Uttar Pradesh

The Vishvanath temple was, however, destroyed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb who built the Gaynvapi Mosque in its place. Even today the western wall of the mosque show the remnants of a temple which had very intricate and fine artwork on it. One can find Both the Kashi Vishwanath and the Gyanvapi mosque adjacent to each other.

Rishikesh : Rishikesh is just 24Kms from Haridwar in the laps of lower Himalayas, this place is considered to be the access point of three other pilgrim places of Badrinath - Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. This place is surrounded by scenic beauty of the hills and Holy Ganga water flowing through it. It is believed that meditation at this place leads to attainment of salvation. There are many temples-some ancient, some new along the river Ganges. Rishikesh is also famous for ashrams teaching Yoga.

In the 60's even the Beatles could not miss the charm of Rishikesh and they came here to meet their Guru. The Ganga, which is known for its strong currents and fierce behavior up stream, suddenly becomes slow and gracious here. At Rishikesh, Ganga leaves the mountains and joins the plains for her long journey.

Mathura : He is easily the most popular person here. Every square foot of Mathura-Vrindavan is wrapped in timeless devotion to Lord Krishna, the evergreen hero of Hinduism, the lover of Radha, the cowherd-prince and the re-incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Mathura without Lord Krishna is like Bethlehem without Christ. Welcome to Brajbhoomi or Krishna-land.

 HAR KI PAURI :This ghat, located in Haridwar, is one of the most sacred ghats in India. People say that this ghat was built by Vikramaditya in memory of his brother Bhartrihari. This ghat is also known as Brahmakund. In the evening a Maha Aarti is performed on this ghat.

It is an event which is must not be missed by any visitor. The floral diyas which float on the ghat in the twilight creates an impression of a stars being brought in the river water.

During the day time the ghat is full of Pandas and Pujaris who sometime extract big money from the visitor. Avoid them if you can.

The ghat is also full of beggars, they not only create trouble for the visitor but also make the place dirty. There are many hotels, guest houses and temples on this ghat.

 VARANASI GHATS : In this ancient city of pilgrimage, the bathing ghats are main attraction. People flock here in large numbers every day to take bath and worship in the temples built beside the river bank. The centuries old tradition to offer 'puja' to the rising Sun is still maintained. There are over 100 ghats in Varanasi that line the western bank of the Ganges.  

CHANDI DEVI : This temple is on the top of a hill called the Neel Parvat which is on the other side of the river Ganga. The temple was constructed by the King of Kashmir, Suchat Singh, in 1929 AD. Chandi Devi is a three km trek from the Chandi Ghat.

The story goes that Chanda-Munda the army chief of the demons Shumbh-Nishumbh were killed by Goddess Chandi hence the name Chandi devi. It also said that the original statute of Chandi was established by Adi Shankaracharya in 8th century AD.

Now a rope way has been built which takes you to the top. Chandi devi is six kilometer from the main town of Haridwar.

 BAIJNATH TEMPLE : This temple complex is located 17 kms from Kausani. Baijnath Temple complex has many historic ruins. The temples of Baijnath group are decorated with some intricate and delicate carvings.

The sculptures are are also made to precision and tell a saga of craftsmanship which existed in those days. These temples are located 3 kms from Garud Bazar along river Gomti. The mere location of Baijnath temples mesmerises visitors.

The statues and carvings done on the stone are really some piece of creation. The idols are so lively that it appears as if they are going to speak now. These temples are 1000 years old but some of them are believed to be older. People come here to enjoy themselves on the banks of river Gomti and feed the fishes there. This temple complex has come up as a major picnic spot.

  Kedarnath : The Kedarnath shrine, one of the 12 jyotirlings of Lord Shiva, is a scenic spot situated, against the backdrop of the majestic Kedarnath range. At an altitude of 3,581 mt it is a 14 km trek from Gaurikund.

Dedar is another name of Lord Shiva, the protector and the destroyer. Shiva is considered the embodiment of all passion-love, hatred, fear, death and mysticism which are expressed through his various forms.

There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in Chamoli district itself, the most important one is Kedarnath. According to legend, the Pandavas after having won over the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war, felt quilty of having killed their own brothers and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva for redemption. He eluded them repeatedly and while fleeing took refuge at Kedarnath in the form of a bull.

Mathura-Vrindavan :He is easily the most popular person here. Every square foot of Mathura-Vrindavan is wrapped in timeless devotion to Lord Krishna, the evergreen hero of Hinduism, the lover of Radha, the cowherd-prince and the re-incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Mathura without Lord Krishna is like Bethlehem without Christ. Welcome to Brajbhoomi or Krishna-land.

