Pilgrim

Madurai

State

The very ancient city of Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India and dates back to several centuries before Christ. Situated some 472 km from Chennai, Madurai is located on the banks of River Vaigai. Madurai is also the second largest city of Tamil Nadu after Chennai and covers an area of 109 sq km. Madurai was home to the ancient Tamil Sangam and also hosted the literary summit that produced the first Tamil epic and many other famous literary works. Madurai is also one of the most sacred temple towns of India.

History

It was the capital city of the Pandya Kings of South India. The Pandya King Kulasekara built the Meenakshi temple in the centre and around it he built a city resembling a lotus flower. The streets of Madurai go around in concentric circles, closing in on the centre.
Madurai was originally a forest called Kadambavanam. It is believed that Lord Shiva appeared on the day the city was to be named. Drops of nectar fell on to the city from his locks and the city was named ‘Madhurapuri’ and eventually Madurai meaning sweetness in Tamil.

Accessibility

Air: Madurai Airport is located about 10 km from the heart of the city. Taxi charges about Rs 150 to cover this distance. Madurai is connected to Chennai by air. Chennai is the nearest international airport, which is connected to most of the Indian cities and international destinations.

Rail: Direct train services from Madurai to many cities in India are available. Many trains are running between Madurai and Chennai daily.

Road: Many private operators are providing deluxe AC and non-AC luxury coach buses from Madurai to many cities in the South India, including Chennai, Trivandrum, Coimbatore, Trichy etc. Tamil Nadu State Road Transport Corporation buses connect Madurai with other local cities in and around. Super fast buses of TSRTC runs between Madurai and Chennai.

Shopping

Although Madurai is famous as a temple town, it is also a fascinating shopping place. Madurai has retained its fame as a textile center from ancient times. The hoards of textiles and tailoring shops around the famed Meenakshi Temple are ample proof of this.

While shopping in Madurai, you can buy locale manufactured cottons and batiks from Puthu Manadapam Market, just outside the eastern entrance of the Meenakshi Temple. The interesting things about the rows of tailoring shops here is that they can stitch a dress for you in an hour or two. You can also pick up the famed Madurai silk and handloom sarees from big textile showrooms like the famous Hajeemoosa Textiles. If you want to buy souvenirs in wood or brass, you should visit the Cottage industries emporium and other government emporiums nearby. Madurai is also famous for its ethnically crafted jewelery if you want to indulge in the pleasure of buying gold and silver ornaments.

Madurai may not be shoppers' paradise, but here you can spend your time looking around the market and just chilling out amidst the colorful chaos of the marketplace. The hustle and bustle of the market packed with myriad of people jostling about over things they love to haggle.

Indeed shopping in Madurai can be a fun. Plan a visit to Prithu Mandapam Market that is a famous market in Madurai, based just inside the eastern entrance of Meenakshi Temple. Here you can buy cotton and batiks, for which Madurai is famous. You can sit back on the Pottramarai tank and let the essence of Maduari seep in you.

Madurai has also been a textile centre for long. Here skilled tailors can reproduce your dress with cottons and printed fabrics at Puthu Mandapam. You can also visit the government Poompuhar Handicrafts shop, the Cottage Arts Emporium and the Madurai Gallery for hand-woven silks and cottons, bell-metal lamps, bronze images, wood and stone carvings.

Accommodation

The city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu is synonymous with temples. Hotels in Madurai offer a comfortable and pleasant stay for the religious tourist and the pleasure traveler alike.

Hotels in Madurai have a range of packages to suit the budget of all categories of tourists. Most of the hotels in Madurai are conveniently located in the main city near the pilgrim centers and the railway station.

Some of the prominent hotels in Madurai are:

Five Star Hotels in Madurai
Taj Garden Retreat
Three Star Hotels In Madurai
Madurai Ashok
Madura Park Inn

District
Madurai
STD Code
0452
Termperature
Summer 26-38°C, Winter 20-29°C
Best time to visit
November to February
Famous For
For Meenakshi Temple

Osian

State

Osian is an ancient small temple town in the Thar Desert and a great centre of Brahmanical and Jain religions and contains the largest group of the Hindu and Jain temples in Rajasthan. This town houses numerous ancient Jain and Hindu temples, some temples dating back to 8th to 11th centuries. It is the gateway to Thar Desert and connected to the renowned Reggies Camel Camps.

