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Jyotirlingams |
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Concept and design: Ravi Viswanathan | Write to me: raviviswom@hotmail.com |
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Gujarat, India
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The Somnath Temple stands magnificently by the Arabian Sea, one of the 12 most sacred Jyotirlingas or Shiva shrines in India. Ransacked and destroyed by invaders in the medieval ages, the phoenix-like it resurrected from the ashes. The Somnath temple has been successively re-built, its splendour only suffering in the material used: from gold to silver, wood and, now, finally stone. It is said that the temple was originally built by Soma, the Moon God, in penance and worship of Lord Shiva who had laid a curse upon him. Located as it is, it is widely believed that if one were to sail from here in a straight line, the end of the journey would be at the North Pole, without having to travel over land. The present structure is a recently built temple that duplicates its original. It is believed too that Lord Krishna lies cremated here, at Triveni Ghat. Close by is a Sun Temple, Surya Mandir. There is a museum in the temple that contains relics of the old Somnath shrine. How to Get There The nearest airport is Keshod, 47 km, which is connected with Bombay. Rail Veraval, 5 km, is a railway station. Road State transport buses and Gujarat Tourism conducted tours link Somnath with prominent towns around. Where to Stay Toran Guest Houses of the Gujarat Tourism. Email: Gandhinagar: tcgl.gnr@rmt.sprintrpg.ems.vsnl.net.in Ahmedabad: tcogl@ad1.vsnl.net.in Mumbai (Bombay): tcgl.mum@rmt.sprintrpg.ems.vsnl.net.in |
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Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh |
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Srisailam, 232 km south of Hyderabad, is situated on the banks of river Krishna. On the south bank of the river, on a 457 metre high hill, is the Bhramarambha Mallikarjunaswamy Temple. The presiding deity, Sri Mallikarjunaswamy, is one of the 12 ‘Jyotirlingams’ in India. A massive fort, with walls 6 metre high encloses the temple. A cluster of minor shrines within the temple enclosures include the ‘Sahasra Linga’ ‘Panchapandava Temples’ and ‘Vata Vriksha’. Other Temples Sikharam: the highest of the Srisailam hills, is Sikhareswara Swamy, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and Sri Ganapati Temple, dedicated to Lord Ganesh. How to reach ? The nearest airport to Srisailam is Hyderabad at a distance of 237 km. Rail The nearest rail head is Nandyal on Guntur-Hubli road at a distance of 158 km. But people prefer going to Hyderabad or Secunderabad and then travel by bus or car. Bus Srisailam is well connected by State buses from all the important towns in A.P. Accommodation Devasthanam Cottages: 105 independent cottages. Devasthanam Choultries: 150 rooms. Resevation authority: Executive Officer, Srisailam Devasthanam, Srisailam (Andhra Pradesh) 518 101, India. Telephone: 50. |
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Madhya Pradesh, India |
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The sacred island, shaped like the holiest of all Hindu symbols, `Om', has drawn a hundred generations of pilgrims. Here, at the confluence of the rivers Narmada and Kaveri, the devout gather to kneel before the jyotirlingam (one of the twelve throughout India) at the temple of Shri Omkar Mandhata. The Shri Omkar Mandhata temple stands on a one mile long, half a mile wide island that has been formed by the fork of the Narmada. The soft stone of which it was constructed has lent its pliable surface to a rare degree of detailed work, of which the frieze of figures on the upper portion is the most striking. Getting There: Air Indore is connected by air with Bhopal, Bombay, Delhi and Gwalior. Rail Indore is on the Western Railway line and is connected with all major cities in India. Road Indore is connected by good motorable roads with Agra (605 km), Ahmedabad (456 km), Bhopal (187 km), Bombay (602 km), Delhi (809 km), Gwalior (486 km), Khajuraho (574 km), Maheshwar (90 km), Mandu (105 km) and Ujjain (53 km). Accommodation There are a number of hotels with moderate tariffs. In addition, there is a Tourist Bungalow belonging to Madhya Pradesh Tourism. |
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Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India |
