Tag: Uttar Pradesh

Categories
Spiritual Hubs

Top 8 Places to visit in Vrindavan

Vrindavan

The birthplace of Lord Krishna – his old neighborhood loaded up with his precious recollections, his adoration, and Raas Leela with his immortal love Radha – everything is delighted perfectly in a small town of Vrindavan. The urban communities of Vrindavan and Mathura have massive significance among the Hindus particularly as they have been named in the religious epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.

This makes Vrindavan one of the most beautiful religious destinations in India and also in the whole world. The city is generally lively and wonderful during the blessed Hindu celebrations of Lord Krishna’s birthday – known as Janmashtami and Holi (the celebration of colors). 

There are tons of visitors or pilgrims who like to visit this place to achieve virtue. Moreover, there are also some visitors who like to visit this place to experience the scenic beauty of nature. Are you on the same list and want to know the best places to visit in Vrindavan? Stay on this guide till the end and gather the detailed information associated with these visiting places.

Best Places to Visit in Vrindavan

Here, we are going to discuss the top 8 places where you can visit with your families or friends during your holiday. Let’s dig up.

Govind Deo Temple

Govind Deo Temple, one of the most visiting places in Vrindavan locates 1 kilometer away from the railway station and also popularly known as Govind Dev Ji temple. It is one of the most significant tourist temptations in the town. In the year 1590, Raja Man Sing (king of Amber) constructed this temple.

The construction of this temple is unique as it is an amalgamation of the Western, Hindu, and Muslim styles. This large temple is made of red sandstone and follows the Greek cross sign. The temple ascends to seven stories and is devoted to the love of Govind, another name of Lord Krishna. 

In the year 1670, the Govind Deo Temple was attacked by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and for which the temple is only 3-storied now. The vast majority of the temple activities such as petition and puja happens at a littler temple (arranged behind the fundamental temple) because of the serious decimation, 

A stairwell will lead you to the primary corridor and the roof decorates with a lotus totally hand etched. The internal sanctum of this temple is made of marble and silver. During the festivals of Holi and Janamashtami, the temple witnesses significant footfalls.

Visiting hours:  Govind Deo temple opens every day from morning 8:30 am to noon at 12.30 pm and again open from 4:00 pm and close at 8.30 pm.

Prem Mandir

Prem Mandir, also known as Temple of love is one of the largest temples to visit in the Vrindavan and dedicated to the glorification of Goddess Radha and Lord Krishna. This temple is comparatively new and established in the year 2001. From the year 2012, tourists can visit this religious temple. According to local people, this temple circulates over a sprawling 55 acres of land.  

Prem Mandir, made of marble and has a two-storied pattern. Apart from this, the temple walls are trimmed with an amazing painting depicting the Leela of Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha. More than eighty-two panels on the temple wall are hand-painted. The internal sanctum of the temple houses the divinities Krishna and Radha on the ground floor while the principal floor shows the deity of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita. 

A large garden with lots of flowering plants and lights covers the entire temple. Apart from this, there are also vast statues of the Goddess and Gods in the garden. Moreover, every evening, the temple organizes a light show. 

Visiting hours:  the visiting hours of this temple are every day from 5:00 am to 12:30 pm and again from 4:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Kesi Ghat

Kesi Ghat, known as one of the most essential ghats located at the banks of the Yamuna. Every morning, tourists visit this spot. According to Mythology, after killing the demon named Keshi, Lord Krishna took a dip into the Yamuna water. Therefore, Kesi Ghat, popularly known as one of the most attractive places to visit in Vrindavan. 

Also, at the back, the large Madanmohan Temple provides an amazing environment. Here, you can even opt for a boat ride.

Visiting hours: Every day from morning 5:30 am to 8:00 pm.

Banke Bihari Temple

Banke Bihari temple is another unique place that is also known as one of seven temples of Thakur of Vrindavan. The temple’s design is Rajasthani with curved windows and brilliantly etched stonework. The idol of Lord Krishna inside the Banke Bihari temple is also unique. The doll depicts the Lord as a youngster remaining in a ‘Tribhanga’ position.

Local people and purohit believe that Lord Krishna doesn’t like the sound of instruments and that’s why the temple has no bells or conch in its premises. Therefore, by their voice, people perform chants of Radha Krishna.

