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Top Ten Things to do in Odisha

Odisha combines many kinds of tourist attractions in itself – the tribal culture, the ancient Hindu temple famous for both their religious importance and art and architecture, sea beaches, Wildlife spots etc.

I had a lot of fun visiting this tribal state and it is impossible to catalog all the fun things one can do here but here is a list of ten things I loved doing most.

1. Temples

Odisha’s popularity as a tourist destination lies with its golden triangle for the most part – Bhubaneshwar, Puri, and Konark. All these three cities are in turn famous for their temples. Thus we start off with these amazing temples

Konark Sun Temple

The Konark Sun temple has been declared UNESCO world heritage site and one of the seven wonders of the world. The temple is built in shape of a huge chariot with twenty-four giant wheels (showing either twenty-four hours of a day or two aspects (Shukla and Krishna Paksha) of twelve months and twelve giant horses. Though much of this temple is now ruins, the reliefs and sculptors of the temple still make it one of the most popular landmarks of Odisha. I couldn’t help feeling proud of the grandeur of Indian architecture when I visited this temple Kama craving on the walls of this temple has got a lot of attention during the British rule and gave me goosebumps.

Jagannath Temple

One of four Dhams of Hinduism, Jagannath Puri, is one of the biggest attractions for religious tourism in India. It is one of the four sacred Dhams of Hinduism. Though the temple was crowded, the architectural beauty and spiritual peace, the visit gave me made it more than worth it. I was at just the perfect time to see the Rath Yatra, an annual festival, though the occasion might have added to the crowd of pilgrims too

Temples of Bhuvaneshwar

Bhubaneshwar (literally ‘king of land’) is the capital of Odisha. Its old name meant ‘temple city’ and it really is the temple city of India. The city is divided into two part – the temple city and the more developed urban parts.

It has been said there are more than a thousand temples in the city. Now that was too many for me but, I wasn’t obviously going to miss the best ones. Lingaraj temple takes the cake of all the temples here – it is third best temple after Konark Sun temple and Jagannath Puri temple. However, there were some other temples that I will recommend if you got the time – Parashurameshvara Temple, Ram Mandir Rajarani temple, Mukteswara temple etc.

3. Sea Beaches

After having too much of humanity at Jagganath temple, I thought a sea beach evening was in order. And a sea beach was available only a few minutes away. The four hundred and sixty kilometers long coastline of Odisha have plenty of beaches to offer and Puri sea beach is one of the busier ones but it also offers all the comforts that come with commercialization.

If you are looking for a more quiet beach, away from commercialization and urban noises, there are a bunch you in Odisha you can try. Some of them are Balramgadhi Beach, the Astranga Beach, the Paradeep Beach, the Pati Sonalpur Beach and Gopalpur sea beach. I can not forget the experience which Astranga beach and Sonalpur, in particular, left me with.

4. Chilika Lake

There are many lakes in Odisha like freshwater Ansupa Lak of Cuttack, Kanjia lake etc but all of them fade away when compared to delights that Chilika lake had to offer. It had dolphins!

Chilika Lake is the largest coastal lagoon of India and, also, the second largest lagoon in the World. It is home to several spices of migratory birds and rare and endangered Irrawaddy Dolphins, Looking at those pretty dolphins here was the best thing I did in all of my Odisha tours.

5. Exploring Wildlife

Orissa is just as much about wildlife as it is about arts, history, and temples. There are several venues to explore for wildlife enthusiasts – National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Animal reserves, Zoos Wetlands etc. Personally, I loved the Silipal National Park and Bhitarkanika’s wetlands.

Silipal National Park

Located in the Mayurbhanj district  Silipal National Park of Odisha is an elephant reserve. Several Royal Bengal Tigers,  Wild Indian elephants, Indian Bison, Chausingha etc find their home in this amazing National Park.

Another thing that I enjoyed extremely is Barehipani Waterfall at Baripada. At about 400 meters, this is the tallest waterfall of Odisha and one of top ten tallest waterfalls in India

Another waterfall, Joranda Falls is located close to it. Khandadhar Falls of Sundagarh is also popular.

Bhitarkanika National Park

Created by river delta of the Brahmani and Baitarani rivers in Bhitarkanika National Park, Bhitarkanika Mangroves is one of the largest Ramsar vegetations in India. It is a mangrove swamp and home to several endangered species like Indian python, Saltwater Crocodile, White Crocodile, King Cobra etc. The sight of White Crocodile gave me goosebumps!

Nandankanan Zoological Park

There is also the Nandan Kanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneshwar. The zoo and botanical garden enshrine rare Asiatic lions, Indian crocodilians, big rock Pythons, White tigers etc. There is an aquarium too and a reptile park which is guarded by Tyrannosaurus Rex.

6. Caves of Khandagiri and Udaigiri

These caves, which are home to an ancient monastery, had some of the most splendid images that I have seen in Odisha outside of Konark Sun Temple and are much older than that belong to golden ancient ages of the country. The scenic beauty from the top of hills is itself splendid. Remember to beware of monkeys and carry your bottles. Start in time to be able to enjoy the sunset from the top of the hill.

7. Dhauli Giri

Visiting Dhauli Giri made me literally feel that I have time traveled to India’s ancient part. The site is historically important, as it is the place where the famous Kalinga war is supposed to have taken place. The war that melted the heart of King Ashoka, making him go all non-violent and Buddhist. The edicts of great Ashoka were the best things for me especially the Shanti Stupa.  Among other attractions were Budha statue, Shiva temple, and white peace pagoda.

8.  Museums

Odisha boasts of rich history and this history is celebrated in a number of museums here.