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The temple of
with its soaring shikhara dominates the skyline and life of Ujjain. The God
Shiva reigns eternal and the lingam, one of the 12 jyotirlingams in India, is
believed to be swayambhu (born of itself), deriving its shakti or power, from
within itself. Yet another unique feature of this majestic shrine is the idol
which faces the south, a positioning upheld by tantric traditions and found
only in Mahakaleshwara among the 12 jyotirlingams. The idol of Omkareshwar
Shiva is consecrated in the sanctum above the Mahakal shrine and the images
of Lord Ganesh, Parvati and Kartikeya are in the west, north and east of the
sanctum sanctorum. To the south is Shiva's bull steed, Nandi. Every
Mahashivratri, in the month of March, pilgrims by the thousands gather at the
fair held near the temple. Ujjain Ujjain is situated on the right bank of River Shipra. It is a very holy city for the Hindus, a site for the triennial Kumbh Mela. According to Hindu scriptures, it was originally called Avantika. There is an interesting tale behind the sanctity of the city. Its origin is ascribed to the mythological legend of Sagar Manthan (churning of primordial ocean to discover the pot of nectar). The story goes that after the nectar was discovered, there was a chase between the gods and demons to have the nectar first and thus attain immortality. During this chase a drop of nectar spilled and fell on Ujjain, thus making the city sacred. Apart from mythological legends, the city has a long and distinguished history. It was governed by the likes of Vikramaditya and Ashoka. Kalidas wrote his soul stirring poetry here. Today, Ujjain represents an interesting blend of an age old legacy and the modern day lifestyle. Getting there Air The nearest airport, Indore (55 km), is connected by air with Bhopal, Bombay, Delhi and Gwalior. Rail Ujjain is a railway station on the Western Railway line and connected with major cities in India. Road Good motorable roads connect Ujjain with Ahmedabad (402 km), Bhopal (183 km), Bombay (655 km), Delhi (774 km), Gwalior (451 km), Indore (53 km), Khajuraho (570 km), Mandu (158 km) Accommodation Hotel Shipra (MPSTDC), Yatri Niwas (MPSTDC) and other medium budget hotels are available. |
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Deogarh, near Jasidih, Bihar, India |
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A major pilgrim centre, houses one of the twelve Jyotirlingams of India. Getting there Air The nearest airport is Patna, which is well connected to New Delhi and Calcutta. Rail Jasidih on the Calcutta to Patna line is the nearest. It is well connected with trains from different regions of India. Where to stay The Bihar tourism has bungalows with self-contained rooms to stay. |
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Taluk: Ambegaon; District: Pune; State Maharashtra, India |
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A major pilgrim centre, Bhimshankar houses one of the five Jyotirlingams of Maharashtra. Constructed by the eminent Nana Phadnavis, the Shiva temple has gorgeous carvings. Other attractions to this place include the famous Mahashivratri fair, the fascinating bird and game sanctuary and of course, the pleasant climate and natural scenery. Getting there: By Air: Nearest airport is Pune 95 km By Rail: Nearest railhead is also Pune. By Road: Bombay-Bhimashankar 265 km via Pune. Reservation: Bombay and Pune. Check-out-time: 12.00 noon. Accomodation Two bungalows [with a capacity of 8 beds] and tents. |
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Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India |
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One of the twelve jyotirlingams of Lord Shiva in India. History says that Lord Rama established the jyotirlingam before his war with Ravana, the ruler of Lanka. Near Rameswaram, 10 km away, there is a temple, called `Ramar Padam', which has footprints of Lord Rama, who stood there watching Lanka, before starting his journey to Lanka. Getting there By Air The nearest airport is Madurai, which is well connected to Chennai (Madras) and Bangalore. By Rail The railhead is Rameswaram. It has connections to all cities in India. Accommodation The temple Devasthanam has bungalows for stay. |
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Also known as Aundha-NagnathTaluk: Hingoli; District: Parbhani; PIN 431 188; State: Maharashtra, India |
