Rishikesh Temple

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Rishikesh is situated in the Tehri Gharwal region of Uttaranchal, along the banks of the sacred river Ganges. It is an important pilgrim centre and gateway to the Himalayan, It is small town, renowned as an important pilgrimage center of the country, shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The Pilgrimage season starts in end April/ Early may and lasts til the Day of Deepawali (Festival of light) end of October/early November. It is from here that the river Ganges leaves behind her mountain home and enters the vast north Indian plains. The town abounds in natural splendour and the sight of the Ganga rushing through the Himalayan foothills is awesome. There are several temples on the banks of the Ganga at Rishikesh.

It is believed that Rishikesh represents the site where Vishnu vanquished the demon Madhu. In Tapovan, on the other side of the Ganges, is a temple to Lakshmana. The Lakshman Jhula at Rishikesh is a 450 feet long suspension bridge was built in 1939. There is a newer bridge which has been added recently – the Ram Jhula. Rishikesh is not only popular for its religious significance but also considered to be a base for devotees on their journey to the Char Dham Yatra.

Lakshman Jhula (bridge) – Image credit : Amy

Situated 24 km upstream from Haridwar, Rishikesh has long been a spiritual centre at the confluence of the Chandrabhaga and Ganga. It is believed that the sage Raibhya Rishi did penance here and satisfied with him God appeared to him in the form of Rishikesh. The name originates from that only.

The yoga centres of Rishikesh have enhanced the significance of the place. Rishikesh has numerous ashrams, few of which are internationally recognized as centres for meditation, yoga and philosophical studies. International Yoga Week which attracts participation form across the world, is held here, every year, in February on the banks of the Ganga. Rishikesh also best Spa and many other Ayurvedic treatment centers for every one’s requirement.

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The places to visit in Rishikesh include – Bharat Temple, Rishi Kund & Raghunath Temple, Laxman Jhoola, Pushkar Temple, Shatrughan Temple, Muni-Ki-Reti, Swarg Ashram, Gita Bhawan, Parmath Niketan, Lakshman Temple, Sadanand Jhoola, Triveni Ghat, Shivanand Ashram, Kailash Ashram and Academy of Meditation. The nearby excursions include beautiful places like: Dehradun, Mussoorie, Hardwar, Chilla, Devprayag, Auli, and NarendraNagar.

such places which are attract the people must to see that all.

Ashram – The ashrams of rishikesh are world famous for yoga, and these are abun dant in number n and around Rishikesh. Some of these are very well known and is regarded as tourist spots while some are still been regarded as proper ashrams where rishis (saints) stay. Ashrams situated on the eastern bank of the river Ganges are collectively known as Swargashram. The credit for World famous Maharishi goes to the beauty of natural rock band Beatles. Yoga, in most of the Ashrams, is another important aspect for drawing tourists from around the world.

Lakshman Jhula – the hanging bridge, Lakshman Jhula is on the river Ganges that flows through Rishikesh. According to legends, Lakshman the brother of Lord Ram crossed this river with the help of a hanging bridge made of jute. The present bridge was built in the year AD 1939, on the same spot where the original jute suspended bridge used to be. The current of water, when increases gives an incomparable scene when viewed from the bridge. There’s another bridge calle dthe Ram Jhula or the Shivanand Jhula.

Gita Bhavan – Situated by the side of the Lakshman, the Gita Bhavan is a beautifully constructed building housing some attractive statues of various gods and goddesses.

Triveni Ghat – Triveni is a bathing spot at a distance about 1.5 km from Rishikesh. It is considered sacred for being the confluence of three mountain streams. Pilgrims from all over the worls come here to take a dip into the holy waters.

Neelkanth Madhav – Neelkanth Madhav, at a distance of 12 km from the Rishikesh town and surrounded by lush green, it is a place of interest especially for the religious minded tourists. According to mythological data Lord Shiva drank the venom that came out of the cosmic churning of the ocean by the gods and demons.

Temples - Rishikesh is full of innumerable small and big temples. In the banks of the Chandrabhaga River there is a team of temples. Char Dham, the famous four temples club starts off this place. The Rishikund tank and Raghunath temple near the tank also present quite beautiful scenic views. Lord Ram used the tank for bathing while he was in exile. The Bharat temple named after Bharat, one of the brothers of Lord Ram. Rishikesh is known to be a place of importance from very ancient periods and is bounded by a massive wall supposed to be of thousand years old.

Meenakshi Temple ( Tamilnadu )

The Meenakshi Temple is nearly 2000 years old and is situated in the city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. The Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple and Madurai city originated together. It is a splendid example of Dravidian style of temple architecture. The Meenakshi Temple complex is dedicated to Shiva and his consort Parvati known here as Sundareswarar and Meenakshi.

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According to legends, Madurai is the actual site where the wedding between Shiva and Meenakshi took place. Kulasekara Pandya built the original temple but the entire credit for making the temple as splendid as it is today goes to the Nayaks. The temple as it stands today, was designed in 1560 AD by Vishwanatha Nayak and subsequently built during the reign of Thirumalai Nayak. The Nayaks ruled Madurai from the 16th to the 18th century AD. Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are regarded as the Royal Pandya rulers of Madurai. Meenakshi’s father is said to be Malayadwaja Pandyan, who was preceded by Kulasekhara Pandyan, the legendary builder of the city of Madurai.