Image Credit:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dublab/366623190/

History

In the medieval period, Osian was a large and bustling town and caravans from Arabia, Persia, Afghanistan and central Asia arrived here for trade. Osian was also the capital of the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty from the 8th to 12th century. Osian was an important centre of pilgrimage between the 8th and 9th centuries. This can be known from the surviving Hindu temples of the Vaishnava, Surya (Sun) and Shakti (mother goddess) sects. The Brahminical influence was very strong in Osian during that period and later, Jainism also flourished in the place through the Gurjara Pratihara dynasty. But still, various Hindu devotees visit the Osian temple dedicated to the goddess Sachiyamata. In ancient times, Osian was known as Ukeshpur.

Accessibility

Air: Nearest airport to Osian is the Jodhpur domestic airport. It is about 70 km away from Osian. From Jodhpur daily flights are available to major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaisalmer and Jaipur. Taxis are available from Jodhpur to Osian and fare is about Rs 1500.

Rail: Jodhpur, 70 km away from Osian, is the nearest railway station. From Jodhpur regular direct train services are available to Bikaner, Jaipur, and Kota. Taxis are available in the railway station and fare is about Rs 1500 to reach Osian.

Road: Regular bus services are available in Osian. Rajasthan State Transport Corporation and many local buses join Osian to various parts of Rajasthan like Bikaner, Jaipur and Jodhpur. Overnight deluxe luxury buses are available from Delhi to Osian (650 km).

Things to do

Camel Safari: The major attraction for tourists visiting Osian is the naïve experience of Camel Safari, one of the spectacular and unique ways to experience Rajasthan. Camels are the ships of the deserts and the safari over this ship under the hot sun is exciting and vibrant. The Camel Camp in Osian, which is established by the grandson of Maharaj Rattan Singh named Reggie Singh, has a Safari club offering Camel safari around the deserts of Osian. It is Reggie Singh who started camping business with the highest sand dunes. The camp is brilliantly furnished and has a superb swimming pool. Those adventurous visitors looking for Camel safari can stay here with all comforts and have the real experience of Camel safari for affordable rates.

District
Jodhpur
STD Code
02922
Termperature
Summer 32-45°C, Winter 5-28°C
Best time to visit
Oct - Mar

Ajmer

State

Ajmer is a historical region in central Rajasthan, a central part of a big Chauhan empire in 11-12th centuries. It is famous as a pilgrim place and houses the Dargah or tomb of the popular 13th-century, Sufi Saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisti. Millions of pilgrims from all over the world throng Ajmer to attend the death anniversary of the great saint every year. The city also boasts of a number of monuments belonging to the Mughal era. The city is also known for its traditional handicrafts.

History

Historically, Ajmer always had great strategic importance and was sacked by Mahumud of Ghazni on one of his periodic forays from Afghanistan. Later it became a favorite residence of the great Moghula. One of the first contacts between the Moghula and the British occurred in Ajmer when Sir Thomas Roe met with Jahangir here in 1616. The city was subsequently taken by the Scindias and, in 1818, it was handed over to the British, becoming one of the few places in Rajasthan controlled directly by British rather than being part of a princely state.

Accessibility

By Air: The nearest airport to Ajmer is the Sanganer Airport located at Jaipur, which is about 132 km from Ajmer.

By Rail: Ajmer junction railway station lies on the Delhi-Mumbai railway line and is well connected to several cities in India.

By Road: Ajmer has a good network of roads connecting all the main cities of Rajasthan, including Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Bharatpur. Ajmer is connected to Delhi also by road.

Shopping

Shopping in Ajmer is an enjoyable experience. Ajmer is known for antiques, curios, fascinating gold and silver jewelry in contemporary designs, bandhini (colorful tie-and-dye sarees) and embroidered jodhpuri 'Jutis' (shoes). Ittar, a special form of local perfume is sold in small and large packs all over Ajmer and is a specialty that one can carry home form Ajmer.

The annual Urs Fair is the time one can buy the colorful creations of traditional folk artisans of Ajmer.Colorful clothes and products from Tilonia village and miniature paintings from Kishangarh and a range of wood crafted products are available during the festival The annual Ajaymeru Udyog Crafts Mela in Ajmer is another time when you can buy typical and popular items of Rajasthan like brass utensils, bangles, woodcrafts, silver souvenirs, leather belts, hand embroidered cloth bags and unlimited home décor items.

Accommodation

Hotels in Ajmer offer various packages with modern facilities. Ajmer is a prominent pilgrimage spiritual tourist attraction in the state of Rajasthan . Ajmer serves as the base for most of the long-distance journeys to Pushkar, which holds an annual Hindu religious festival. Ajmer is also a pilgrimage destination of Muslims, thus bringing in an amalgamation of cultures to this small town in Western India. Apart from this Ajmer also hosts a popular camel festival every year.