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A pilgrim centre of great significance, since it is considered to be the first [adya], of the 12 Jyotirlingas in the Country. Apart from this honour, the temple of Nagnath has exquisite carvings. Other Attractions: Nanded, 64 km By road from Aundha, is famous for the Sach Khand Shri Huzur Sahib Gurudwara, where Guru Gobind Singh's ashes are buried. Getting there By Air Aurangabad 210 km away is a convenient airport, but Nanded at 64 km is closer. By Rail Chondi 21 km is a convenient railhead. Bombay-Chondi 614 km By Road Bombay-Aundha 579 km Nagpur-Aundha 359 km Aurangabad-Aundha 210 km State transport buses ply from Nanded, Parbhani, Chondi to Aundha. Reservation Aundha-Nagnath Check-out-time: 12.00 noon. Accomodation Self contained rooms [1 block], dormitories [2 blocks 16 beds, 1 block without beds] and tents. |
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Also known as Kashi Vishwanath Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India |
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The most sacred shrine of Lord Shiva in India is also one of the twelve jyotirlingams. The patron deity of Varanasi. Reconstructed in the 18th century, its gold plating on the `Shikharas' was a gift of the one eyed Sikh king. |
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The Ghats Pilgrims flock the Ghats to have a ritual bath and perform puja to the rising sun, following centuries old tradition. The Dasashvamedh Ghat offers a splendid view of the riverfront. This is the ghat of the 10 (das) horses (shva) sacrificed (medh). |
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Legend has it that it was performed by Brahma to pave way for Shiva's return to Varanasi after a spell of banishment. A sight that has remained unchanged and unspoilt - by time, wars or even man himself. Other special ghats are the Asi, Barnasangam, Panchganga and Manikarnika, Ghats. |
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Varanasi or Kashi or Benaras Varanasi or Kashi was already old when Rome was founded. It was a flourishing trading centre in 500 B.C when Buddha came to Sarnath to preach his first sermon. An ancient city, its sense of the archaic is alive; it holds a millennium of civilization. The outer facade has changed, but the city and its voice are authentic. Varanasi has been the religious capital of Hinduism since times immemorial. It is one of the foremost `tirthas' (place of pilgrimage). Varanasi, as the legend goes was created by Shiva, the cosmic Lord. It figures prominently in the epic Mahabharat. Written records of the Skanda Purana and the Mahabharta mention its existence as long as 3000 years old. Varanasi has been a great centre for learning and civilization and is sacred to the Hindus. As the sacred river Ganga flows the snow-clad Himalayas into the vast plains, half way between Delhi and Calcutta it curves into a gentle crescent and along the crescent lies Varanasi. Kashi is believed to be the eternal abode of Shiva or Vishwanath. Said to be the first created spot on earth according to legend, in existence for over thousands of years. Varanasi is the city, which enshrines the very essence of Hinduism. Varanasi's original name Kashi, is said to have been derived from the word `Kasha' meaning bright which defines its significance as the `city of light' or its spiritual luminance. The present name is believed to be a combination of Varuna and Asi, the two rivers on its northern and southern periphery. Banaras, as it is popularly known, is only a corruption of the name by an ever changing culture. The wealth of Varanasi and its religious significance were also its bette-noir. Its past is replete with hoary tales of plunder and destruction by conquerors and religious zealots. But such is the invigorating strength of the holy waters of the Ganges that Varanasi refused to die. There is no Indian attraction like Varanasi. There are no architectural splendours, no exquisitely carved palaces or impregnable forts, and yet the city has an inherent charm. Situated on the west bank of the Ganges, it extends back from the riverbank ghats to a winding maze of picturesque alleys overlooking tall houses alongside, dotted with temples. It is a fascinating area to wander around. Varanasi's principal attraction is a long string of bathing ghats that line