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According to a mythical tradition, Indra once committed sin by killing a demon, who was performing penance. He could find no relief from remorse in his own kingdom so he came down to earth. While passing through a forest of Kadamba trees in Pandya land, he felt relieved of his burden. His attendants told him that there was a Shivalinga under a Kadamba tree beside a lake. Indra was certain that the linga had helped him and so he worshipped it and built a small temple around it. It is believed that it is this linga, which is still under worship in the Madurai temple. The shrine is called the “Indra Vimana”.

Golden Lotus

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Potramaraikula or the Golden Lotus Tank is an ancient temple tank where the devotees take bath in the holy water. The area around this tank was the meeting place of the Tamil Sangam, the ancient academy of poets. A pillared corridor surrounds the tank. Steps lead down to the tank, enabling worshippers to take bathe in it. The Oonjal (swing) Mandapam and Killikoontu (parrot cage) Mandapam are on the western side of the tank. In the corridor outside the main shrine, there is stump of the kadamba tree. It is said to be a part of the same tree under which Indra worshipped as Shiva linga. The outer corridor also has the Kadambathadi Mandapam and the Velli Ambalam or the Silver Hall. An idol of Nataraja, Dancing Shiva, covered with silver leaves can be seen. This idol of Nataraja is covered with silver leaves. The Thousand Pillar Mandapam is the ‘Wonder of the Palace’. The actual number of pillars is 985 only. They are beautifully decorated and sculpted columns. The Thousand Pillared Hall houses the Temple Art Museum where one can see icons, photographs, drawings, etc., exhibiting the 1200 years old history. Just outside the hall, towards the west, are the Musical Pillars. Each pillar when stuck produces a different musical note.

The Kalyana Mandapam is to the south of the Pillared Hall. It is here the marriage of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated every year during the Chitirai Festival in mid- April. Thirumalai Nayakkar built Vasantha Mandapam. Vasanthosavam, the Spring Festival is celebrated in this mandapam in Baisakhi (April/May). Its pillars contain elaborate sculptures of Shiva, Meenakshi, and scenes from their wedding as well as the figures of ten of the Nayak Kings and their consorts. This is also called Pudhu Mandapam. The most amazing characteristic of this temple is the fact that it is a living legend, continuously following traditions for over two millennia. In its finished form, it represents the miraculous resilience of the Indian cultural ethos. Legends such as Meenakshi Kalyanam, the coronation of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar as the Queen and King of Madurai still form part of the grand festival traditions of the temple. It is complimented with architectural and sculptural splendor due to the vision and patronage of the Madurai Nayak rulers.

Ellora Caves Temple ( Maharashtra )

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Ellora Caves Temple is the one of the most famous temple in India. It is considerd as the one the top 10 famous temple in our country. Ellora Caves are situated in the state of Maharashtra, India. Located about 200 km northeast of Bombay in the Deccan plateau which separates north from south India. They lie at a distance of approximately 25 km from the Aurangabad district. The beautiful caves of Ellora symbolize three of the major religions of the world, namely Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.

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They also hold the distinction of being declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Ellora Caves, cut out of the vertical face of a cliff, comprise of splendid chaityas (halls of worship), viharas (monasteries) and Hindu and Jain temples. There are a total of 34 monasteries and temples inside these caves. Out of total 34 caves, 12 caves to the south are Buddhist, the 17 in the centre dedicated to Hinduism, and the 5 caves to the north are dedicated to Jainism. All of them date back to somewhere between 5th century AD and 11th century AD and have been built in a linear pattern. All the caves have different religious inclinations. Twelve of the caves (cave number 1 to 12) belong to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism and were built between 550 AD and 750 AD. Seventeen caves (cave number 13 to 29) comprise of Hindu temples and were constructed between 600 AD and 875 AD.

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From south to north there are about 34 caves here, which corresponds more or less (Cave 21 with some significant exceptions) to the order in which they were constructed. The caves 1 to 12 in southernmost direction, are dedicated to Buddhism and were built in & around 7th & 8th centuries AD. The middle caves 13 to 29 are dedicated to Hindu deities, which dates back from 7th century to 9th century AD. The upper caves are related to Jainism (9th century). Some of the caves have exquisite carvings and sculptures and have been based on the classical Indian art. Then, you have the Kailash Temple in cave number 16, deemed to be the largest monolith structure in the entire world. Five caves (cave number 30 to 34) belong to the Jains and were built between 800 AD and 1000 AD.

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Tourists come from far and wide to visit this amazing cave temple. Out of the numerous Buddhist Caves at Ellora, cave number 10, cave number 11 and cave number 12 are considered to be the most significant ones. Cave number 10 is a splendid example of Chaitya architecture in India. It is named after Vishwakarma, the presiding deity of all architects. Cave number 11 is known as Do Tal. It is a three-story structure dating back to the 8th century AD. Cave number 12, known by the name of Teen Tal, is also a wonderful three-story cave.

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