Holy Towns and Temples

Articles about visit to various temples and pilgrim places in India, besides temples you will also find posts about ancient Churches, mosques, and other places of worship of various faiths and religions.

Oct 312019
 
Free Download November 2019 Wallpaper Calendar – Baijnath Temple Uttarakhand

November 2019 Wallpaper Calendar – Baijnath Temple Uttarakhand “A Charming Village Grew Around It”. That, in a nutshell, is the story of the colorful town of Baijnath that grew around Baijnath Temple Complex near Kausani where Bloggers Bus stopped for some time and I was able to click this image of Baijnath Temple Complex for the November 2019 wallpaper calendar. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati is believed to be 800 + years old. The beauty of Kumaon is that most of its temples are “Jagrit temples “, meaning the deity is actively worshiped & if prayed from a [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

May 222017
 
Varanasi Beyond Life - A Short Film By Aeyaz Hasn

 A Short Film On Varanasi by Aeyaz Hasn: Varanasi Beyond Life No matter how many time you visit Varanasi / Benaras / Kashi your heart longs to visit more. For the eternal city has a pull that has no logical explanation. From being the City of Shiva to welcoming Buddha ( who by the way referred to Varanasi as the ancient city 2500 years ago !!!). I have been to Varanasi a few times & I don’t think I have even explored leave aside understood the essence of Varanasi. While my next trip is planned soon, I try to [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Nov 302016
 
Hindu Temple Festival Parade Bali Indonesia

Apsara Spotting: Temple Festival Parade Bali Indonesia I was in my carb induced coma when I overheard it seems there is a traffic jam in front.  Lazily I opened my eyes but when I looked on the road, along with my eyes my mouth also opened and my jaw remained a prisoner of gravity.  Right in the middle of the road, on the sidewalk and almost in every direction I could see Apsaras.   I must be dreaming I told myself and tried to close my eyes, but my neuromotor coordination hit rock bottom, partly due to what I was [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Nov 232016
 
Celebrating Naropa Festival Leh

My Experience of Naropa Festival Leh Celebrations For more than 2000, years Leh was the final frontier, a few people knew it even existed, even less wanted to visit Leh. Then after the movie 3 Idiots, getting Lehed became something to be proud of. Thankfully for thousands of years, Ladakh was not on anybody’s agenda except for Buddhist monks and an odd invading army from Central Asia on his journey to more lucrative places to plunder. Isolation due to harsh terrain to travel with heavy snow in winters leading to the closure of passes every winter meant that very [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Oct 102016
 
My First Day in Leh: Overcoming  Fears of AMS or Acute Mountain Sickness

How I spent my first day in Leh trying to avoid AMS  So this is a monologue and some boring details about my first day in Leh. Those of you looking for something interesting about “ How going to Leh changed my life” kind of post, please stop reading right here, remember, this is desi Traveler Blog not desi Giani Baba blog. Anyways those of you still with me let us begin my Leh Yatra: It was not my first trip to high altitude, but first via a flight. Experienced Himalayan explorers say a road trip acclimatize you better [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Oct 092016
 
Revisiting Puja Memories:  With Love from Kolkata

The Joy Of Puja: Because Every Puja is Special Note from desi Traveler: There is Puja festivities everywhere, so I asked our friends to share their Puja Memories from Kolkata and other places.  I have my own fond memories of Puja in Kolkata, going from one Pandal to another trying to figure out what is happening all around me. But then I gave up and just joined the crowd in celebrating. Such is the joy of joining a Sarbojanin Durga Puja or the community Puja. But then there are very special Pujas that happen in Bengali homes in Kolkata that [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Aug 112016
 
Naropa Festival Leh 2016 – ‘The Kumbh Mela of the Himalayas’

Naropa Festival Leh the right reason to visit Ladakh in 2016 First thing first- Irrespective of  the label you restrict yourself to – Traveler, Tourist, Pilgrim, Solo, Group, Family, Gali-Mohalla or Panchayati traveler please do yourself a favor and stop saying, shouting  and /or wishing “ I want to get Lehed” “ Finally I got Lehed after dreaming about it ever since I saw 3 Idiots ” And then there are those who visit a slightly so called off beat destination where only locals normally go and then beat their chest like King Kong on Empire States Building – “ I [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Jul 072016
 
Rath Yatra Puri : A Divine Festival of India

Where The Divine Travels: Rath Yatra Puri The map only showed that Puri is on the sea shore of Bay of Bengal, there was no mention of the ocean of humanity that submerges the city of Lord Jagannath every year. As per legend every year Lord Jagannath and his siblings Balbhadra and Subhadra visit their aunts’ home. The journey happens on three temples chariots pulled by devotees.  When I reached the main square where Raths were getting final touches, more than the size of the Chariots I am overwhelmed by humanity around me.  It seems the world has congregated [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

Jun 282016
 
A Ramazan Walk at Jama Masjid Delhi with Navina Jafa

Jama Masjid Delhi – Ramazan Walk This post is about my recent Visit to Jama Masjid Delhi  for Ramazan walk and photography in the area. The moment we say Delhi 6 fragrant nostalgia bubble wrapped in exotica overcomes our senses. The moment I say “ Let us go to Old Delhi “, my friends starts salivating at memories of street foods that we relished on our last visit to Chandni Chowk.  For the folks living in places like Gurgaon (recently sanskarised to  Guru Gram)  and Noida, the town that has no idea about its history starts imagining a wonderland. The [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]

May 242016
 
Road Trip to Bhagamandala Temple & Tala Cauvery in Coorg

Road Trip to Tala Cauvery Origin of River Kaveri in Coorg Most hill stations in India came into existence because of Sahib log during Raj wanting to escape the heat & dust during desi summers. Not so Coorg, it has been a flourishing Kingdom much before that, proudly inhabited by the brave and nature loving Kodava people. My introduction to Coorg was through Hindi translation of Chikavira Rajendra, by Maasthi Venkatesha Iyengar, the masterpiece that takes you through the turbulent times of the last king of Madikeri. Ever since then I have tried to go and soak in the experience of the Coorg the [Continue Reading By Clicking Here…]