Odisha State Museum in the capital holds several treasures – Palm Leaf Inscriptions, paintings done in traditional style etc.

Tribal Research Institute Museum, which is also known as ‘Museum of gives you a chance to observe and study tribal art and artifacts, displayed in its five different parts. These parts are – Personal Adornments in first Hall, Belongings, Arts, Paintings & Photographs in second Hall, Hunting & Fishing Implements & Weapons of Offence and Defense in the third hall, Household Objects and Agricultural Implements in the fourth hall and Dance, Musical Instruments and Dhokra Items in the fifth hall.

If you aren’t old school, when it comes to art, we recommend the Modern Art Gallery which is full of little treasures of modern art.

All the above museums are in Bhubaneshwar. The capital city also has the Regional Museum of Natural History which displays taxidermy of different animals.

9. Hirakund Dam

There are a number of small dams in Odisha. A couple of them provide ready spots for a picnic with family and friends. Hirakund Dam though has a grandeur of its own. I was left awe-struck by its vastness. It stands on Mahanadi river at fifteen kilometers distance from Odisha. The surrounding vegetation combined with vast amounts of water stored in the dam creates a very awesome view.

10. Go Shopping

Bhubaneshwar is one of the first planned cities of India. And its urban half has a lot of awesome shopping points. There is the phrase I market, which is most popular among the middle-class shop alcoholics for its cheap products. You can buy clothes, electronic accessories, makeup products, cosmetics etc here at the cheapest rates. Another market for budget customers would be Station Square. There is also a market specifically for sarees – ‘Saree Mandir’. When shopping in these markets, be prepared to bargain – as the shopkeepers put high prices anticipating that you will bargain. Also, be extra careful with your valuables.

Handicrafts Villages

If you are looking for souvenirs let it be something artistic – Patthachitra paintings or palm leaves carvings or other such handicrafts. Raghurampur, a village just fourteen kilometers drive from Puri is devoted to making the most beautiful handicrafts – from Palm leave inscriptions to Stone and wood carvings to wooden toys. It is definitely worth a visit for every art lover. Shop for something – and spend some time window-shopping the handicrafts on display. Another village Pipli, thirty-eight kilometers from Puri, is devoted to colorful applique work. This can be a good place to get beautiful decorative items, handicrafts, personal accessories etc. We recommend a visit to these villages as it will also give you a chance to look into the village life of the state.

And of course:

Try Street Food

I can not visit a place without trying its street food, it just won’t feel complete. For a foodie, there are delights of seafood available at sea beaches and pure vegetarian cuisine offered at major restaurants. But streets food everywhere is just yummy! And Odisha has several of its own local delights to offer in this regard.

There are several other amazing things that I did there, so many amazing places to see – Sishupalgarh-a ruined fortification, Lalitgiri-a Buddhist complex, Second Mahanadi Rail Bridge to name a few. And of course, you can go shopping as well. There is a flea market in a phrase I, a great place for budget shopping. There is also a saree mandir, market devoted entirely to sarees. I so, so, so wanna talk about them but I had resolved, it was a stupid thing, to go on a word diet and so am limiting myself to merely those ten things.

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Culture Festival Spiritual Hubs

Things you would not want to miss while in Dwarka

The ancient city and capital of the Kingdom of Lord Krishna, Dwarka is a popular choice among tourists for its religious history. The tourists keep pouring into the place because of its intimacy with mythology and imperialism.

Dwarka is truly an ancient city and is known to pre-date even the period of Mahabharata. It is located in the western region of the Indian state of Gujarat in the Saurashtra peninsula on the Arabian Sea.

Here are 15 things you can do in Dwarka:

Dwarkadhish Temple Darshan

The most popular thing that attracts people to the city of Dwarka is this temple. The best time to visit the temple is early in the morning for the Aarti at 7:00 am and also in the evening. It has crowds of pilgrims and a spiritual aura around it.

Watch the Flag Change at Dwarkadhish Temple

The flag changing at the Dwarkadheesh temple that takes place in the morning, as well as the evening, is one wonderful sight to watch. The 52-yard flag is brought by the family that is sponsoring it in what seems like a ceremonial procession. There is singing as well as dancing. As the Brahmin climbs the Shikhara of the temple to change the flag, the crowd bursts into happy cheers.

Visit the Rukmini Temple

Dedicated to Krishna’s Chief Queen Rukmini, this temple is inferred to belong to the 12th century. It is another one of Dwarka’s must-see temples.

Tulabhar

The meaning of Tulabhar is weighing some things according to your weight to be donated or given to charity. Tulabhar has much importance in the mythology and even the story related to Rukmini. Therefore, as we started walking along the Gomti River, we saw the weighing scales that hung from the ceiling. There was a person sitting on one side of it with grains on the other side.

Upon asking, the priest told us how much money it would cost to do a Tulabhar according to our weights. He talked with precision and professional expertise and then explained to us the significance as well as details of Tulabhar.

It is said that if you donate seven items, the weight of which would be equal to yours, it will grant you Moksha. These seven items include- Desi ghee, Wheat, Urad Daal and Moong Daal, Sugar, Clarified Butter & Oil. This is written in the scriptures, that tulabhar in Dwarka will get you liberation.

The Pandit told us that all this donation went to widows and poor Brahmins if you were curious to know.

Ride a camel on either bank of Gomti River

There are two banks of Gomti where you are allowed to take a camel ride. We saw kids having fun riding it but were a little apprehensive of it ourselves. On one side of Gomti, there are various temples and ghats while there is a small beach on the other side of it. The camel walks close to the river showing wondrous sights.

