Pavagarh Temple ( Gujarat )

Pavagadh is a historical and religious destination at the base town of Champaner. The hill of Pavagadh rises from Champaner in three stages and this plateau lies at an altitude of 1,471 feet.

image credit : Vaibs

Gateway to Panchmahal, 46 kms away from Vadodara (Baroda), it is a tribal area populated predominantly by the Bhils. The government has granted many concessions and offers subsidies to the new industries coming up in this area.

A pilgrimage spot, called the Shakti Peeth, the Pavagadh hill leads to the hill top temple of the Goddess Kali, who is the incarnation of the Goddesses Parvati, Durga, and Sati as Shakti or power. The mythological belief makes the Pavagadh hill popular is the symbolic toe of the Goddess Sati, who happened to have fallen on earth as the grief-stricken Lord Shiva, Sati’s husband, carried her dead body on his shoulders. The myths and religious fervor attracts around 2.5 million pilgrims and tourists to Pavagadh each year.

image cerdit : srinivasan

Champaner-Pavagadh is promoted as World Heritage site with developments on move as modern tourism destination. GoG promotes tourism to Champaner-Pavagadh site along with other tour packages such as travel spots at Nimetabag, the Azwa lake, Jambughoda Sanctuary and Dhaboi.

Pavagadh along with Champaner and Machi is a UNESCO world heritage site. This site reflects grand historical confluence, displaying 1,200 years of history and culture. It is believed to bear testimony to the Indian Puranic ages, the Rajput saga, the glory of the reign of the Marathas, the Islamic influences and finally lays proof to the British occupation within its remain.

The 15th Century Muslim influence as muslim period began with Muhammad Begada defeating the Patai Raval clan that was ruling the area, and strategically moving his capital from Ahmedabad to the Champaner site.

Pavagadh is also known as the birthplace of Gujarat’s famous musician, Baiju Bawra.

RockFort Temple ( Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu )

The Rock Fort temple complex in Tiruchirappalli is an important and famous monument in Tamilnadu. The Rock fort temple complex comprises of three temples – the Manikka Vinayaka temple, the Uchhi Pillayar Koyil and the Taayumaanava Koyil (Shivastalam) on the hill. The Rock Fort Temple at Tiruchirapalli is the most famous landmark of this town. Outcropped out of a massive stone rock, which rises abruptly from the plain to tower over the old city, the rock fort temple is an amazing monument. The Rock Fort temple rises to a height of 83 m and is older than the rocks of Greenland and the Himalayas.

image credit : photoram

This temple has a 100-pillared hall and a Vimana covered with gold. The southern side of the rock has several beautifully carved, rock-cut cave temples, belonging to the Pallava period. The Nayaks, who established the city of Tiruchirapalli, built this temple. It is interesting to note that during the British-French struggle for supremacy in South India, the Rock Fort Temple was one of the main centers around which the Carnatic wars were fought in the 18th century.

The shrine of the temple houses Kangaala Moorthy, one of the 64 manifestations of Lord Shiva. A flight of covered stairs leads the way to the temple. As you finish climbing the stairs, you come across the Tayumanavar temple towards the west and the Uchipillayar temple towards the east. Every day six worship services are offered at the temple and the annual Brahmotsavam takes place in Chithirai. Some other festivals of significance are the Aadi Pooram and the float festival in Panguni.

Ganapatipule Temple ( Maharashtra )

The Swayambhu Ganpati Temple, a centuries old temple, known for its unique Ganapati idol,  is built on sand (pule in the local lingo). It is believed to have originated by itself (swayambhu), and hasn’t been created by man.

image credit : 10 Year Itch

The idol of Ganapati here is made out of copper and depicts the God astride a lion. The God in this Swayambhu Ganpati Temple is considered to be the Paschim Dwardevta or God of the west coast. It is placed in the Sanctum Sanctorum and at sunrise and sunset a shaft of golden light penetrates and illuminates the idol. The people of the Konkan region are devout worshippers of Ganpati and the hordes of people who come to the temple on Angar ki Chaturvehi, an auspicious Tuesday every six months, has to be seen to be believed.

Ganesh Chaturthi is another occasion for the faithful to congregate on the Ganpatipule beach in their thousands. The festival also draws foreign tourists to the temple; they come to discover the landscape, art, culture and history of the region.

Swayambhu Ganapati Temple is known for its unique idol of Ganapati built on pule (white sand). It is swayambhu (self-originated) and not man made. The idol of Ganapati is made out of copper and depicts the God astride a lion. It is placed in the Sanctum Sanctorum and at sunrise and sunset, a shaft of golden light penetrates and illuminates the idol. Early in the morning, the rhythmic beat of the nagaras can be heard from the Temple.