Ajmer offers various hotel packages with modern facilities. In Ajmer you will find both luxury and budget hotels.

Some of the prominent hotels in Ajmer are:
Bijay Niwas, Palace Resort
Mansigh Palace Hotel
Roopangarh Fort

Attractions

Urs Fair
The Urs Fair is dedicated to Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti, the Sufi saint. It is organized on the death anniversary of the great Sufi Saint, during the first six days of Rajab (seventh month of the Islamic calendar). The venue of the Rajasthan Urs Fair is the memorial of the holy saint, situated in the lakeside city of Ajmer. The mortal remains of the saint lie buried in the Dargah Sharif (memorial of the saint) known as Chishti ki Dargah. Devotees of the Saint hold so much respect him, that the city of Ajmer is at times called Ajmer Sharif (Holy Ajmer).

The saint came from Persia and founded the Chishtia order of fakirs in India. Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti is also known by the name of Gharib Nawaz, the protector of the poor. This is so because the entire life he remained committed to the service of mankind. He lived a simple and austere life and graced this world by his presence for almost a hundred years. In the last days of his life, he retired to his cell and died in complete peace and solitude.

Lakhs of devotees from different communities assemble at the shrine of the saint at the time of the Urs Fair of Ajmer, Rajasthan. The devotees come not only from the various cities of Rajasthan, rather from all parts of the country. They visit the dargah to pay tribute to the Khwaja on his Urs (death anniversary). People coming to pray to the Khwaja and seek his blessings make offerings (nazrana) at the place where the remains of the Saint now rest. The offerings include rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood paste, perfumes, incense, etc. Those who get their wishes fulfilled, along with those who come to pray, offer chadar, ghilaph and neema at the Dargah. Outside the sanctum sanctorum of the dargah, professional singers called qawwals can be seen singing the praises of the saint.

Things to do

Camel and Horse Safari
One of the best amusements in Rajasthan is a camel ride. At Pushkar a number of locals provide this unique opportunity, to explore the sand stretches on ship of the deserts. Apart from that one can also get to ride a horse, as horse safari are also frequently conducted from here.

District
Ajmer
STD Code
0145
Termperature
Summer 26-41°C, Winter 8-20°C
Best time to visit
October-March
Famous For
Ajmer Sharief Dargah

Pushkar

State

Pushkar is an esteemed religious destination for Hindus with around 400 temples and 52 bathing ghats. The holy lake here is believed to have appeared miraculously when a lotus flower fell off from the hands of Brahma.

Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/etrenard/568029174/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/azwegers/6272198380/in/photostream

History

Pushkar is a fantastic interplay of history and mythology that makes it worthwhile to travel to this holy destination of Rajasthan.

According to lore, the city of Pushkar came into being After a battle between Lord Brahma and a demon named Vajra Nabh. After the demon was killed by Brahma with the help of a lotus flower, three petals floated down to Earth and landed in Pushkar leading to the creation of the three lakes of Pushkar.

Recorded history shoes that Pushkar was a favorite retreat of the Mughal rulers, which was later taken over by the Scindias after the eventual decline of the Mughal rule. The Scindias handed over the city to the British thus making Pushkar one of the few places in Rajasthan to be under direct British control, until Independence.

Accessibility

Air: Sanganer Airport located at Jaipur is nearly 130 km from the heart of the city Pushkar, and taxi charges about Rs 2500 from Airport to the city. Jaipur airport is connected to metro cities Mumbai and Delhi. Foreign travelers can take connection flights from Delhi international airport, which is nearly 400 km away from Pushkar. Taxi charges about Rs 7000 from Delhi to Pushkar.

Rail: Ajmer is the nearest railway station to Pushkar. This railhead is on the Broad Gauge line and is connected to all cities in India by trains. Ajmer is about 11 km away from Pushkar and taxi fare from Ajmer to Pushkar is about Rs 200.

Road: Ajmer main bus stand is nearly 11 km away. Many public transport buses pass through Pushkar. Ajmer is well connected with all major cities nearby. Deluxe Super Deluxe and Volvo buses provide services from Delhi, Jaipur and Jaisalmer to Ajmer. The bus fare ranges between Rs 3 to Rs 4 per km.