 MAHA KUMBH MELA :Symbolically speaking, the forces of creation are collected in one vessel (Kumbh) and a celebration (mela) ensues, which is why this event is called 'Kumbh Mela'. "Kumbh" meaning the pot and "Mela" a sacred Hindu pilgrimage, attracts the world's largest congregation of religious pilgrims.

Since time immemorial, The Kumbh Mela, the greatest of the Indian fairs, has enamoured people from all walks of life. Irrespective of all worldly barriers of caste, creed, region, the Kumbh Mela has wielded a mesmeric influence over the mind and the imagination of the ordinary Indian. The mela brings alive the most spectacular India, now almost relegated to the pages of history.

Millions of Hindu worshippers take a dip in the holy River Ganges at the confluence of the three rivers; the holy Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, to wash away their sins as part of a festival, in the small town of Allahabad. The month long Mela (festival) represents a time when the river is believed to turn into purifying nectar, allowing the devotees to cleanse their souls as they bathe.

 CHARDHAM :With the majestic and mystifying Himalayas as the backdrop, the four most holy pilgrimages of India never seize to amaze travelers and visitors. Char Dham, or the four pilgrimage centers, comprising of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are frequented by the religious minded as well as those intrigued by the remnants of bygone years. The holy river, Ganges, and her tributaries flow buoyantly past the four dhams. According to the legend, Goddess Ganga descended upon Earth in the form of a river to help the suffering humanity. As the Earth would be unable to endure the force of her descent, the holy Ganges was split into channels, each of which also came to be considered as sacred. Four of these channels flow past the four dhams, namely Alaknanda (in Badrinath), Mandakini (in Kedarnath), Bhagirathi (in Gangotri) and Yamuna (in Yamunotri). The four dhams are blessed not only with extraordinary scenic beauty but also with a long history. This has contributed ancient temples to the panorama of these holy lands.

 Bihar

MAHA BODHI TEMPLE : The architecture of this temple is unparalleled in North India. It is believed that in the 3rd century B.C emperor Ashoka built this temple. The canopy structure of this temple is very different and attractive from temples usually found in North India. To maintain the balance of the main tower there are four smaller towers.

The king of Lanka, Meghvarn had constructed a monastery towards the North of the Bodhi tree. This construction was done during the period of Samudragupta. In the 12th century the fierce attack of the Muslim invaders had destroyed the temple completely.

In 1876 the ruler of Burma in agreement with the British government of India had rebuilt the temple on the remains of the older structure. The Mahabodhi temple has a huge Idol of Buddha in the 'bhumisparsa mudra'. The temple is surrounded by a small pillars and delicate lattice work. These are a major attraction for the tourist who visit the place

 RAJGIR : Rajgir, in district Nalanda, is a great holy place of the Buddhists. It is the ancient Rajagriha or Girivraja, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Magadha. During the days of Mahavira and Buddha, who visited it very often, it was a very flourishing city. It was the venue of the 1st Buddhist Council held immediately after the Nirvana of Buddha, during the time of king Ajatshatru.

The ruins of Rajgir, which have been partly excavated, cover an extensive area with in and outside the hill enclosure and include the ancient defenses and remains of habitations, shrines, stupas and monasteries. A monastery with large elliptical halls has been recently excavated and identified as Jeevak Amravan, mentioned in the Buddhist texts as a favourite retreat of Buddha.

 Maharashtra 

These sixteen caves are the oldest in the group and were carved in the 5th century. As one enters these caves, one crosses graceful angles and steps in a high ceilinged chamber where a 15 feet huge statute of Buddha is sitting in a preaching pose. In these caves the artist has tried an element of surprise by giving them expression of wood. Most of these 16 caves are viharas but cave number 10 is a chaitya. The style of carvings and sculplures in these caves indicate that initially the artist was going in for a simple decorations but later as in caves 11 and 12 he became more ambitious. The 10th cave has a impression of wooden beams on its ceiling and has a small decorated window which illuminates the sitting Buddha. These caves are rightly called the Vishvakarma caves. This cave is considered to be one of the finest in India. Here life and religion go hand in hand. The amorous couples play joyfully along the balustrade. Step out of this cave and you come acros an upper gallery giving a view of the precisely carved Naga Queen, the harbinger of monsoon and the dwarfs who were the court entertainers. The Buddhists believe that Buddha returns after every five thousand years, thus the12th cave has seven images of Budhha depicting his seven incarnations. 