There are also five wells that one crosses by and it is said that these sweet water wells are supposedly five rivers that were brought to this place by rishis. There are boards that mention this story as well as the names of the rishis and the rivers. There are two temples there as well, one of which contains the footprint of those five rishis who brought the river there. These temples are Laxmi Narayan temple and Ambaji temple. The former has an old cave that also houses footprints of the Pandavas.

The camel ride actually turned out to be quite fun and afterwards, we just sat there on the sandy patch watching others ride, or seeing the camels run occasionally. It was a funny sight.

Sunrise at Sudama Setu on Gomti River

Dwarka is one such place where you can see the view of a lovely sunset that gets imprinted on your mind. Though it is hard to wake up on time and reach Sudama Setu by the time of Sunrise, yet there is no better place for watching the sunrise than here. As the cable bridge(newly built) joins the two edges of the Gomti River, you have to buy a ticket for it. The ticket window is open early in the morning.

All these elements join together, seeing the morning sunshine falling on Gomti in the meeting point with the sea, standing on the bridge, it is an amazing experience to be had.

There are walking paths along with sitting benches across the bridge. We sat down and relaxed for a while, watching the Dwarikadhish temple being reflected in the river Gomti. We saw people taking baths at the ghats and just diving in for a dip. The morning rituals began at the temples and the city slowly came to life. The view of the river (though it is the sea water that flows in the river now), yet the illusion of it is so stunning that we couldn’t quite take our eyes off of it for a long time.

At the edge of Gomti, there is another temple—one of the oldest in the city called the Samudra Narayan temple. Do visit it if you get the time and remember to visit the ghats as well. There are plenty of small temples all around Dwarka city.

Sunset at the Dwarka beach

If the Sudama Setu is the best place for watching the sunrise, the best place for seeing the setting sun would have to be Badkeshwar Mahadev Temple. It is a small and old temple from where you can have an unobstructed and magnificent view of the sunset.

The temple must have been located on an island at some point because the path still gets filled up with water when there are high waves. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case when we were visiting. We also saw a great view of Dwarka city from here and it looked like it sat on top of rocks with waves crashing on the rocks.

We took long walks along the edges of the city, looking at camel rides on one side and beautiful rock formations on the other side of it. There is also a black and white lighthouse that looks glorious standing tall. The sunset adds more beauty to it all and creates a perfect setting for clicking incredible pictures.

Gomti Arti

One can easily find out the timings of the Arti from visiting the Gomti Temple near the Gomti Ghat. While we were visiting, the aarti happened around 6:30 am. Though the whole thing is not as elaborate or grand like the Ganga Arti in Kashi, Haridwar and Rishikesh, it has a certain charm of its own. And if you are visiting Dwarka, you should stick around to see it.

Visit the presiding deities of Dwarka

Bhadrakali Mandir and Siddheshwar Mahadev Temple – Dwarka

Though it is true, that Dwarikadhish is known to be the foremost presiding deity of the city, there are deities who presided in the city even before Lord Krishna who is the King of Dwarika and is worshipped as such. These deities are Lord Shiva and Ma Bhadrakali who also have temples dedicated to them in the city at present. The temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Ma Bhadrakali are quite small and underwhelming. One will have to ask the locals, in order to reach them. The Siddheshwar Mahadev temple has a beautiful ceremony of lamp lighting every evening, that one should see. Bhadrakali temple, on the other hand, is located on the main road with other temples close by.

Visit the Sharda Peeth

Dwarka houses one of the four Peethas that was set up by Adi Shankaracharya. It is a part of the Dwarikadhish Temple complex and they have some wonderful libraries and a nice temple. It also has many intellectuals and knowledgeable people you can talk to. We picked up a book here telling us about Dwarka city. The students of the Sharda Peeth also do a chanting which is an out-worldly experience in itself.

Visit More Temples in Dwarka

 

A few other interesting temples in Dwarka city are as below:

  • Swaminarayan Temple
  • ISCKON Temple
  • Gayatri Devi Temple
  • Shankaracharya Temple (which is mainly in ruins but still worth it to see the remains of what was once a great ancient temple.)
  • Mira Bai Temple (which is in the same temple as Samudra Narayan temple)

Birding

There are many birds in Dwarka city, especially around the water bodies. There are some around the bushes as well. We spotted Demoiselle Cranes on our way to the city which remained the highlight of the bird-watching escapade. It was sheer joy to see them.

Ride a Chhakda

These Chhakdas of various colours run all around the city. It is basically a kind of vehicle which is quite unique. The vehicle runs on a motorcycle engine and can carry around 12-14 people in it. Try riding on them. It is quite fun actually.

Visit the Oldest Stone Inscription of Dwarka City

The oldest stone inscription in Dwarka is situated at ASI Dwarika office. It dates back to 2nd BCE and is quite a large stone which is triangular in shape. Though the inscription is hard to head and we didn’t quite get it, it was still good to see.

Buy some Dwarka Souvenirs

Take some souvenirs back for your own memories or some for friends or family. The best thing is, of course, a picture of Dwarikadhish, whether it is a photograph or a glass box.

Chakrashila – These are basically corals from the sea that feel hard like a stone in your hand and have a wheel-like formation on them. Some of these are quite lightweight and even float on water. These can be used for decoration purposes or even as a paperweight. Seeing them float in water outside temples is quite a common sight in Dwarka.

There are conch-shaped seashells as well that you can get or traditional style conch shells, whatever suits you. There is also a type of Chandan, that is basically dried soil from Gopi Talaav and can be bought from almost any souvenir shop in Dwarka. It is called Gopi Chandan.

 

Best Time to visit:

October to March is the best time to visit.