The word Banke means twisted at three spots. On the other hand, Bihari means a pleased soul. At three separate times of the day (Shringar, Rajbhog, and Shayan) – the entire routine of Lord Krishna has been performed. Shringar includes the Lord’s bath and dressing up. Rajbhog means a great meal and the Shayan means God’s rest time.

Visiting hours: Banke Bihari temple opens every day from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm and again from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm.

 

Nidhivan

Nidhivan is a wonderful vast garden, commonly known as Seva Kung and one of the most visited places in the Vrindavan. This spot is crowded by individuals everywhere throughout the year. The same number of legends are related to this spot. According to some people, Lord Krishna and Goddess Radha performed their Rash Leela in this garden.

Mythology says that, in the dark, Lord Krishna comes in the garden and dances with his Gopis. It is the cause why people do not have permission to enter the Nidhivan garden at night. There are more than 1500 tulsi trees in the garden premises of Nidhivan. 

Visiting hours: Every day from morning 5:00 am till 8:00 pm. 

ISKCON Temple, Vrindavan

ISKCON is one of the most visited temples in Vrindavan as well as in India also. This temple is commonly known as Krishna Balaram mandir. This temple was structured in 1975. The ISKCON temple is put forward with the sole objective of educating people on the Bhagavad Geeta and Vedas.

The inner of the ISKCON temple has three altars for the Radha Shyamsamundar, Balaram Krishna, and Sri Gour Nitai. After entering, an immense white marble opening leads to the samadhi of Swami Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON.

Also, doors of the temple are vast in size and totally carved from wood. Tourists will be able to listen to the harmonious music of prayers – known as Kirtans. Besides that, the ISKCON temple provides residence at a very low cost. Therefore, if you are planning to stay here for a couple of days, you can visit their official website to book your room.

Visiting hours: ISKCON temple opens at 4:00 am and closes at 8:00 pm. 

Sri Radha Damodar Mandir

Sri Radha Damodar temple is one of the tourist attractions in Vrindavan. This temple is located at the Loi Bazaar, near to the Seva Kunj. Local people say that Guru Srila Jiva Goswami ascertained this Sri Radha Damodar Mandir. The deities worshipped in the temple were blessed to Jiva Goswami by his master, Rupa Goswami. Damodar Mandir was roughly destructed by Aurangzeb, later on, all the idols of the temple shift to Jaipur.

Inside the mandir, there are two prominent divisions. These are Samadhi hall of Rupa Goswami and Bhajankutir or prayer hall. Within the temple premises, Jiva Goswami built a library in order to store the original manuscripts of the Goswamis. 

Though the Damodar mandir lost many of its surprises, still some crucial religious aspects are exciting. For example, the Govardhan Shila (rock) and according to Puran, Lord Krishna’s footprints etched on the rock.

Visiting hours: Sri Radha Damodar Mandir opens every day from morning 6:00 am to 12.00 pm and from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.

Rangaji Temple

Shri Rang Nath Ji (Rangaji) temple is one of the unique places to visit in Vrindavan. In the year 1851, this temple was established. 

Rangaji temple dedicated to Lord Rangji, known as an incarnation of the Lord Vishnu. The main attraction of this temple is its 50 feets Dhwaja Stambha. Apart from this, beautiful gardens and a water tank are there in the temple premises. 

In March and April, because of the Brahmotsavam Festival, maximum tourists visit the Rangaji temple. 

Visiting hours: Every day from morning 5:30 am till 11:00 am and again from 3:00 pm till 9:00 pm.

Final Words

Why are you still waiting for? Take a breath and visit these famous places in Vrindavan with your family or friends and enjoy your life to the fullest. 

Categories
Architectural Historical

Rediscovery of Our Diverse Culture in Jaunpur

The historical city of Jaunpur is an important part of our heritage from Mughal times. In medieval times, Jaunpur was an important center of Sufi and Urdu culture and an example of good relations between Hindus and Muslims, an attribute still visible in the city’s art and architecture. Today, The city located in the district of Jaunpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh and is known for its wealthy and fertile land. The architecture in the region depicts an amazing blend of Islamic and Hindu elements that can only be found in a culturally diverse country like India.