Orrisa   

Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri : The temple stands majestically on an elevated platform in the heart of the city and was built in the twelfth century by the Ganga King Chodagangadeva. The structure of the temple has all richness and plasticity of Kalinga style of architecture. The 214 feet high swirling spire of the temple becomes visible even before one enters the city. The temple complex is 650 feet comprising 4 chambers- the Deul, the Jagmohana, Natamandir and Bhogamandir, surrounded by 20 feet high wall. One must visit the smaller temples of Goddess Vimla, Laxmi and Vishnu, which lie within the precincts of the main temple.

Sun Temple, Konark : The black Pagoda, as it was called by the European sailors, it was built in 13th century by Raja Narasimhadeva along the shores of Bay of Bengal. But now sea has moved two km away from the temple. Many myths and legends surrounds this crowning glory of Orissa. This exquisite specimen of Oriyan craftsmanship is poetry in stone and is included in the world heritage monuments. The Natya Mandir or the dancing hall of Sun temple is the only remanants of a glorious past which this palce was a witness. The whole structure in form of collosal chariot of the Sun. The chariot is drawn by seven horses and 24 wheels symbolising time.

The main tower of Konark stands 227 feets high superceding both Lingaraja and Jaganath temples. The temple is a brilliant chronicle in stone, with thousands of images including deities, the Surasundaris, heavenly damsels and dancers and other scenes from courtly life.

Madhya Pradesh  

Deogarh : Deogarh, the Fort of the God is situated on the right bank of the Betwa river at the western end of the Lalitpur range of hills. Due to its strategic location on the main route to the Deccan it was a constant bone of contention, and figures in the history of the Guptas, the Gujarat-Pratiharas, the Gondas, the Muslim rulers of Delhi, the Marathas and the British. As a result, it is of great antiquarian, epigraphical and archaeological value today.

The natural setting of the fort is dramatic, so is its scale, which takes the visitor by surprise. The fort is entered though a corbelled gateway in the outer wall. A path has been cleared through the undergrowth and broken statuary lies scattered about. Within the fort is a remarkable group of 31 Jain Temples. The site was a Jain centre from the 8th to the 17th centuries. Within the temples are panels depicting scenes from Jain mythology, tirthankara images, Manasthamba or votive pillars, Ayagpattas or votive tablets, Sarvatobhadra Pratima's or Jain images visible from all sides and Sahasrakuta's or pillars carved with a thousand Jin figures. Most important among the group are temples No.11 and 12, the Santinath temple. Among other important structures at deogarh are the Varah temple, the rock cut cave-Siddha-ki-Gufa, Rajghati and the Naharghati. The jewel of Deogarh, however is in a field by a well close to the banks of the Betwa. This is the Dashavatar Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It belongs to the Gupta period and is dated to about the 6th century AD. It is the earliest known Panchayatan temple of north India. It bears an inscription attributable to Govinda, Viceroy of Malwa and brother of the great Kumaragupta I. A row of superbly sculpted panels adorn the terraced basement which rises above the high plinth of the temple. A doorway with intricately carved figures of Ganga and Yamuna leads to the garbhagriha or sanctum sanctorum. The temple is particularly well known for its Rathika panels in recesses along its three side walls.

  Khajuraho Temples, Khajuraho : The architectural style of Khajuraho temples is very different from temples of the same period. The temples are not enclosed within the customsry enclosures rather they stand on a masonry platform. Each of the chief compartments has its own roof, grouped in a way that the highest is in centre and the lowest over the portico- the composite effect is reminiscent of the soaring peaks of the Himalayas. The temples are built from east to west and have three main compartments- the entrance (ardha mandapa), assembly hall (mandapa) and an inner sanctum (garbhagriha).

The temples are divided into three geographical groups: Western, eastern and southern. The western group are the most famous and the most typical of the Khajuraho temples. Kandariya Mahadeo is the main templehere. The shrine has an exquisitely carved entrance arch with a mulititude of themes celestial beings, lovers, serenading musians- movements captured in stone and frozen in time, yet retaining the warmth of pulsating life. The stone seems to have taken on the sensuousness of the carved figures. The oldest surviving shrine is the Chaunsat Yogini. One of the three granite temples, this one is dedicated to Godess Kali but the image has not survived. The Chitragupta Temple is dedicated to Sun God. The imposing five feet idol is driven by a seven-horsed chariot. The Vishwanath temple has an impressive three-headed image of Lord Brahma. The exteriors are profously carved and facing the shrine is a Nandi temple with a massive 6 ft high Nandi Bull. There are few Vaishnavite temples like those of Lakshmana and Varaha temples. Eastern group consists of Jain and Hindu temples mainly. The sculptures on the northern outer wall makes Parsavanath temple finest in the group. The carvings are timeless, of a women bending thoughtfully over a letter, a damsel removing a thorn from her foot. The other Jain temples are Ghantai, Adinath temple. This group also has three hindu temple- Brahma, Vamana and Javari temples. Southern group of temples are five kms from the Khajoraho village. Chaturbhuj temple has a massive, intricately carved image of Vishnu. Duladeo temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva.  