Festivals:

Somnath Mahadev Fair and Mahashivratri are the two major festivals that are celebrated in Dwarka with much enthusiasm. Janmashtami is also one of the major festivals, that is celebrated in the month of August/ September.

Tip to Remember: In Dwarka, people start their days early and sleep their afternoons away, so plan your travels for the day accordingly.

You may drop us a note at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com for further queries.

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Culture Inspiration North India Spiritual Hubs Travel Trends

Festivals of Uttar Pradesh one should not miss!!

Uttar Pradesh is one of the most well-liked spots in India popularly referred to as the ‘Heartland of India’. The state boasts of a rich cultural heritage where you can find and cherish all kinds of colorful festivals celebrated by all communities. Planning your tour to Uttar Pradesh? Then you should not miss the cultural and traditional festivals of UP. These festivals are the symbols of age-old traditions that those people are proud of and even though they have entered the 21st century, they celebrate these festivals with the same fervor.

Here, we list a few very famous festivals that the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is known for.

Ganga Dussehra- Ganga Dussehra is mostly celebrated in this particular state. The festival approaches in the excruciating summers in the month of June every year. Dedicated to the holy river Ganga, which acts as the lifeline of the people in here, the festival is highly awaited and the people participate in the celebrations with an insane level of excitement which is a great sight to savor. The festival lasts for 10 days.

Buddha Purnima- The festival gets celebrated in the rest of the country as well, but in UP it holds a special significance for the people. UP is one of the most populated states in the country and it has people from all the religions in abundance. The Buddhist community is one among them and they are known to celebrate the birth of their lord Gautam Buddha with great enthusiasm. This day is the most auspicious day for them in all year.

Ayudha Pooja- Hinduism followers constitute the biggest part of the population of the state and they are avid followers of Lord Rama. The festival falls in the months of October or November each year. Lord Rama is worshipped on this very auspicious day. It actually is celebrated around the time when the much-hyped festival of Dussehra is celebrated in rest of the country.

Makar Sankranti- Entire country celebrates Makar Sankranti, mostly in the second or third week of January. But the festivals takes an entirely different shape in UP. The festival gets celebrated here in the months of December/January and the people take their ritualistic bath in the holy river, Ganga. There are few other customs and traditions which get followed and that make the Makar Sankranti celebrations different from rest of the country.

Lath Mar Holi Lath Mar Holi is the most colorful and a prestigious festival in Barsana near Mathura not be missed in the state of UP.  The festival takes place just few days before actual Holi. This festival time is a great holiday option for visitors which captures attention from tourists and pilgrims from all over the world. During the Holi celebrations, Ladies are found hitting sticks (laths) at each man as the common custom during this fest.

Janmashtami- Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna celebrates and rejoices the festival of Janmashtami with great enthusiasm. The major festival celebrations take place at Dwarkadhish Temple.

Mathura the birth-place of Lord Krishna, and Vrindavan where he spent his childhood, both the cities celebrate the festival with equal fervor. Around more than four hundred temples are dedicated to Lord Krishna in this sacred city. Among the list of temples, some of the major temples are Banke Bihari, Rangaji, Shri Krishna Balaram Temple and Gopinath temple.

Taj Mahotsav- Experience a cultural bonanza with Taj Mahotsav

Taj Mahotsav 2017 will be held between 18-February to 27-February. The event is held annually in the historic city of Agra and is known to be one of the most spectacular and awaiting events in UP according to the Indian calendar. The event organized by Uttar Pradesh Tourism Dept in Shilpgram complex, 500 metres from Taj Mahal east gate encourages the unparalleled cultural heritage and cultural activities of the state and the country as a whole.

Durgotsav- Also known as Durga Pooja in rest of the country, the festival falls in the months of October/November. However, it can be said that the festival gets celebrated at its very best in West Bengal and other adjoining states but in UP as well, there is much hype about the festival every year.

Other festivals such as Diwali, Holi, Christmas, Eid, and Muharram are also being rejoiced with great enthusiasm among the people here. But the style with which these festivities are cherished and celebrated by the colorful people here brings an additional charm to the overall festivities.

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Spiritual Hubs

Delving into Mukti Bhavan, Varanasi

Varanasi, the holy city that is known for the thin line between life and death and where death isn’t looked at as some malicious thing but as something peaceful and what grants you deliverance from life and its hardships. In the heart of Varanasi is such a place that grants you ‘Moksh’ i.e deliverance from rebirths. The place is called Mukti Bhavan and it is like a Death Hotel only with lesser room service and more funeral services.

No matter how it sounds, it isn’t as gloomy. Really sick and dying people just check into this hotel and are allowed to stay up to 15 days to fulfill their last desires of dying by the banks of Ganga in the holy city of Varanasi. Legend has it that anyone who dies here achieves what Hindu mythology calls ‘Moksha’ and does not have to suffer the cycle of rebirth again. And what Hindus want more than the dreams of heaven is liberation from the trepidations of life. Achieving ‘Moksha’ on your death-bed frees your soul ever after and you never have to be born again.

But only the truly sick and dying are allowed staying here, sometimes even free of cost if they cannot afford even rent and lighting. The manager Bhairav Nath Shukla prays for the salvation of people’s soul and at this point can even calculate when the person will die. The Salvation Palace has 12 rooms and a temple for the priests and for the family of the dead to pray and perform funeral rites.

Though the whole deal sounds quite spooky, it has become normality for the manager’s family and you can even see the kids playing in the playground. They have gotten used to the dead corpses and the grieving people. Because they don’t see death as something the people who come there are afraid of. They come to the palace ready and asking for peace in the form of death. However, the place comes with its own sets of terms and conditions and no one is allowed to stay here for more than two weeks, after which, the guests are asked to move out and make space for other dying people.

