Char Dham to Hem Kund, A Tour to the Religious Places in Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand is famous for its art, culture, nature, and sacred places. The cultural diversity of the city abounds with many holy places that have historic stories and great significant beliefs among the Indians. The Land of God has an exceptionally rich heritage of historic temples, ancient Churches, Monasteries, Gurudwaras, and Dargahs. From the foothills of the Himalayas to the banks of Bhimtal we hit on many pilgrimage sites and varied venerated deities with great historic significance. People of all religions and creeds swarm to these popular places for peace, bliss, and harmony from all corners of the world. Timeless Temples: Uttarakhand – Devbhoomi, an abode for the sacred rivers and temples of Hindus. Every town in Uttarakhand is sanctified by the godly love and belief of devotees all over the year. All shrines in the city are evidence of historic events explained in Hindu scriptures for the new era. The prominent Chardham yatra, the origin of sacred rivers Ganga and Yamuna, and the holy sacrifices of saints make Uttarakhand a part of our national heritage. The Hindu shrines are merged according to their origin and place namely Chota Chardham, Panch Kedar, Panch Prayag, Shakthi Peeth, and Siddha Peetha. Apart from Shiva and Vishnu mandirs, the city is also famous for Katarmal Sun Temple also known as one of the most beautiful shrines of the sun god after Konark Temple. Most of the Historic temples in Uttarakhand are under the Archeological Survey of India. A photo from livehindustan website. Classic Churches: Churches in Uttarakhand depict the old-world charm of the British era and the Gothic arts in their buildings. Christianity flourished in the colonial culture of the ancient Indians and has been followed by many to date. The cities with Churches light up in winter to celebrate Christmas eve and new year. New tidings of the year bring joy and happiness among the natives and tourists of the city. Some of the alluring and serene churches in the city to plan a Sunday mass on your vacay: St John’s Church, Nainital. Abbott Mount Church, Lohaghat. Kellogg Memorial Church, Mussoorie. Morrison Memorial, Dehradun. St Mary’s Church, Lansdowne. St Joseph Church, Kotdwara A picture from OpIndia website. Magnificent Monasteries: The Indian Monasteries reflect Tibetan traditions in their preaching and scriptures as the origin of Buddhists and monks in India was from their ancestors. The architecture, landscapes, and serene atmosphere of these monasteries attract the disciples and other tourists for blessing rituals, and meditation sessions. Mind rolling, Dehradun. Sakya Centre Buddhist, Dehradun. Ngor Monastery, Dehradun. Palden feeling Gomang, Nainital. Tibetan Buddhist Monastery, Nainital. St Francis Monastery, Mussoorie. Mind rolling Monastery in Dehradun is one of the largest Buddhist viharas in the foothills of the Himalayas. A pic from thrillophilia website Grandiose Gurudwaras: Uttarakhand has many renowned Sikh shrines dedicated to the Sikh gurus for their work and worship. The pilgrims flock to these Gurudwaras during the Hem Kund Yatra that starts on 25 May and end on 10 Oct. Hem Kund Sahib and Gurudwara Nanakmatta Sahib in Sitarganji are the most revered Gurudwaras in Uttarakhand. Nanakmatta is a small town named after the historic site, Gurdwara Nanak Mata Sahib. The Sikh community of Uttarakhand has many ancient Gurudwaras, revered by all religious creeds. Some among them are: Baoti Sahib, Nanakmatta. Gurudhwara Nanaksara, Dehradun. Reetha Meetha Sahib, Champawat district. Gurudwara shri Nanakana sahib, Kashipuri. Gurudwara Nanakar, Dehradun. A pic from tripoto website. Mesmerizing Mosque: The only Mosque in Uttarakhand with a history of more than 1200 years. A small town developed around the shrine is now referred to by name of the Mosque. The Piran Kaliyar Sharif Mosque in Haridwar is the dargah of Allaudin Ali Ahmed Sabir Kalyari. The Dargah is built in the 13 century by Ibrahim Lodhi, a ruler of Delhi. Ibrahim Lodhi is a Sufi saint of the Christi Order, a disciple who followed the preaching and spiritual prayers of Sabir. A picture from Uttarakhand tourism website
6 GLORIOUS MUST-VISIT TEMPLES IN KARNATAKA
Karnataka, a land offering a wide variety of tourist destinations. From Pristine Beaches, Pilgrimage sites, National parks, reserves, grand palaces, heritage, and historical monuments, attracts travelers from all around the world. Karnataka is a sanctum of nature embracing waterfalls, hill stations, and forest reserves, a state with nature’s Kaleidoscope at its best. It is popular for its marvelous temples, boasting the glorious reigns of the various dynasties that ruled Karnataka. These temples are an architectural marvel whilst preserving culture and art that act as a storyteller of bygone kings and mythological legends. Note : Please keep in mind to wear proper attire, preferably ethnic for women. For men, a bare upper body is required while visiting these places of devotion. Although Karnataka is home to thousands of beautiful temples, we have curated a list of 6 must-visit magnificent temples. SRI KRISHNA