Bhavnagar.
Ahmedabad
Bhavnagar to Ahemdabad – 170 kilometers
While Ahmedabad is full of tourist attractions a complete list of which is beyond the scope or need of this blog, we can’t ignore its serene temples.
Just 12 minutes from Ahmedabadh’s railway station, Haathi Singh Mandir is one of the most beautiful temples. A Jain temple, it was built by a wealthy merchant Haathi Singh. Made entirely of marble, it has some of the most beautiful architectural carvings you will ever see. Take particular note of Kirthi Satambh here.
The Swami Narayan temple is home to nine tombs, that are all situated to the south, and which are altogether known as “Nau Gaz Pir”. However, it is the singular breathtaking beauty of this temple that makes it a must-visit.
Manav Mandir, Sai Dham temple, Jagannath temple (a beautiful temples that holds annual rath yatra too, Shree Hanuman Ji temple, Shree Bhadrakali Mandir (dedicated to one of several forms of Maa Kali), Shree Devenderahwara Mahadev temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva, but also home to a stunning idol of Maa Durga), and also a replica of Shree Vaishno Devi temple of Jammu and Kashmir are to be found in Ahmedabad.
Gandhinagar
Ahemdabad to Gandhinagar – 28 kileters
Location at a distance of about 28 kilometers from Ahmedabad, the town named after the father of the nation has one of the best spiritual experiences to offer. Akshardham temple here is one of the most remarkable contemporary temples resulting from an incredible blend of traditional sandstone carvings with modern technologies like fiber-optics, sound and light shows, etc. There is also a Sar-Chat Anand waterworks show in the evening
Mehsana
Gandhinagar to Mehasena distance – 65 kilometers
Ajitnath Mandir also known as Taranga Jain temple is an important Jain pilgrimage destination near Kheralu in Mehsana. The oldest Jain temple here was constructed in 1121 by the Chaulukya king Kumarapala, under the instructions of his teacher, Acharya Hemachandra. The Svetambara compound has 14 temples in all.
9.Modhara
Mehasena to Modhara – 25 kilometers
Modhera Sun temple, maintained by Archeological Survey of India, is a strange temple in that it is without any idols. There are three mandaps in this temple – Guda Mandapa, Sabhamandapa, and the Surya Kunda.
Ambaji
Mehasena to Amba hi – 123 kilometers
One of Shakti peeths, the temple at Ambaji doesn’t have the idol but a “Shree Visa Yantra” is worshiped as the main presiding deity. The yantra is not visible to the naked eye and you can not photograph here. The temple is an important pilgrimage to point among Hindus.
Bharuch
If your leaving destination is to South of Gujrat, you can visit Bharuch in your return journey. If your leaving destination is toward North, you may visit Bharuch immediately after Ahemdabad (191 kilometers) and then visit the subsequent temples on your way back.
Bhrigu Rishi Mandir is located to South of Ahemdabadh and is your second option from there. It is one of Gujrat’s most important temples. The town got its name from Bhrigukachchha meaning Bhrigu’s Kachchh or Brhigu’s tortoise. According to the Skanda Purana, the sage Bhrigu, one of seven great sages or saptrishis immortalized as the seven stars and the author Bhrigu Samhita, the classic that led to the invention of predictive astrology, came to Bharuch sitting on a tortoise and made it his residence. Besides Bhrigu Rishi Mandir, the city is full of several other temples including Nav Nathas that are temples dedicated to seven swayambhu shivlingas here – Kamnath, Jwalnath, Somnath, Ganganath, Bhimnath, Bhootnath, Pingalnath, Siddhnath and Kashi Vishwanath which are the reason why Bhrigu choose it as the place of its residence.
Swaminarayan Temple, Narmada Mata Temple, a Vaishnav Haveli (enshrine of an idol of Bal Krishna), Khodiyar Mata Temple are some of other major temples while Sindhvai Mata Temple, Santoshi Mata Temple, Nilkanth Mahadev, Doodheshwar Madhavev, Nav Graha Temple, Kala Raam Temple, Dattatreya Temple, Gyaneshwar Hanuman, Rokadiya Hanuman, Bhid Bhanjan Hanuman are some of the other important temples. There are also several Ashrams as well as some old libraries here. It is also a place to take a dip in holy rivers of Narmada to wash away your sins.
What to eat?
While in Gujrat, you must try Gujrati thali – Gujrat’s unique combination of spicy and sweet dishes. Most temples will also have Prasad offerings.
Where to stay?