The place has attained a great name over the years and even had a movie made on it. While other salvation houses did open up in Varanasi, Mukti Bhavan remained the oldest one in town. Thousands of visitors visit the place throughout the year. But just to clarify, it isn’t a place for someone to commit suicide or even mercy killing. Only the people die naturally are allowed to stay here while the priest performs rituals to free their soul from this earth.

A man Girish Kumar, 85-year old who can barely walk into this dimly lit hotel checks in waiting to take his last breaths, never hoping to get out of this hotel alive. Why would a person travel through long and tiresome roads when he can barely walk, just to stay in a hotel? He came there to die. More specifically, to achieve Moksha. While there are many other paths people choose like taking a dip in the Ganges to wash off their sins, for those with no one to take care of them, Moksha Bhavan has become kind of a sanctuary to come and lie in peace while breathing the last breaths.

But the problem arises when people refuse to leave even after having waited their two weeks for death. Those stubborn guests refuse to pave the way for other people waiting to have their chance at redemption and wait for months at length. This is the reason the hotel has started admitting only patients that the doctors have termed terminally-ill.

Kalawati Devi, aged 99 years has been living in Moksha Bhavan for over four months now and each day they think she is going to die, she lives to see another day. This definitely slows down the entries into the Salvation palace because no one can give a certain date for when someone will die. All doctors can do is give an estimation or an indication as to the health and thus, a rough time period accordingly.

This turns out to be a problem for such hospices because managing the money turns out to be difficult. A Salvation house isn’t something you open for commercial purposes because sometimes the people asking for a place to stay can’t afford it and they are coming there to die. Managing the finances for electricity and the funeral wood can be hard on the owners of these hospices. Mr Bhairav Nath Shukla has been praying for the salvation of souls for 44 years and you can say Varanasi which is known to be the city of life is getting popular for its death tourism now. Over the years, Mr Shukla has seen over 12000 deaths of both the rich and the poor in the same rooms, praying for peace. Some people come with their relatives and for others, it has been years since they saw their own child.

More than the pilgrims who visit the city for their religious beliefs is the population of people coming there to die now and it is hard to comprehend how well that bodes for the city. But as long as the people are terminally ill and there is no meddling with the law, it is all about the religious sentiments of people and the procedure they believe in. As for the institutions, it has already been established that hospices like Moksha Bhavan are for people who can afford it and even for those who can’t so it is a good thing for everybody especially the dying who can die with the knowledge that their soul will be free after the act. Those peaceful last moments is all anyone can hope for and as long as the place provides that, it is a good thing. Just an understanding needs to be accomplished with the people staying there for months, refusing to leave till they die because one never knows the particular time of death and it just hijacks some other person’s shot at deliverance.

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North India Spiritual Hubs

Kashi Vishwanath Temple the center of faith for millions of Hindus

Located right there in the heart of holiest of holy city Varanasi, Kashi Vishwanath temple is one very important pilgrim for the Hindus all over the world. Varanasi is the oldest civilized city in the entire world and there was the time when students from all over the world who were seeking the all-around education, used to come to the city. The religious centre of the country, Kashi or Varanasi’s heart lies in the Kashi Vishwanath temple.

The temple is old and it has faced some extreme conditions over the years and still it is there, standing tall, helping millions of people from all over the world in attaining moksha, the liberation from Maya and the true freedom from the vicious cycle of life and death.

Some less known facts

The temple was built in 1490 and since then, it has seen many different rulers having their own concept about the religion and spirituality. Call it a blessing of the holy river Ganga, that flows just on the side, the temple faced it all and is standing right there in all its grandeur. While all other temples were destroyed by moguls and then remade again, this one survived everything. Mogul emperor Akbar gave the permission to build the temple and the final shape and restoration work was done by Rani Ahilya Bai Holker. Aurangzeb had destroyed the temple and built a mosque in its place. The ruins of the old structure can also be seen even today.

Sightseeing

The architecture of the temple is an engineering marvel in itself. The golden chhatra at the top of the temple is known to be quite auspicious and it is said that one who is able to get a glimpse of the chhatra, their wishes get fulfilled within days. After the temple was rebuilt by the queen of Indore, Raja Ranjit Singh from Indore donated a lot of gold to the temple in order to pay his respect to Lord Vishwanath. The towers of the temple are about 15.5 metres high and are just magnificent to look at. The temple is also having an inner sanctum that is having a linga made up of black stone that happens to be placed in a silver altar on the floor. Towards the south of the temple, there are three little shrines and around the temple, there are five shivlingas and together they are known as Neelkantheshwar temple.

The temple is open to the visitors all around the year and they come from all over the world. You can guess its popularity just by looking at the sheer number of foreign devotees. Five aartis are performed in the temple every day and in case you are planning on witnessing them, this is a sight you will never forget in this life at least.

Best time to Visit

The temple is open to the visitors all around the year yet.October and November are the months when the festivities make it this temple all glowing and enthralling.

Visitors flock from come from all over the world and you can guess the popularity by merely looking at the sheer number of foreign devotees.

The Aartis

Five aartis are performed in the temple every day. Their timings are as below

  1. . Mangala Aarti :- 3.00 – 4.00 am (Morning)
  2. . Bhoga Aarti :- 11.15 am to 12.20 pm (Day)
  3. . Sandhya Aarti :- 7.00 to 8.15 pm (Evening)
  4. . Shringara Aarti :- 9.00 pm to 10.15 pm (Night).
  5. . Shayana Aarti :- 10.30 pm -11.00 pm (Night).