Gujarat  

Somnath Temple : Situated 79 Kms. from Junagadh and 25 Kms. from Chorwad, the legendary Shore temple of Somnath is one of the twelve most sacred Shiva Shrines in India. According to the legend, Somnath is as old as creation, built by none other than the Moon God himself. Somnath was destroyed and rebuilt several times. Mehmud of Gazni having heard of its fabulous treasure, raided it in 1026 and carried away camel - loads of jewels and gold. 

Goa  

CHURCHES IN GOA : The old Goa gained height of fame during the Portuguese rein. Old Goa grew in size and splendour in the 16th century. Old Goa was the capital of the Adil Shahis. During their time also this place was alive and prosperous. Today the not much remains of the past. The remnants of the fort and other structure give a faint idea what this place must have been. The Churches, monasteries, convents and temples remind who of the administrative capital of the Portuguese who nearly lost the Place to the British and the Dutch.

Calcutta

Dakshineswar Kali temple : At this place Ramkrishna attained his spiritual enlightenment of unity among religions. The Kali temple is surrounded by 12 other temples dedicated to Siva. This temple was built in 1847.

Kali Temple :  The present temple was built in 1809 on the site of an ancient temple. It is also known as the Kalighat temple. It is on the name of this temple that English gave the place name Calcutta which is anglicized form of Kalikata. The legend says that a finger of the Sati, wife of Lord Shiva, fell here. Since then it has been an important pilgrimage site. But the temple is dedicated to the destructive side of Shiva which takes the form of Kali. She requires sacrifice daily to satisfy her blood lust so every morning goats are sacrifices on the alter of the temple. The temple is busy through out the year and is surrounded by poor who come to have free meal. The Hospital for Dying Destitute by Mother Teresa is near the temple and every one is a welcome visitor here.

 Punjab

The 'Guru Ka Langar' offers free food to around 20,000 people everyday. The number shoots up to 100,000 on special occasions. A visitor must cover his / her head before entering the temple premises

Sikkim

The main structure which was built by Gyalwa Karmapa strictly according to architectural designs from the monastery in Tibet, from where he came. The whole structure is covered with murals and if you are interested in Tibetan paintings then Rumtek is a must for you. The old monastery can still be seen just beyond the new structure though it's not obvious as trees hide it.

Some distances above the monastery is a hermitage in which monks go into complete seclusion for meditation for periods upto 3years. The main offering / dances of Rumtek also called Tse-Chu Chaams are held on the 10th day of the 5th month of the Tibetan calendar around June. The kagyat dances are held on the 28th and 29th day of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar.

There is regular bus service to Rumtek; taxis and sightseeing tours are also available from Tourist Office and Tashila Tours & Travels, Gangtok. The Nehru Botanical Garden At walking distance from Rumtek monastery this garden contains exotic variety of flora and is a good picnic spot. A panoramic view of Gangtok from here is awe-inspiring.

  Assam  

Kamakhya Temple :Kamakhya Temple is situated in the heart of the capital city Guwahati, on Nilachal Hills beside river Brahmaputra. It is an ancient centre of the Shakti and Tantric cult of Hinduism.Regular city bus service is available through out the day right upto the temple. One can hire a taxi upto the temple  

Rajasthan 

Although majority of the temples at Ossian have decayed with time and have even lost images of their deities- the one temple that remains vibrant is the shrine of Sachiyamata on a nearby hillock. Built in 1234 A.D, this temple was dedicated to Durga or Mahisasura Mardini. Today it has become a very important shrine for Jains.

THE DARGAH - AJMER:The final resting place for 'Gharib-Nawaz' - people of all religions visit the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. The Khwaja left for heavenly abode in 1256 AD after a six day prayer in seclusion. These six days are celebrated every year as the annual Urs, which is attended by pilgrims irrespective of their faith.