A number of the places on the spiritual belt have ashrams a Dharamshala offering accommodation options. Most major cities also have hotels and other accommodation options catering to consumers of all budgets.
What to buy?
Several places including Somnath and Dwarka have shops selling beautiful handicrafts many of which are not without spiritual importance of their own.
When to visit?
For the best spiritual experience, we recommending visiting during the festival season – specifically in and around Janamshatami and Shivratri.
Conclusion
We know that your trip can not contain all these temples. We recommend making adjustments to your trip according to your time and money constraints.
Ayodhya is a place associated with much importance in Hindu mythology. It is considered the birthplace of Lord Rama and so the place has many religious spots one can visit. But that is not Ayodhya’s only identity. Now that the Supreme Court’s verdict is out on the Ram Janambhoomi allotting the disputed land for the construction of a glorious temple, it becomes inevitable that one would wish to visit the land that put the country in turmoil for so many years. But apart from the Ram janambhoomi, these are the places you can visit in Ayodhya.
How to reach:
By flight, the nearest airport to Ayodhya is Faizabad Airport which is just 8 km away. The nearest major airport is 130 km away i.e Lucknow Airport.
By road, Ayodhya can be accessed from major cities in UP through government/ private buses.
By train, rails connect Ayodhya to major cities through Ayodhya Junction railway station.
Naya Ghat
Naya Ghat is the place you must visit for a magnificent view of the Saryu river. The ghats are quite clean and the evening aarti with a sunset view is a spectacle to watch. Saryu River is also considered a holy river among Hindus and is worshipped alongside Ganga, Narmada etc. You can get a fantastic view of the aarti from the bridge and even enjoy golgappas near the ghat.
Chhoti Devkali Temple
Near the Naya Ghat is a historic temple known as Chhoti Devkali temple. As per Hindu mythology, after Mother Sita wed Lord Rama, she brought an idol of Goddess Girija Devi to Ayodhya with her. King Dashrath constructed a temple for the idol and Mother Sita would visit it regularly for her prayers. The same temple exists today with a wonderful statue of Goddess Devkali.
Tulsi Smarak Bhawan
The Bhawan commemorates the 16th-century poet and philosopher Goswami Tulsidas ji. Tulsidasji is credited with composing the Hanuman Chalisa and also writing the Ramcharitmanas in Awadhi language.
Ayodhya Shodh Sansthan and Ayodhya Research Centre are housed in the Bhawan. Ayodhya Research Centre studies the historical significance of Ayodhya and its literary, cultural, and spiritual traditions. The Bhawan also houses a library and an exhibition of Ramayana Art and crafts. Daily Ramkatha is recited there throughout the year and also an enactment of Ram Leela. The Bhawan, in contemporary time, is used for cultural functions and religious ceremonies.
One can easily spend hours in the Tulsi Samarak Bhawan. Throughout the year, activities are going on and the presence of museums is especially amusing for tourists.
Mausoleum of Bahu Begum
Mausoleum of Bahu Begum is one of its kind structure in Avadh. Nawab Shuja-ud-daulah ordered the construction of this mausoleum after his wife Bahu Begum died. His chief advisor was responsible for its construction and today the building stands spectacular and attracts everyone’s eyes.
It is constructed with white marbles and was an attempt to recreate the mesmerizing Taj Mahal. The mausoleum offers a marvellous view of the entire Faizabad city. It is 42 meters high and a must-visit place when one goes to Ayodhya.
Moti Mahal/Pearl Palace
Pearl Palace popularly known as Moti Mahal was where Bahu Begum, Shuja-ud-daulah’s wife resided. She married the nawab in 1743 and died in 1816. Moti Mahal is a classic example of Mughal architecture which is renowned in the world. Only a few kilometres from Ayodhya, Moti Mahal can be found in Faizabad.
Some other must-visit places in Ayodhya are Hanuman Garhi Mandir, Kanak Bhawan, Mani Parvat Temple and Ram ki paidi. Located in Uttar Pradesh, Ayodhya is a city you must travel to once in your lifetime.
What to eat :
You can easily find vegetarian food in all restaurants in Ayodhya. Some of the best places to eat are:
Makan Malai Resturant that serves Chinese, Indian, and Continental cuisines. It is located in the basement of Hotel Ramprastha.
Awantika whose special Thali which costs just Rs 165 is a must try. The music and ambience of the restaurant is fantastic.
You can also enjoy street food like Mahaveer ki tikki at Reekabganj, Falooda Kulfi and Raamji ka samosa near Awadh University.