How to Reach

In order to reach the temple, one has to pass through the Kashi Vishwanath Gali. The Gali is famous for its shops selling pooja items and sweets. Ladies can stop by the popular ladies corner in that gali. After the darshan of Lord Shiva, devotees can also go out on an affordable shopping spree.

Varanasi railway station is the best way to approach the temple which is only 5 km from the temple. If you are commuting from anywhere in the city, it is ideal to board a taxi or an auto rickshaw for reaching the place.

Any months all around a year is good to visit the city. But around October and November, the festivities make it all glowing and engrossing.

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Festival North India Spiritual Hubs

Memories from Ghats in Varanasi

One of the best experiences that one has while travelling to the holy city of Varanasi is taking a boat ride across the ghats for which the city is famous. These ghats, which happen to be over 100 in Varanasi, are of great significance to the people of Varanasi and the Hindus in general.

There are a few of them though, which you should not miss at any cost if you happen to be in the city even for a very short period of time.

Assi Ghat- The Assi ghat is located right at the place where the Holy River Ganges meets the Assi River. It’s not as crowded or chaotic as the other ghats in the city and it being located at the southern corner of the series of ghats, it’s one of the most beautiful of them all.

Chet Singh Ghat- Other than the obvious, Chet Singh ghat is also known for one other thing. It was the place where Maharaja Chet Singh fought the British troops in the 18th century. There is very grand fort nearby, marking the defeat of the king.

Darbhanga Ghat- Darbhanga ghat is arguably the most impressive, beautiful and architecturally significant ghat in the city. It has a grand palace in its proximity which was built by the royal family of Bihar in the early 1900’s.

Dasaswamedh Ghat- This one is the ghat where the grand aarti takes place every other evening. It is one of the oldest and the biggest tourist attraction in the city. The chaotic vibe of the ghat is not irritating; it’s the extreme opposite, soothes the senses.

Man Mandir Ghat- The amazing Rajput architecture influence makes this ghat separate from the rest. This also happens to be one of the oldest ghats in the city and there is a grand palace right nearby it which is said to have been built by Raja Man Singh of Jaipur in 1600. An additional observatory got added later in the 19th century.

Scindia Ghat- Scindia ghat is picturesque and peaceful to its core with absolute distance from the chaos of the nearby Manikarna ghat, the ghat that burns. Other attraction besides the ghat itself is the submerged Shiva shrine which happens to be partially visible. The temple sunk underwater in 1830 due to some construction work that took place.

Bhosale Ghat- Bhosale ghat looks distinctively fresh and got built by the royal Maratha family of Nagpur. The artistic nature of the ghat makes it quite popular among the tourists as the windows at the top of the building are amazing to watch.

Manikarna Ghat- This is the ghat where most of the bodies get cremated in the entire city. Hindus hold a firm belief if the bodies were burnt here, it would make them free from the cycle of birth and death.

Do’s and Dont’s

Do’s

Do respect the rituals taking place at Cremation Ghats in Varanasi. The fact that they even allow tourists to watch such a personal affair in their lives is incredible but at the same time, you should respect the holy surroundings. Before entering, you should put your earphones in your backpack and avoid indulging into music at such places.

Dont’s

While planning to visit these cremation ghats, do not carry your camera and do not click photographs of cremations and rituals nearby, not even from the river, as it believed to interrupt the soul’s journey to Nirvana and also it is disrespectful to the family members in grief. Also, do not indulge in littering the holy sites.

One can see thousands of people bathing in the Ganges usually at sunrise at these ghats which is a beautiful sight to watch. Don’t miss on going for a boat ride (at early morning or after sunset) and explore the different sounds and tempting smell coming from the alleys.

For bookings to Varanasi, connect with us at ghoomophirosisters@gmail.com

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Adventure Festival North India Spiritual Hubs

One of the wealthiest Tibetan monastery – Hemis Monastery

The Hemis monastery is one of the wealthiest Tibetan monastery located 45km away from the Leh in Hemis, right on the bank of river Indus. The monastery has been dedicated to the prestigious Dugpa Kargyutpa order and is built surrounded by some of the most beautiful visuals in the entire country. The monastery is also ones of the oldest one founded in the year 1630 by the first incarnation of Stagsang Raspa, Nawang Gyatso.

The place is religious primarily, but from a tourist’s point of view, the place has to offer much more. Set amidst the enchanting greenery in the arms of the Himalayan range, the monastery has more than 200 branches, where about 1000 monks pray and live in peace. The richest and wealthiest monastery in India is the Hemis monastery of Jammu.

How to Reach

The monastery is about 45km away from the Leh in the south direction. By road, the visitors can opt for taxis, buses and one can travel through their own vehicle.

It is advisable to keep map while traveling to this place as the route is confusing. By air, flights run on the daily basis from Delhi to Srinagar from where Zoji-la pass road connects to Leh. Interestingly, for those who want to seek some adventure, they can reach the Leh by cycle with a large group of friends through highways.

The monastery is surrounded by majestic mountainous region and is well connected to motorable roads. The bike rides to the monastery are a common sight and one of the most memorable ones at that.

The monks here believe in living the life of grandeur and there is no dearth of necessities being provided to them.

Sightseeing

Impressive and intriguing, the sprawling complex of the monastery is segregated into two parts – the Tshongkhang and the Dukhang. As you take a walk along the corridors, the vividly painted corridors depicting the stories of the Kalachakra and the Lords of the Four Quarters are delight to watch.

The Hemis Monastery is the biggest and the richest in the Ladakh region and it is much evident in the eye-catching gold statues adorning the stupas, embedded with precious stones. The Hemis Monastery also has an interesting library that hosts that an inspiring collection of Tibetan books, relics, manuscripts and more.