Here, we shall tell you all you need to know for getting a maximum of attraction this little city has to offer.

History of Jaunpur

Historically known as Sheeraz-e-Hind, it was created by emperor Feroz Shah Tughlaq of the Tughlaq dynasty of Delhi Sultanate and named in memory of his cousin, Muhammad bin Tughluq, whose nickname was Jauna Khan.

Feroz Shah Tughlaq appointed Malik Sarwar, a eunuch, who was notorious for also having been the lover of Feroz Shah Tughlaq’s daughter, as the governor of the region in 1388. This was the time when the Delhi Sultanate was also declining because of factions forever fighting amongst each other for power and Malik Sarwar took advantage of the condition and declared independence. He adopted a son named Mubarak Shah and started what came to be known as Sharqi dynasty or the dynasty of the East. The dynasty was a big military power within the region – an empire extending from Bihar in West to Kanauj in the East. About a century later, Jaunpur was conquered back to Delhi Sultanate in 1493 by Sikander Lodhi of the Lodhi dynasty.

When to visit Jaunpur?

The best time to visit Jaunpur is during the winter season, which is the months from November to February as the weather is quite pleasant with the temperature ranging between 9 degrees Celsius and 25 degrees Celsius. Monsoon seasons see lots of heavy rain and Jaunpur remains wet and humid while temperature might rise to 40 degrees in summers.

How to reach Jaunpur?

The city of Jaunpur is located 228 km southeast of state capital Lucknow. The small city does not have an airport of its own. And the closest airport is in Varanasi, 42 kilometers away – the Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport. The airport enjoys good connectivity to nearby major cities as well as megacities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, etc. Air India, IndiGo, Vistara, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, etc are some of the air travel services which operate at the airport.

The city boasts of 4 major railway stations Jaunpur City Railway Station(JOP), Jaunpur Junction (JNU), Shahganj Junction (SHG) and Janghai Junction, Kerakat railway station (KCT) and enjoys good railway connectivity to all major cities of India.

The road transportation connectivity is equally brilliant. Besides Lucknow and Varanasi, some other major cities nearby include Patna which is around 275 km away, Allahabad at a distance of 102 kilometers, Kanpur at a distance of 302 kilometers.

There are no city buses but you can use state buses connecting the city to other cities to roam around in the city as these buses stop at different points. However, you will have to book advance tickets – this is what we did. Other options like rickshaws are easily available.

Where to stay in Jaunpur

Jaunpur has hotels catering to people of budgets and finding accommodation won’t be really different here. Though we ourselves didn’t stay here overnight.

What to buy in Jaunpur?

Jaunpur is gaining popularity for its indigenous art. Though people are skilled in jewelry making and ivory carving, we highly recommend buying perfumes as your souvenirs. Perfumes are Jaunpur’s specialty. They make perfumes from jasmine flowers, vetiver, saffron, Korea, Agar, etc. You can also go for some silver-based jewelry.

What to eat in Jaunpur?

Awadhi cuisine is easy to be found in restaurants around Jaunpur and you must definitely give this delicious food a try. Don’t forget to give a try to savor Imarti – a sweet delicacy made from urad puls which is one of Jaunpur’s best dishes.

Places to see in Jaunpur

Some of Jaunpur’s most popular landmarks include:

Shahi Bridge

The Gomti River flows through the center of Jaunpur. It is visited for its Hindu and Muslim religious places. The old bridge over the Gomti River in Jaunpur is known as Shahi Bridge. It dates from 1564, the era of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. The street crossing the bride has a sort of mini-market with many shops on it mostly jewelry shops. A good play to buy souvenirs.

Mosques

The major mosques include Atala Masjid, Jama Masjid (which is now known as the Bari Masjid or big mosque) Masjid), Khalis Mukhlis Masjid, Khokri Masjid, and the Lal Darwaza Masjid. These mosques are characterized by their unique blend of architectural style showing a combination of Hindu and Muslim motifs.

Shahi Quila Jaunpur Fort

This old fort also Known as Jaunpur Qila is a from the Tughlaq era but retains a good form. The fort has an old mosque inside. Mostly though, it is just wilderness and trees. It is a good place to take panoramic views of the city.