TEMPLE AT UDUPI Also known as the Mathura of Southern India for it’s divine Sri Krishna Temple, this small town is situated amidst the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats in the temple town of Udupi. The temple is one of the seven Mukti Sthalas (pilgrimage centers) of Karnataka. Image Credits : Ravikiran Rao on wikimediacommons.org What’s peculiar about this temple? The idol of Lord Krishna faces the west, although every Hindu temple idol is east facing. There’s a popular local story explaining this change; Saint Kanakadasa came to Udupi as a pilgrim but was forbidden from entering the temple since he originated from an oppressed class. A miracle is said to happen in the form of an earthquake, and a small crack appeared in the temple walls. The idol of Lord Krishna turned towards the crack to appease Kanakdasa. This crack was built into a window and came to be known as “Kanakana Kindi” devotees now seek blessings from this window. The temple stays open all days of the week from 8:30 – 10:00 A.M and 2:00 – 6:00 P.M. Image Credits : Trimurthi Kulkarni on wikimediacommons.org TTW Recommendations : Try the delicious Prasadam offered by the temple in the form of Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all free of cost. Don’t forget to gorge on the unique cuisine of Udupi and its renowned Udupi Dosas. Hoyasaleshwara Temple Hoyasaleshwara temple or Halebidu temple is famous for its detailed carvings and imagery from epics like Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, and Ramayana etched into the temple walls, in the form of small friezes, renowned for its remarkable Indian craftsmanship. Although this temple reflects on the Hindu style of architecture, the influence of other traditions like Jainism, Vaishnavism, and Shaktism are noticed. Halebidu was the ancient capital of the Hoysala Empire and the temple was built by King Vishnuvardhana. The nearest city is Belur, 17 km away from the temple. Local Taxis are available to reach the temple. Image Credits : freejpg.com Get lost in the unique architecture The armies of Alauddin Khilji and Muhammed Tughlaq raided the temple after defeating the Hoysalas and had also damaged temple inscriptions. What’s left of the temple are ruins, protected by the State Archaeology department. One can only imagine the Grandeur of this temple before its destruction. This 12th Century twin temple made of Soapstone is dedicated to Lord Shiva, in the form of Hoysaleshwara and Santaleshwara Shiva Lingas. The base consists of 8 rows of friezes carved with lions, elephants, horses, and floral scrolls. The walls are adorned with intricate engravings of sages, Hindu deities, animals, birds, and friezes, illustrating the lifestyle of Hoysala Kings. The temple stays open from Mondays to Fridays from 6:30 A.M – 9:00 P.M. TTW Recommendations : Hire a local guide to understand the meaning of the carvings and delve deep to grasp the unique architecture of the Halebidu Temple. Hoyasala Mahotsava, a dance festival is one of the important festivals celebrated in these temples. If you’re visiting this monument in the Summer season, make sure to carry umbrellas and hats to avoid the scorching heat. Virupaksha Temple, Hampi Virupaksha Temple is part of the Group of Monuments of Hampi and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, a form of Shiva, Goddess Pampa, and Goddess Bhuvaneshawari, the temple was built by Lakkan Dandesha under the rule of Deva Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire. Image Credits : Vedamurthy J on wikimediacommons.org Encounter the grandeur of the Vijayanagara Empire The Virupaksha temple is the most significant center of pilgrimage in Hampi and is considered the most sacred. Hampi, situated at the embankment of the Tungabhadra river, is an architectural paradise and home to the lost kingdom of Vijayanagara. This civilization bears testimony to the grandeur and wealth of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Empire was so prosperous that Gold and Silver street markets filled the city. Art, craft, and culture prospered in the 14th century, during the reign of the dynasty. However, they were later demolished by Muslim invaders. The temple includes a shrine, a hall with numerous pillars, three antechambers, courtyards, a pillared monastery, and entryways around the temple.One of the most renowned kings of the Vijayanagara Empire, Krishnadevaraya, made a huge contribution to this temple by adding the main pillared hall. The Virupaksha temple still stands strong as an ode to the Vijayanagara legacy, the only temple in Hampi where Pooja( ritual worship) is still intact and attracts huge crowds, especially in February, during the Chariot Festival. The temple stays open for all days of the week from 9:00 AM – 1:00 P.M and 5:00 P.M – 9:00 P.M. TTW Recommendtions : Visit in the early hours to escape the rush. Hire a guide and take sufficient time to appreciate the architecture and art. Keep an eye on your belongings and food items as the area is surrounded by monkeys. Kollur Mookambika Temple, Kollur Situated on the Southern bank of Souparnika River and at the foothills of Kodachadri Hills, this temple is devoted to Mother Goddess