You can also find an extensive museum inside the monastery, a little place that documents the history of the Gompa and has some very precious religious treasures. Do not miss the souvenir shop where you can buy curios.

The Hemis Festival

The famous Hemis festival shouldn’t be missed at any cost.  It is celebrated on every 10th day of lunar according to their calendar. The festival is celebrated annually somewhere near the end of June or early July. The monks perform the Chham dance wearing heavy brocade gowns and masks which are a visual treat to the observers. This dance depicts the victory of good over evil.

The festival lasts for 3 days in the month of June.

The monastery provides a great place to stay for the tourists who intend to spend the nights here. The food and butter tea provided by the monks to the tourists are in the house.

Food

Hemis shares cuisine varieties with Leh. Do not miss the different styles of cuisine including the thukpa (thick soup with vegetables), Pava which is made of sattu) ,  khambir and tasty sandwiches prepared with apricot jam.

Here are a few best restaurants to explore while you are here.

  1. Bon Appetit, Leh, Ladakh
  2. Lamayuru Restaurant(Indian Restaurant)
  3. The Nook
  4. Tibetian Kitchen
  5. The Zen Hotel Leh Ladakh

The best time to visit

The best time to visit Leh is the ‘season’ time starting from June, and this is also the time when the Hemis Festival is held. It’s an ideal time to visit as one can cherish the clear skies and take delight in the mountains sparkling in the sun.

Important details you need to know

The Monastery can be visited from 8 AM onwards and it is open every day for the visitors. There is no entry fee for visiting the monastery, but to visit the museum, you will need to buy tickets.

Places to stay in Hemis Monastery

The monastery provides a great place to stay for the tourists who intend to spend the nights here. However, if you do not want to stay in the monastery, there are other resorts and hotels to stay near Hemis Monastery.

Some of the best options to stay are Ratna Hotel Ladakh, Hotel Shangrila, Hotel Royal Palace, Hotel Ladakh Imperial and Hotel Cho Palace.

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Architectural Corporate Outings North-West India Spiritual Hubs Uncategorized

Mahabaleshwar is the place to be this weekend

Located in the western Indian state of Maharashtra and nestled among the Sahyadri Mountain ranges, Mahabaleshwar happens to be one of the most important and often underrated gems of a tourism place. There are numerous enchanting places one can visit in the city. A day is far less than enough to totally grasp in everything that the city has to offer. But still, if you are short on time, there is much you can do. Let us start exploring the place through our lens.

After the breakfast in the morning, you must visit the place the city has been named after, the Mahabaleshwar temple. The temple happens to be a great monument full of the architectural magic of the medieval era. The city is, however, full of many different temples dedicated to many different gods from the ancient Hindu mythology which you can visit. Mahabaleshwar Temple, Panchganga Mandir, Shankar Temple, Mahabaleshwar Shiv Mandir, Janni Mata Mandir, Shree Ganesh Mandir are some of the temples to check out. You may have to hurry as there are a lot more places to see during the one day tour.

The next stop could be the Panchganga temple which happens to be around for more than 4500 years. The temple is known to be the origin of seven different rivers. Out of all of them, spring of five keeps flowing in the direction of the temple, hence the name Panchganga- Five Ganges.

Behind the Panchganga temple is the Krishnabai temple where the Krishna River gets worshiped, one of the seven rivers that emerge out of Panchganga. The temple was built in the year 1888 by the ruler of Ratnagiri on the Konkan coast. There is a beautiful Krishna statue in the premises along with a very old and beautiful Shiv Linga.

Vena Lake and the elephant point are two more places which you can visit in case you still have the time left before the sun goes down. The elephant point is also known as the needle point. The name was given to it because it has two massive rocks with a hole in the middle. Thus, the needle point.

You can relish some of the most delicious cuisines from all over the country. Some of the best restaurants in Mahabaleshwar one should visit are Mapro, The Grapevine, The Olive Garden, Saayali Restaurant, Little Italy, Sizzler Place and much more. It’s a kind of food paradise visiting these places.

How to reach there

The city is located at about a distance of 250 kilometers from the state capital of Mumbai and the railways are the roads are well connected to ensure a safe and sound journey to the place. The nearest airport to the place is the Mumbai international airport.

Mahabaleshwar happens to be a very ancient city, full of many old temples and monuments that remind one of the eccentric cultures and histories the city once had. Many different rulers, especially the Marathas, have given the city a lot to cherish which, in the present times are the biggest attractions of the city.

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North India Spiritual Hubs Travel Tips

Some best travel tips for Varanasi

All right! Traveling alone to just any part of Varanasi is more adventurous than finding crystal skulls with Indiana Jones in the kingdom of Akator. There is an exotic cultural amalgam in one corner and a deep feeling of the renaissance in another. But your unprepared trip to Varanasi can turn you into a spiritual Zombie without a map in the desert. We bring you some of the best tips that come in handy if you are exploring the destination of Gods, holy Varanasi in India. Here we go:

Best way to arrive in Varanasi

If you are already in India exploring other places, then take a flight to Delhi and from there you can take a direct train to Varanasi. From the Varanasi railway station, you can opt for a variety of modes of transport. From tumtum to fancy motor rickshaws with some gravity-defying passengers, you are on your own all the way.

Go the street way

Varanasi is a small holy destination. Not really an ideal city for those looking for some really good authentic Indian food restaurants. To say, there are just none. You have to roam around on the streets filled with devotees around the world and naked Aghoris openly smoking marijuana on the ghats. Try the food you get on small roadside eateries. That’s the real flavor of India and Varanasi. Some of the best Indian dishes are there on the street. Gorge on some spicy Kachoris and cool yourself off with delicious lassis (buttermilk) in the glasses designed for Hulk.