Shopping

Shopping in Pushkar can be truly exciting especially during the annual Urs Festival or Pushkar Festival .At these festivals, folk artisans and craftsmen display an array of traditional items which include silver and beaded jewellery, embroidered fabrics ,brass utensils ,miniature paintings and Rajasthani puppets.

Pushkar is also a place where you can buy souvenirs of Rajasthan. The shopping centers in Pushkar are Sarafa Bazaar, Baza Bazaar and Kedalganj Bazaar.

Accommodation

Hotels in Pushkar offer a luxurious stay in the serene atmosphere of this pilgrim city where devout Hindus come to take a holy dip in the Pushkar Lake on the full moon of Karthik (November) or visit the Dargah of Khwaja Saheb, the great Sufi saint during the time of Urs in Ajmer.

The annual Pushkar festival one of the most colorful festivals of India brings tourists from around the globe to this tiny town in the state of Rajasthan. It is mainly a cattle fair with exciting camel races and display of folk culture.

Pushkar offers some of the best 3star hotels, Deluxe Hotels and Heritage Hotels of Rajasthan.

Some of the prominent hotels in Rajasthan are:

Heritage Hotels

Hotel Pushkar Palace
Hotel Sarovar
Hotel Jagat Singh Palace

Tent Accommodation

RTDC Tourist Village
Royal Desert Camp

Budget Hotels

Hotel New Park
Prafful Palace

Attractions

Pushkar Cattle Fair: If Pushkar is renowned for as a Pilgrimage center then it is equally famous for its Cattle Fair. The name “Cattle Fair�? is misleading since various activities like Auctions, Sports, Musical encores, Markets constitute a major chunk of the activities.

The Pushkar Lake is the point of attraction for millions of devotees during the full moon day of Kartik Purnima (generally October-November) for a holy dip and provides an opportunity for the traders and organizers to create a festive bonanza for the devotees. The Camel and other domesticated animal trading remains the main draw. A series of cultural events precede the fair which includes attractive puppet shows and camel races.

District
Ajmer
STD Code
0145
Termperature
Summer 25-45°C, Winter 8-22°C
Best time to visit
October to March

Anandpur Sahib

State

Anandpur Sahib, known as "the holy City of Bliss", is a holy and sacred city for the Sikhs. It is the birthplace of the Khalsa and is one of the 4 seats of authority of the Sikh religion and has about 40 Gurudwaras within the city. It is located on the lower spurs of the Himalayas surrounded by picturesque natural scenery, with the river Sutlej forming a shimmering and shiny blue border on the south west barely four miles away.

Image Credit:

History

Anandpur Sahib was founded in the year 1665 by the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur, near the ruins of an ancient place, Makhowal. On May 13, 1665, Guru Tegh Bahadur went to Bilaspur to attend the mourning for Raja Dip Chand of Bilaspur State. The Dowager Rani Champa of Bilaspur offered to give the Guru a piece of land in her state. The Guru bought the site on payment of five hundred rupees. The land consisted of the villages of Lodhipur, Mianpur and Sahota. Here on the mound of Makhowal, Guru Tegh Bahadur raised a new habitation. The ground was broken on 19 June 1665, by Baba Gurditta Randhawa. The new village was named Chakk Nanaki after the Guru's mother, Nanaki. The place later came to be known as Anandpur Sahib.

Accessibility

Air: Nearest Airport at Chandigarh (75km away)

Rail: Nearest railhead at Nangal. The Delhi-Una Himachal Express is a direct and very convenient train from Delhi to Anandpur Sahib. Another convenient option is to come from Delhi to Chandigarh by Hawrah-Kalka Mail, Shatabdi Express/Himalayan Queen and then to travel from there to Anandpur Sahib by road a distance of 85 kms.

Road: There are ample buses plying at regular intervals from Delhi and Chandigarh to Anandpur Sahib. All buses going to Una in Himachal Pradesh pass through Anandpur Sahib.

Accommodation

There are very good Sarais (Inns) available to house visiting pilgrims. Hotel accommodation at Anandpur Sahib is not ready so far. However, Kissan Haveli is a good place for overnight stay.

For further information you may contact the Punjab Tourism Development Corporation at :
Tel.Nos- 0172-781138, 781147, 781179, 781091, 548828 (Fax)

Attractions

Hola Mohalla: Anandpur Sahib comes to life every year on the occasion of Hola Mohalla. This tradition dates back to the times of the 10th Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. The Guru decided that the occasion of the festival of Holi, fun and frolic and colour splashing, be the occasion for the display of the martial spirit of his people and he gave this festival of Holi a more masculine name of Hola Mohalla. Each year Hola Mohalla marks the congregation of lacs of devotees from all over the country for a festival of colour and gaiety.