Jaunpur museums

Jaunpur has a number of museums Some of the most famous ones include the Botany Museum, Archeological Museum, and Zoological Museum.

Hindu Places of worship

There are some lesser-known places of worship in Jaunpur that you might consider visiting. These include Yamdagni Ashram. Sheetala Chaukiyaa, Maihar Devi, Trilochan Mahadev Temple, and Yamdagni Ashram.

That is all from us. Jaunpur was like a little cookie of historical tourism for you. What about you? Do tell us about your experience in the comments below. 🙂

Categories
Spiritual Hubs

5 places to see in Ayodhya

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.

Categories
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.

Categories
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

Categories
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.

Categories
Architectural Corporate Outings Culture North India

The Amazing Golden Triangle

For the national and the international tourists who like to explore more of the northern India, the Golden triangle serves as a holy grail. It gives them a great glimpse into the ancient and the medieval Indian histories. The popularity of the great Indian Golden Triangle is so much that it almost gets as many tourists every year as the Himachal Pradesh, which happens to be the top tourist destination in the whole country.

The Golden Triangle basically covers three very important tourist destinations across north India, the National capital New Delhi, Agra and the Pink City Jaipur. Here we will give you a glimpse into how the 5-day tour to the golden triangle is usually divided.

Day 1- The tour takes off from the National capital New Delhi. The passengers get to see many historical places such as the Red Fort, the Humayun Tomb, Qutub Minar and many others. Delhi is the most historically significant cities in the country with many different rulers across the centuries making it their capital for their Pan India operations. The tour will also make the tourists have a glimpse of the Connaught place, the old Delhi, and some other important places.

Day 2- Leave for Agra in the morning. The journey is taken through one of the best Indian national highways. It’s a 4-5 hours drive and then you check into a hotel for some rest and relaxation. The day begins around 3 in the evening and you get to see the Agra Fort. Built by Akbar, one of the most important Moghul rulers, this is a marvel of architecture and elegance and gives away a majestic vibe. The great Taj Mahal is the next destination followed by Mehtab Bagh.

Day 3- The day will start with the sight of the Taj Mahal in its early morning glory. It looks more beautiful in the morning when the golden sun rays fall on the pure white marble. It is the perfect amalgamation of the man-made and the natural marvels. Move to Jaipur afterward and make a stop at Fatehpur Sikri, one other historic place with lots of stories to tell. Reach Jaipur by evening.

Day 4- The 4th day is dedicated to the Pink city of India, Jaipur. Amber fort is the first step to take in the morning which happens to be a former capital of the state, popular for its painted elephants. Hawa Mahal is the place you move to in the late afternoon. The city observatory is where you make a trip to in the evening.

Day 5- After the breakfast, it’s time to complete the triangle as you start your drive back to the national capital through the Delhi-Jaipur highway. Taste some delicious food cooked by the amazing dhabas on the way and by noon of the late afternoon, step back in Delhi.

However, there are many more places that fall the victim of the time constraints and gets missed. But still, in these 5 beautiful days, you amazingly cover best all three of the historical Indian cities.

Categories
Architectural Itinerary North India

48 hours in Lucknow

Lucknow can be taken as a sweet dish, from the way people speak (ah that accent!) to the lovely architecture of the magnificent mosques to the manners, everything oozes out tons of sweetness. Add the delicious cuisines, especially the Mughlai kebabs, biryani and what not, and the city becomes one delicious dream of a food lover along with a poetry enthusiast and the one who understands the nuisances of what constitutes a great city to live in. Spending some time here amidst the narrow alleys, the crowded markets, and delicate biryani outlets may not set well with you at the first sight. But the city grows on you and then refuses to come out of your system.

Below are the things that you can do on a 2 day trip to this beautiful city.

Day 1

Start the day with breakfast. And what is a perfect place for some delicious breakfast than Moti Mahal? Away from the meaty cuisines of rest of the city, this is an all vegetarian food point and serves healthy and delicious food.

