Blogs from India, Asia - page 15

Brihadeeswarar temple – also known as “Dakshina Meru” (Meru of the South) was built between 1003 and 1010 AD by the king Raja Raja Chola I. Brihat means “big, great” and Eswara means “Lord, Shiva, Supreme” – thus the name “Great Lord Shiva”. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built in Dravidian architecture and is located on the South bank of river Cauvery in Tanjavur district, Tamil Nadu. The main Vimana tower above the sanctum is made of granite and is one of tallest in South India. The temple also has one of the largest Shiva lingas in India. Over the last 1000 years the temple has had several additions, destruction by the invading Mughals, renovations and repairs. The shrines of Goddess Parvati, Lord Murugan and Nandi are from the 16th century. The temple complex ... read more

Hiking is becoming very popular in recent times and trekking/hiking in the Himalayan ranges in unparalleled. The beauty of the snow-capped ranges, quietness, peace, serene surroundings, peaceful villages and villagers in those areas is addictive for most trekkers. If one is looking for a good beginners’ trek with incredible spiritual significance as well – one of my favourite one is the Chopta-Chandrashila 5-day trek. The trekking path is easy for reasonably fit people and has absolutely gorgeous beauty – where you get to camp beside lakes and on lush green meadows overlooking the mighty Himalayan ranges. How do you get there? Day1 You can start your trek at Rishikesh (which is my all-time favourite location for a trek start due to its spiritual + modern atmosphere – Yoga and Aarthi by the Ganga and at the ... read more

ishikesh HotelsMap This holy town got its name from the Sanskrit name Hrishikesha – which means “Lord of the senses”. Several rishis and saints have lived here due to its aura and spiritual significance. The holy Ganga flows through the entire town purifying the entire town. There are temples which are hundreds of years old and yoga centers throughout the town. Apart from being a spiritual town it is also the “International Yoga capital of the world”. Being the Yoga capital, the town is filled with multinational people and yogis, and thus wonderful international food joints. ... read more

Gaumukh glacier is the source of river Bhagirathi – which ultimately merges with river Alakananda at Dev Prayag to form the holy river Ganga. The Gaumukh Tapovan trek is a Must-do for every trekker due to its unpredictable challenging conditions and stunning beauty. To top it, for spiritual people, it is of incredible significance as it is the source of River Ganga; and Tapovan is the abode for several yogis and rishis till date. Being a Yogini myself, these were huge reasons enough to get me excited for this trek, but as every moment during the trek passed, I realised I was in a place with astonishing history and could just feel it. It starts with a 10-hour drive from Dehradun to Dharali – a small town close to Gangotri. Dharali is one of the places ... read more

Come to think of it, I and my friends were glad that we made a decision to visit Ladakh last year in August. It had been a long awaited trip and on my to-go-list of destination for quite some time. Excited, we flew from Jakarta to Delhi via Singapore and took connecting flight to Leh from Delhi. Landed safely in Leh in the morning, we immediately bought oxygen cans at the airport. We were greeted by our driver, Sonam, and also by the blue sky. What a perfect weather! At 3,524 meter above sea level, Leh is the joint capital city of Ladakh, formerly part of the union territory along with Jammu and Kashmir. Our accommodation, Sangaylay Palace, a full-board two-star hotel, was clean and homey. In the afternoon, we could sit at the courtyard sipping ... read more