Baisakhi 1999 at Anandpur Sahib had been significant as it marked the completion of 300 years of the Birth of the Khalsa. It was on Baisakhi day in 1699 that Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji baptised the 'Panj Pyaras' at Anaandpur Sahib at the place where Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib stands.

District
Rupnagar
STD Code
01887
Best time to visit
September to March
Famous For
One of the holiest Sikh Shrines

Amritsar

State

Amritsar, means "the tank of nectar or the tank of immortality", is the Home of world famous Har Mandar Sahib (Golden Temple) founded by Guru Ramdas the 4th Guru. It is the most important seat of sikh history and culture, trade centre & also the gateway for travellers coming to india on the overland route through Pakistan. The place lies amidst River Beas (to the east) separating Amritsar from Kapurthala and River Ravi (to the west).

History

The History of Amritsar can be traced back to the days of the Indus Valley Civilization. A number of archaeological sites have been found in Amritsar and other parts of Punjab. The history of Amritsar in the Vedic period was marked by the existence of a number of Sages and Saints and the legend of Ramayana, which considers the area to be the venue of Rishi Balmikis ashram and the birth place of Lavh and Kush.

The history of Amritsar points out at Greek influence on the region around 326 B.C. when the area came under the control of Alexander. With the defeat of the Greeks, the Mauryas annexed Amritsar, making it a part of their Empire. From the 4th century to the 6th century the history of Amritsar came to be linked with the history of the Gupta Empire. After a short period of rule by the Shahi Dynasty, the area came under the control of Sultan Mahmood of Ghazni.

It was from the 16th Century that the history of Amritsar came to be linked with the Sikh Gurus and their teachings. Sikh Guru Ram Das and his successor Guru Arjan Dev went on to create a temple around a small pool, that had healing powers and thus the name Amritsar. Slowly with people settling around the temple a town grew up. Over the years Amritsar underwent various historical developments and went on to fortified by Guru Govind Singh. The history of Amritsar during India's Freedom Movement is a story of bloody struggles.

Accessibility

Air: Raja Sansi International Airport in Amritsar provides regular service to major cities like Mumbai and Chennai. Airport to the heart of the city, it costs only about Rs 100/- by taxi. Foreign cities can be connected through Mumbai and Chennai.

Rail: Amritsar Railway Station is well linked to other rail heads in the state and also connected to most of the cities in India. It has a connection railway line to Pakistan.

Road: State run public buses and private buses are available to move in and out from Amritsar. Grand Trunk Road connects Delhi to Amritsar. Luxury buses are available from Delhi.

Shopping

For the avid shoppers, Amristar is a paradise. Punjab is famous for rich tradition of handicrafts and handlooms, you will find these items in markets of Amritsar. You may check out beautiful handicraft items like phulkari (traditional embroidery), lacquered woodwork, jewelry and much more. While shopping in Amritsar do not forget to buy the typical Punjabi shoes, Patiala salwar, hand-woven carpets, blankets and woolen garments. You should also buy famous jams, jellies and pickles of Punjab. Amritsar has a number of shopping centres, but the old city markets are best places for traditional Indian. You will also find several shopping malls having top brand shops. Cooper Road, Mochi Bazaar, Guru Bazaar and Shastri Market for some of popular markets in Amritsar.

Punjab is a land rich with the unique collection of handicrafts and handlooms. If you wish to go for a shopping spree in the state, no place other than Amritsar will be the best option for you. A number of shopping joints line the city, offering a variety of materials to shop for. The eloquently embroidered shawls (phulkari), elegantly designed jootis (shoes), lacquered wood work, traditional jewellery, woolen blankets, parandis (hair worn embellishment) and durries (embroidered carpets and bed-spreads) are the main things you should carry back home from Amritsar. Besides, Amritsar is also well known for delicious Punjabi cuisines. You can taste it in any of the many restaurants in the city. The pickles of the area are very famous and easily available in most of the markets.

Amritsar Shopping Places
There are some prominent shopping centers in Amritsar, where you can get the maximum shopping items in one go. The important among them are discussed below:

Hall Bazaar
Hall Bazaar is one of the most important shopping complexes of Amritsar. You can get a variety of electronic items, jewelry, books, handicraft items like phulkari and ready-made garments available here in plenty. The bazaar is famous for Pakistani jootis and Chinese lights, available in different models. The Gandhi Gate, also known as the Hall gate, is the entrance to the bazaar and boats of a typical royal look, with a clock.