The afternoon would be spent taking a fully guided tour of the famous Bhool Bhulaiyaa which happens to be an iconic spot for the ardent history lovers. It was built in the 17th century and is still a place to get lost in even after all these years. Besides this, there are other things that this historical marvel has which will leave you thrilled. These are such the thick trees and lush gardens, a mosque, tazias (small replicas of Imam Hussain’s tomb in Karbala, Iraq), and rooftop balconies that will surround you with panoramic views of the Imambara in Lucknow.

Late afternoon should be dedicated to a place that gives a glimpse into the city’s past during the colonial days, the Lucknow residency. Also known as British residency, this place gives a good peek into the way the British people operated in the city. Visiting it may give you some vague idea about how the foreigners undertook their operations.

Idrish Hotel is the perfect place to end the day with the delicious chicken biryani. Situated in the most historic areas of the city, this one is a wonderful hotel cum restaurant.

Day 2

Start the next day with some vegetarian delights at Brindavan hotel. Located in Hazratganj, the restaurant is one of the most popular restaurants in the city and is a decent crowd puller serving some great chaats and chole bhature along with poori and sabzi.

Chattar manzil or the umbrella place is located just at a few kilometers’ distance from the zoo and a great spot to start the part 2 of the 2-day visit to the city. Nawab Ghazi Haider built it but died midway through the construction. His son then took the     Charge of finishing the construction and gave us this wonderful monument to be amazed about.

Most travelers happen to miss the famous 900-year-old Khamman Peer Dargah, which remains unseen in the premises of Charbagh Railway Station in Lucknow. The place is filled with the non-stop chanting of the holy Qurans and the crowd is unimaginably heavy, not only Muslims but a great number of Hindus too.

For a relaxing dinner, you must head nowhere but Falaknuma, a classy and sophisticated rooftop restaurant at the Clarks Avadh hotel. The restaurant has a real nawabi feel to it and serves some great Awadhi and Mughlai meals.

Lucknow, fondly called the City of Nawabs is packed with countless tourist attractions, religious centers, and mouthwatering eateries.

Most of the city can be visited in two days but to get the full essence of the soul of the city may take a lot longer than that. But something is better than nothing and these 2 days spent in here will stay with you for a very long time.

Categories
Spiritual Hubs

Formerly known as Mrigadava, Sarnath is a must visit sacred destination

 Overview

Situated near the holy confluence of Ganges and Gomati rivers, Sarnath still has celestial traces of Gautam Buddha who for the first time preached Dharma in the city. This place in the heart of the Varanasi reflects enlightenment in every essence. Thousands of tourists from across the world visit this holy pilgrimage site to pay their tribute to Shreyansanath, the eleventh Tirthanakara of Jainism. Some of the major attractions in Sarnath include Tibetan Temple, Chaukhandi Stupa, Ashoka Pillar, Archeological and Excavation Area, Archeological Museum, and Thai Temple among others.

How to reach

The nearest airport is Varanasi Airport (VNS). Varanasi is well connected via train, flights across India.Sarnath is around 9 kms away from Varanasi airport. Here is the list of items you shouldn’t mind visiting whilst you are at Sarnath

Chaukhandi Stupa

Built in 5th century by the Gupta dynasty, Chaukhandi Stupa is a Buddhist stupa that was developed in the memory of the Lord Buddha who preached Dharma in the city. The stupa also depicts the Lord Buddha’s meeting with his disciples.

Thai Temple

Developed by Thai Buddhist monks, Thai Temple is one of the major attractions in Sarnath. It is surrounded by a variety of beautiful gardens. It’s Thai style architecture helps its stand out from other attractions in the city of Dharma and Enlightenment.

Archaeological and Excavation Area

This particular area in the holy city of Sarnath is renowned for Buddhist relics that according to historians date back to 250 BC to 12th century AD. Tourists can find traces of old Buddhist monasteries. There is also a Jain temple in this area.

Ramnagar

Situated some 15 kms away from Sarnath, Ramnagar is one of the most popular attractions renowned for its Fort Museum. The museum hosts a range of royal collections such as ivory work, royal armour, vintage cars, and royal palanquins among others.

Deer Park

Deer park is where the Lord Buddha started teaching about Dharma. The place holds historical significant for being the place where Sangha was originated. The Lord Buddha also taught Anattalakhana Sutta at this spot.