It is recommended that you reserve a room in the hotel in advance so that you can grab a better deal. Otherwise, you will have to be a really great bargainer. You can though get some really affordable guides right when you step out of Varanasi station. Invest in one.

One of the best things about Varanasi is that you can cover it on your feet. There is just no need to plan anything special for sightseeing in the holy place. The real thing is right there on the ghats. People from around the world come to wash off their sins here. The cremation rituals connect you to the world of spiritual nirvana. You get to see a colorful tableau of different beliefs, religions, and cultures altogether. You live it all right there on the ghats.

No pictures of the cremation rituals allowed on the Ghats

Part of your daily walk will entail seeing the cremations on the Ganga but remember you cannot take pictures of cremation rituals being performed by just anybody on the ghats. It is considered as the disrespect by the family members of the deceased. Keep both camera and phone turned off, if you are planning to just witness the ritual. Ask for permission before clicking Aghoris and Sadhus

The streets of Varanasi are all filled with colorful Sadhus and Aghoris smoking marijuana like chimneys. Some of them are scary while others are interesting. However, do not click their pictures without valid permissions. They can charge you a hefty fee or just get offended for no reason.

The Vishwanath Temple is the most celebrated and it is said that it is not open to foreigners.

Rickshaw-wallah scams: Here is one tip to avoid the scam.

One should be aware of the rickshaw wallah scams. If your driver tells you that your hotel has burned down or the road is closed but they know another hotel it just means they are asking for the commission. Do not fall in the trap, rather refuse to pay unless you arrive at your destination and check you really are at the right destination before getting out.

You might get lost in the alleys

The alleys are small and in plenty, they will give you a feel of the real Varanasi. You’ll almost certainly get lost but ultimately they lead you to the main road from where you can start all over again. Make sure to ask for your business card from your guesthouse and carry it along with you. So that in the case of any confusion you can ask people for directions when it’s time to get back home.

Too much PAAN everywhere

People here love Paan! You will find all the dudes chewing it and the sad part, they split it all over the place and roll it at lots of booths..so just be careful!! Although paan is popular all over India but you would have never seen so much of paan as they indulge in at this place.

Varanasi is one of the most popular places to visit in Northern India. It helps you get on the road of self-discovery and the travel tips above make the journey a lot easier.

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Culture North India Spiritual Hubs

The mythological celebration that is Varanasi

Hinduism happens to be the most dominant of all the religions in the country, and Varanasi is the holiest of the holy spots for them. It has been there for thousands of years as the centre of holistic and religious practices, Varanasi is located in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. A bus ride from Lucknow will take you here in a few hours of time, and you won’t even have enough time to pump yourself up for the great marvel of a city that you are going to witness.

The hot humid weather welcomes in the months of May-September which are deemed as the best for a visit to the place. As you set foot out of the bus into this wild dream of a city, you know you are in for something very beautiful and an engaging experience which you will take with you to your graves, no one can take that from you. The chaos in the city was exhilarating yet annoying. The economic conditions in the place are not among the best in the country, but beneath that mindless chaos, there is a soul in Varanasi that lies deeper. It touches on the places inside that you didn’t know existed.

The lifeline of the city is the Ganges, the holy river. That works as a two-edged sword, the excuse for the people in here to feel superior to rest of the country and it also provides them their means of living. Let’s explore the things about this enigmatic city that you may visit as you go in there to have an experience.

The Ghats- The highlights of the city, its lifeline for which Varanasi holds a special place among the Indians. Hindus believe that taking their last breaths on one of these ghats is the only medium of achieving true salvation from the cycles of life and death. Located along the banks of the river and spread through the entire city, these Ghats have become synonymous with the city.

Religious centers- Being a religious place, Varanasi has a lot of temples, mosques and other religious monuments within it. Some of the most mentionable temples are Gauri Matha temple, Durga temple, Kaal Bhairav temple, Nepali Hindu temple, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and the Sankat mochan temple.

Chunar fort- Known as the oldest structure of its kind, the fort got built about 2000 years ago. This is a wonderful place for the ones who wants to explore the city beyond its religious nature.

Ghats – Look out for different ghats which come in the way across the holy river. Each of these ghats holds an own special place in the religious geography of the city. Visit Ganges River Varanasi to experience the Aarti Ceremony at Dashaswmedh Ghat. The Aarti Ceremony starts after sunset & the duration in the aarti ceremony is 45 minutes approx.

Boat Rides- The boat rides that take place in the sunset or the sunrise are eccentrically beautiful. Listen to the guide who will row the boat (in case it isn’t a motorboat though) as he tells you some wonderful legends about the place.

Shopping in Varanasi is a totally exhilarating experience in itself and Banarasi silk sarees form a crucial part of an Indian bride’s collection. Varanasi offers richly worked saris are known to have passed on from generations to generations.

To satisfy the hunger pangs, one can visit the Dosa Café located at Dasaswamedh Ghat. The special upma, and the variety of dosa’s are delicious. Niyati Café in Varanasi has fewer tables but once the food arrives, you’ll live it and relish every bite. You can try its potato curries, palak paneer and naan to please the foodie in you.

Sarnath located in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is 10 kms away from the holy city of Varanasi. Sarnath has been a world famous Buddhist site in Varanasi and is embedded with many Stupas worth visiting. The most pleasant time to visit the Sarnath temple is during October to March.

The most important Hindu Pilgrimage in the entire country, Varanasi is also a tourist’s delight, whether they are religious or not.

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