Guru Bazaar
Guru Bazaar is the oldest market in the city, widely known for the collection of gold and silver ornaments. Located between Guru Ka Mahal and Golden Temple, the bazaar is most visited for the traditional Indian jewelry 'jadau’ and ornaments made of precious stones. You also get earthen lamp, glittering silver diyas, hatli and idols of Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi here.

Katra Jaimal Singh Market
This market is situated close to Hall Bazaar and has profuse collection of textiles, like saris, pashminas, marvelous beaded dresses, men's wedding dresses and attractive boxed shirt and tie sets with quasi designer names. The price is reasonable and there is a wide choice available here. Handicraft items can also be found here in plenty.

Kapda Bazaar
This is an exclusive market for ladies, where they can get both textile items and ornaments, at a cheap price. Dupattas, earrings, gorgeous salwar kameez, bangles, bindis etc are available in wide range here.

Accommodation

Amritsar is dotted with a good number of hotels ranging from luxurious to budget hotels. Equipped with the modern amenities and well-appointed rooms, the luxurious hotels of Amritsar provide a pleasant stay to guests. Budget and economic hotels of the city also offer comfortable stay alongwith warm hospitality. Some of the famous hotels of Amritsar are :

Luxury Hotels : Hotel Ritz Plaza, Mohan International Hotel, Hotel Swarn House and M K Hotel

Heritage Hotels : Ranjit's Svaasa

Economic Hotels : Hotel Royal Castle, Hotel Grand Legacy and Hotel Kumar International

Budget Hotels : Hotel Astoria, Grand Hotel, Hotel Suncity Towers and C J International Hotel

District
Amritsar
STD Code
0183
Termperature
Summer 24-45°C, Winter 4-27°C
Best time to visit
October to March
Famous For
Home of world famous Har Mandar Sahib (Golden Temple)

Omkareshwar

Situated in the center of Madhya Pradesh, Omkareshwar sits pretty at the union of Narmada river and Kaveri river. The island derives its name from the holiest Hindu symbol 'Om'. The island has two soaring mountains which are divided by a steep valley. The division is in such a way that the shape of island resembles the shape of 'Om' when seen from above. The place is a must visit for any devotee of Lord Shiva as one of the 12 Jyotirlingas is present here in the Shri Omkar Mandhata Temple. Nature also has been quite generous on Omkareshwar. On the south and eastern side of the island there are cliffs of over 150 m that perfectly compliments the architectural charm of the many temples.

History

Omkareshwar is the result of the diversion in the river Narmada which caused it to branch its flow into two. The shape of the island is in the form of the sound Om sound of Omkara. According to legends, Lord Vindhayas had prayed to Lord Shiva, and they got the town of Omkareshwar as a present. In another mythological fable, the Shivalingas on request of the Devas, were broken into two parts. One was the Omkareshwar temple and the other being the Amareshwar.
Raja Mandhata of the Ishvaku clan is believed to have been worshipping on the very land. The cave here is supposed to have been the abode of Govinda Bhagavatpaada, the guru of Sankaracharya. These are some of the most popular legends of the town. However, every person will tell about his own set of beliefs and mythology.

Accessibility

Air: Indore airport, which is 77 km away from Omkareshwar, is the nearest airport. Indore is connected to major airports in India including Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi. Taxis are available from the airport to Omkareshwar, it takes about 2 hours journey and fares about Rs 1800.

Rail: Omkareshwar railway station situated at a distance of about 12 km away from Omkareshwar city center. Omkareshwar is connected to major railway stations in central India. Taxi charges about Rs 300 from railway station to the heart of the city.

Road: State owned bus services are available to Omkareshwar from major cities like Khandwa (60 km), Ujjain (133 km) and Indore (77 km). Omkareshwar is situated at distance of about 884 km from Delhi. Many private luxury buses are available on this route.

Things to do

Omkareshwar Parikrama: As per Hindu mythology, walking around any sources of positive energy would proffer one with the same positive energy. So from time immemorial, walking around in a clockwise direction of something, which has positive energy, is a well-acclaimed practice.
The popular belief is that circumambulating the sacred temple of Omkareswar would fetch boons and wipe out all the sins of those who had undertaken such parikrama. Apart from the jyothirlinga, the presence of holy river Narmada adds the parikrama a worthy affair. Narmada is believed to be the daughter of Lord Shiva and regarded as the purest of all other rivers. Since it is a customary practice of a Shiva devotee to take a parikrama of Narmada.