Dhammek Stupa

This Stupa was built during the Maurya Dynasty. It is one of the most popular attractions in Sarnath. It is built of brick and stone and is about 43.6 m in height and 28 m in diameter.

The statue of standing Buddha

Apart from visiting other major attractions, Sarnath is famous for the statue of Buddha that is believed to be the tallest in the world. It is situated in Thai Buddha Vihar.

Visit the Lion Capital atop Ashoka Pillar

The great Ashoka visited Sarnath around 234 BC and constructed Ashoka pillar. On top of this pillar sits the Lion Capital that has become the national symbol of the country. You must pay a visit to this historical significant without which your journey to Sarnath is incomplete.

Restaurant and food

Just like its major attractions, Sarnath is popular for its ideal food culture. Some of the best places to eat in Sarnath are as follows:

Pizzeria Vatica Café

It is an ideal place for those who want to break their daily routine of eating Indian dishes. It serves delicious vegetarian Pizzas.

The Great Kebab Factory

It is a heaven for non-vegetarian food fans. However, there is no dearth of delicious vegetarian options here.

Brown Bread Bakery

You must visit this bakery if you want to indulge a little on mouthwatering pastries, breads, rolls, pizzas, and burgers.

Places to stay

  • The Gateway Hotel Ganges Varanasi
  • Hotel Surabhi International
  • Radisson Hotel Varanasi

Shopping

Sarnath is renowned for selling wide varieties of artefacts and statues of Buddha. One can find every kind of sculpture of Buddha in Sarnath that one wishes to buy. The market of Sarnath is a significant place only for the souvenirs of Buddha and one should not expect any fancy items here.

Sarnath is one of the four most important Buddhist pilgrimage places and a popular tourist destination in India which makes it a worth visit.

Categories
Architectural Historical North India Relax

Epitome of Love – The Tajmahal

The final product of the involvement of about 22,000 workers comprising masons, painters, stonecutters, carvers, inlayers, dome-builders, calligraphers and other artisans, from all over Central Asia and Iran is a sight to behold! It is the Taj Mahal, a monument which has a unique blend of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture. An ivory-white marble mausoleum on the southern bank of river Yamuna in Agra, it is designated as one of the “Seven Wonders of the World.”

The charisma of the structure then created is such that even years after its establishment, it is still regarded as one of the most magnetic and eye- catching manmade monuments of the world. Not only the Taj but also the structures alongside it are extremely charming and add to the artistic wonder and architectural grandeur of the place.The entire Taj complex consists of the following major constituents.

Darwaza – The Main Gateway

The main sandstone gateway adorned in calligraphy with verses from the Holy Quran and having a domed central chamber, was constructed in between 1932 and 1938. The door of the gateway was originally made out of solid silver to prevent outsiders from catching sight of the tomb until they are right in the doorway itself.

Charbagh – The Taj Garden

On entering the Taj Gateway, you can view a garden stretching in front of you up to the plinth of the Taj and it occupies most part of the Taj complex- 300 m X 300 m out of the total area of 580 m X 300 m. Symmetry is the guiding principle in creating this garden and it can be experienced everywhere.

The Main Tomb

Although Taj was built to epitomize Shah Jahan’s love for his wife Mumtaz Mahal, but later it was decided to make it their final resting place also. The southern face of the tomb is the prime entrance to the interior. A finely cut marble screen, decorated with precious stones, scatters light over the cenotaph of the wife in the centre and that of the husband too beside it. The 99 names of Allah embellish the top of Mumtaz’s tomb and rest of them into Shah Jahan’s -the ones that are the indicator of a male ruler.

Naqqar Khana – The Rest House

The Taj Mahal Rest House, also referred to as the Assembly Hall or the Naqqar Khana, is established on the eastern side of the Taj and Taj Mahal Mosque’s replica  lies exactly opposite, on the western side. It is believed that the rest house was built to provide a ‘jawab’, as it balances the architectural symmetry of the entire structure.

Best time to visit

There is no time of the year when the monument’s grandeur and magnificence fade away but comparatively better months to visit the Taj Mahal are from October to March. It comes to the peak of its luminescence during the sunrise, sunset and the full moon nights. Night viewing is permitted on full moon nights, plus minus two days, but tickets need to be booked one day in advance for the same.

 

 

Exit mobile version