The entry to the Dargah is through the Buland Darwaza that leads to the inner courtyard. The high gateway has beautifully carved silver doors. In the courtyard are kept two huge cauldrons with capacity of 2240 Kg and 4480 Kg. On special occasions, Kheer cooked in these cauldrons is distributed among the pilgrims. The grave of the Sufi Saint is surrounded by a silver railing and is partially covered with a marble screen. The daughter of Shah Jahan had built a prayer room in the Dargah for the women devotees. The primises of the Dargah also has the tomb of Bhishti, tomb of Saint's daughter-Bili Hafiz Jama, tomb of Shah Jahan's daughter Chimni Begum.

Delhi

Laxami Narayan Temple, New Delhi :Built in Orissan style, the temple is a fine example of modern Indian architecture. The Laxami Narayan Temple is situated in Delhi.    

Himachal Pradesh

MASRUR, Dharamsala:Just 10 kms from Dharamsala are the 15 richly carved rock temples of Masrur. Built in the Indo-Aryan monolith style, these temples have great resemblance with the Ajanta-Ellora temples. The temples of Masrur though slightly damaged, are very beautiful. Though the images are badly damaged , the images of Ram, Lakshman and Sita are particularly striking. The temple is flanked by an artificial lake and a well maintained and sculpted lawn. These richly ornamented cave temples are the only rock shrines in North India.  

HADIMBA TEMPLE, Manali:Hadimba or Dhungiri temple in Manali is one of the most important temples in the region. This four story wooden temple is located in the middle of a forest called the Dhungiri Van Vihar. From the name of the forest parkland this temple derives its name. This temple was erected in 1553 and is dedicated to Goddess Hadimba. The legend goes that Bhima, one of the five Pandav brothers in Mahabharata, killed demon Hadimb and married his sister Hadimba. She became Goddess and is worshipped at time of distress. The temple has some intricate wooden carvings which depicts mythological characters and motifs of animals & cosmic dancers. Every year in May a major festival is organized here. This place is a popular picnic spot among the tourists.  

JAKHU, Shimla:This temple is dedicated to the monkey God Hanuman. The temple is located at an height of 2455 m and is the highest point of Shimla Ridge. To reach the temple one has to walk up hill from the scandal corner. Sunrise from this place is very beautiful. Jakhu temple is full of monkeys but they are not violent unless fiddled with. From Jakhu one can have a good view of the surrounding hills & valleys and Shimla below. The snow capped peaks of the Himalayas is visible on a clear day.  

Chamunda Devi : In the village of Dadh, 15 km form Dharamsala and approachable by a motorable road is the famous temple dedicated to the Goddess Chamunda Devi. On reaching the temple a glorious view of the Dhaula Dhar on three sides and the Baner Khud, Pathiar and Lahla forests on the other is available.

Lying at the foot of the perpetually snow-clad Dhaula Dhar range, one has to trek over a 5 km snow-covered path before one reaches Triund, 17 km from the town. The lovely spot affords an enchanting view of the Dhaula Dhar snows above and the emerald valley below, from a height of 2,827 metres (9,275 ft). The snow line starts at Illaqa. Those who want to do a return trip in one day are advised to start very early in the morning. There is a Forest Rest House.  

Jammu and Kashmir

Karnataka

The temple is approx. 13 kms from Mysore and is only accessable by road from the city of Mysore and is covered by all the package tour operators and the city excursions.

  Kerela

  Tamilnadu

Madurai is famous for its Meenakshi temple, one of India's biggest temples which is dedicated to Meenakshi, the consort of lord Shiva. Surrounded by five gopurams which are known for it's stucco work, it is believed that the Kadasma tree under which Lord Shiva meditated, was the only one to cover this area. Exquisite sculptures, hall of thousand pillars, icons, photographs & illustrations make this temple is a famous tourist spot

  Nagercoil, Kanyakumari :The presiding deity of this temple is Nagaraja but the images of Shiva and other Gods are also kept. The pillars of this temple have carvings of Jain Tirthankars, Mahavira and Parsvanathar. The image of Nagaraja is installed where it was found and devotees get the sand lying around the image as prasada. The entrance to this temple is reminiscent of Chinese architecture of a Buddhist Vihara. It is 19 Kms from the city.  

Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram:The temple was built by different rulers at different times after12th century onwards. It is one of the best examples of Dravidian architecture. The corridor of this temple is the largest in India. The corridor is 197 mts by 133mts. The temple is built in a sprawling area of six hectares and has 22 wells. The entrance of the temple is 38.4 mts. The beauty in architecture of Ramanathaswamy temple gets its grace due to construction done by different rulers who added to the temple structure at different times. The carvings on pillars are delicately done in an elegant manner to express the desired. The artists have tried to put life into the carvings. The stunning beauty of the temple leaves any body mesmerized.

  Andhra Pradesh

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