Omkareshwar is situated on the holy banks of this sacred river and hence walking around the shrine would proffer dual benefits to the devotee. It is rather a testamentary custom than an alluring attraction. Most of the people who prefer a parikrama here at Omkareshwar would definitely give preference to its religious aspect than the scenic ambiance through which they walks around.

Apart from its spiritual facets, Omkareshwar parikrama would provide an enthralling experience with its picturesque settings.

District
Khandwa
STD Code
0731
Termperature
Summer 23-37°C, Winter 17-30°C
Best time to visit
July to March
Famous For
Having a Natural Shape of Om, Sacred Sign of Hindus

Amarkantak

Amarkantak, also called 'Teerthraj' (the king of pilgrimages), is well known for its religious background and for the holy atmosphere, which is laden with various mythical stories. The place is located at the point where Vindhya and Satpura meet and is regarded as one of the sacred place where the Narmada River, the Sone River and Johila River emerge. The place is not only important as mythical stories and background, but one of the attractive places as the beautiful scenic beauty catches the eyes of the nature lovers.

History

Amarkantak and rivers originating from it do not find mention in Vedic literature, but these have been mentioned in Puranas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Vashishtha samhita and “Shatapatha Brahmana”. After Mahabharata the history of a period of about 3000 years is in dark. Professor Arjun Chaube Kashyap concludes that the Puranic name of Amarkantak was Riksh parvat. About 6000 years back the Suryavanshi samrat Mandhata founded a town in the valley Riksh parvat and named it Mandhata. The queen of samrat Purukutsa, who was son of Mandhata, gave the title of Narmada to the river. Due to occupation of this area by Mandhata the descendants of Yayati moved from this area to west of Madhya Pradesh and settled on the banks of Narmada River.

According to tradition, this Vindhyachal area was included in the Kingdom of Ayodhya, Kapila Muni, Bhrigu Rishi and Markandeya Rishi had ashrams here. It is also said that Pandavas stayed here and gained spiritual benefits during their exile.

After about 3000 years of Mahabharata the Adi Shankarachrya was born in 788 AD and consecrated on the banks of Narmada River. He founded Pataleshwar Mahadev in Amarkantak at the origin of Narmada from the bamboo clumps. This place is known as Surajkund today. There is no bamboo clumps here now.

In more recent history, this area was given in dowry to the Kalachuri King by the Chedi King (10th to 11th century AD). The Kalchuri Maharaja Karnadeva (1042-1072 AD) had constructed temples at Surajkund. In 1808 Amarkantak was ruled by the King of Nagpur and later came under foreign rule. More recently, amarkantak selected by the UPA government as the place for India's first tribal university.

Accessibility

Air: The nearest airport to Amarkantak is at Jabalpur, which is 245 km away from City of Amarkantak. Pre-paid taxi services are available from airport to Amarkantak costing about Rs 3,000 for the journey.

Rail: There are state owned transport buses from Pendra Road, Shahdol and Bilaspur. Amarkantak is connected by buses to Jabalpur (245 km), Rewa (261 km) and Shahdol (67 km).

Road: The nearest railhead to Amarkantak is Pendra Road at a distance of 17 km from the heart of the city. Anuppur at distance of 48 km from Amarkantak is also convenient for the tourists. Taxi charges are Rs 300 from Pendra Road and Rs 600 from Anuppur.

District
Anuppur District
STD Code
07629
Termperature
Summer 22-35°C, Winter 2-20°C
Best time to visit
Throughout the year

Ambaji

State

Ambaji is an important temple town in the beautiful backdrop of Arasur Hills and one of the most important Shaktipith of India and dedicated to the temple of the Mother Goddess, Amba. It is a picturesque spot located among the Aravalli and attracts scores of thousands of devotees around the year.

The main attraction in Ambaji is the Ambe temple and the most unusual feature of the shrine is that it does not contain any idol. It only has a yantra, made of marble, which is engraved at a spot and that is supposed to be representative of the mother goddess.

Accessibility

By Air: Nearest airport is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad, at a distance of 180 km from Ambaji.

By Rail: Abu Road station is the nearest railhead, which is at a distance of 20 km from Ambaji.

By Road: State owned bus services are available from nearest cities to Ambaji. Amabji is connected to Ahmedabad (180 km), Abu Road station (20 km), Mt Abu (45 km), Delhi (700 km), Palanpur (65 km) and Himmat Nagar (110 km).

Getaways
Accommodation

Hotel Akash Ganga
Phone: 02749-262764

Balaram Resort
Phone: 02742-84278

Attractions

Ambaji Badra Purnima
The Bhadrapadi Purnima is the main festival when a big fair of devotees is spontaneously organized at Ambaji and more than a million devotees gather together to worship Ma Amba on this auspicious day. Some of them form groups, which travel together to Ambaji from far off areas. Some of these groups are called padayatri sangh, which as a show of their faith and devotion to the Mother Goddess, walk all the way from different parts of the state to cover the distance to the Ambaji Mandir. Every year hundreds of such padayatris reach the Ambaji village to celebrate this religious fair dedicated to Mata Ambaji.

Maa Ambaji Udankhatola (Ropeway)

In order to develop Ambaji Pilgrimage, Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust has installed and inaugurated Maa Ambaji Udan Khatola (Rope Way) on the mountain of Gabbar, with the help of Usha Breco Ltd, so that more and more pilgrims can visit and enjoy the beauty and holiness of Gabbar with ease and joy, just by reaching in time, without any trouble.

Maa Ambaji Udankhatola at Gabbar Hill is operational since September, 1998. The level difference in the upper and lower stations is about 140 mts. Pilgrims by Udankhatola can reach the hill top in about 3 minutes. Whereas, climbing by foot takes about 45 minutes covering a steep winding path. Udankhatola is a boon to the visiting pilgrims, old, infirm, children etc. to have a quick, safe and comfortable journey for the darshan of the Goddess Ambaji.

Rope way on Gabbar Hill has in fact encouraged more and more pilgrims, especially the aged and infirmed, senior citizens and people from all corners of the world come to visit the temple through the ropeway.

District
Banaskantha district
STD Code
02749
Topic
Termperature
Summer 26-46°C, Winter 10-36°C
Best time to visit
November to March
Famous For
It is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, Maa Ambaji temple

Tungnath

State

Tungnath, literal meaning is lord of the peaks, is the highest temple (dedicated to Lord Shiva) in the world and is one of the five and the highest Panch Kedar temples located in the mountain range of Tunganath. It is an enchanting location where the nature is fabulously adorned with pictorial vistas. The Tunganath mountains form the Mandakini and Alaknanda river valleys.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/varunshiv/3530110781/

History

According to Hindu mythology lord Shiva and his consort Parvati both reside in the Himalayas: Lord Shiva at Mount Kailash and Parvati (Shail Putri) is considered to be the daughter of hills.[1]
The Tunganath myth is indelibly linked to the origin of the Panch Kedar temples built by the Pandavas. The legend states that sage Vyas Rishi advised the Pandavas that since they were culpable to the slaying of their own relatives (Kauravas, their cousins) during the Mahabharata war or Kurukshetra war, their offense could be pardoned only by Lord Shiva. Consequently, the Pandavas went in search of Shiva who was avoiding them since he was convinced of the guilt of Pandavas. In order to keep away from them, Shiva took the form of a bull and went into hiding in an underground safe haven at Guptakashi, where Pandavas chased him. But later Shiva’s body in the form of bull’s body parts rematerialized at five different locations that represent the “Panch Kedar” where Pandavas built temples of Lord Shiva at each location, to worship and venerate, seeking his pardon and blessings. Each one is identified with a part of his body; Tungnath is identified as the place where the bahu (hands) were seen: hump was seen at Kedarnath; head appeared at Rudranath; his navel and stomach surfaced at Madhyamaheshwar; and his jata (hair or locks) at Kalpeshwar.

Legend also states that Lord Rama, the chief icon of the Ramayana epic, meditated at the Chandrashila peak, which is close to Tungnath. It is also said that Ravana, also of Ramayana fame did penance to Shiva, the lord of the peaks, when he resided here.

Accessibility

By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun, which is about 232 km from Tungnath. Nearest International airport is Delhi.

By Rail: The nearest railhead is at Rishikesh which is about 215 km away from Tungnath. Trains are available from Rishikesh to other major cities in India.

By Road
: It requires about 3.5 km trek from Chopta to reach the holy hilly place Tungnath. Chopta is accessible through road transport like cars and buses from Rishikesh through Chamoli and Rudraprayag. It is also reachable from Ukhimath (about 30 km from Chopta) on the Badrinath - Kedarnath route.

District
Chamoli
Topic
Termperature
Summer 22-45°C, Winter 0-23°C
Best time to visit
March to October