the river. Pilgrims of all castes and creeds make their sin cleansing dip in atonement. The best time to visit the Ghats is at dawn, where pilgrims come for their early morning dip. The city comes alive with magical lights, the keen scent of spices, incense, aromatic oils and crushed flowers. The air reverberates with chanting of mantras and jangling bells along with cries of vendors. Varanasi general Information Area: 73.89 sq.km. Altitude: 80.71 mts. Temperature (deg C): Summer Max. 46, Min. 15; Winter Max. 12, Min. 5. Rainfall: 111 cm. (June to September). Clothing: Summer Light cottons, Winter Woollens. Languages spoken: Hindi, Bengali, English. Best Season: Throughout the year, but preferably October to March. Lodging EP (European Plan : Only Lodging. AP (American Plan) : Including lodging & three full meals. Getting there Air Indian Airlines connect Varanasi Airport at Babatpur(22 km) to Bhubaneshwar, Lucknow, Agra and Delhi, Mumbai, Khajuraho, Kathmandu, where the above places are directly connected by flights with Calcutta. Sahara India Airlines, Archana Airways etc are also operating. Rail Varanasi Cantt. (2 km) and Mugalsarai Jn. (18 km) are the main railway stations. Varanasi is connected by rail with all the major cities in India. Road Bus service connects Varanasi with most of the important places of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Some of the road distances are:- Agra 606 km, Allahabad 127 km, Bodh Gaya 240 km, Gorakhpur 215 km, Khajuraho 406 km, Kushinagar 260 km, Lucknow 320 km, Lumbini 320 km, Patna 270 km Calcutta 681 km, Bombay 1550 km, Delhi 805 km , Bhubaneswar-996 km Conducted Tours Tour & Itinerary: Timings Summer: 0530 - 1145 hrs. Winter: 0600 - 1215 hrs. Transport Corporation Summer: 1430 - 1825 hrs. Winter: 1400 - 1755 hrs. Tel: 63233. Starting Point: U.P.Tourism Development Corpn, Tourist Bungalow, Parade Kothi. Joining Point : Government of India Tourist Office, The Mall. (Tickets are sold in the bus only). Airport bus service runs twice daily via Indian Airlines office & Govt. of India Tourist Office Tel: 343744.Fare-Rs.25/-p.p.Tel: 346588. Hotels Govt. Approved Hotel Varanasi Ashok (ITDC)A/9 The Mall. Varanasi221 002. Fax: 0542-348089. Telex: 0545205. Clarks Varanasi Ltd., 5 Star The Mall, Varanasi Cant-221002. Tel: 348501 to 10 lines. Fax: 348186. Hotel Taj Ganges 5 Star Nadesar Palace Grounds Varanasi- 221 002. Tel: (0542) 345100-117. Fax: 0542-348067. Hindusthan International 4 Star A/C Rs.1195 C-21/3, Maldahiya Varanasi- 221 002. Tel: 351484-90. Fax: 0542-350931. Hotel De Paris,3 Star 15, The Mall, Varanasi Cantt- 221 002. Tel: 346601 to 08. Fax:0542-348520 Pallavi International 3 Star Hathwa Palace, Chetganj Varanasi- 221 010. Tel: 356939 to 43. Fax: (91-0542) 322943. Hotel Ideal Tops 3 star The mall, Tel:348091-92 Fax:0542-348685 Diamond Hotel 2 Star Bhelupur, Varanasi Tel: 310696 (5 lines). Hotel Pradeep 2 star Jagatgang, Tel:344963,594 Fax:0542-344898 Hotel Malti 2 star Vidyapeeth Road Tel:356844,351395 Fax:0542-322161 Hotel Best Western Ideal S-20/51, 1-A, The Mall Varanasi Cantt- 221 002. Tel: 42591/92~ 348250/51. Fax: 0542-348685. Unapproved hotels River View-331223;Scindia Guest House-320319;Shanti Guest House-320956,2568; Puja Guest House-326102;Ganpati Guest House-327110;Alka-328445;Ganga Guest House-;Vishnu Rest House;Alakhnanda Guest House-327177.Jaishree-62014; International Hotel-67140-522204;Ganges-321097,322753;Amar-343509,341127;Vishal 56065;Mint House Hotel-43089; Upawan Rest House-52983;CentralHotel-62776; K.M.M.63107; Manvi Guest House-53811;Bombay International-310621. Other hotel (Tariff Rs.150-300 for double) with telephone number: Sunsiv-350468;Naar-indra-343586,342017;Vishnu Priya-341154; La-Ra India 320323,327; Shalimar-346227;Varuna-358524,25; Temples Town-346582;Puspanjali343776; Ajay 344763,3707; Buddha-344376,3686;Ashok-358391,0058; Garden View61093,2716; Natraj 343652,612; Ashadeep-386781-3; Ganges View-313218; Temple on Ganges-312340,740; Mansoravar-343546,0707; Jyoti-320333,3050; Other hotels Tariff Rs.300-500 for double with telephone numbers: Jai Ganges-345951,62384; Ajaya-53440; Surya-34-8330;343014, Barahdari 330581,040; Diamond-310696,99;Vaibhav-346477,588; Siddhartha 358161,351852;Padmini International- 220079,2274; Gautam-346450,239; Avneesh- 358178,350730;Surya-348330,343-14; New International-350805,705; Tourist Dak Bungalow-345685 Government of Uttar Pradesh Tourism Bungalow Tourist Bungalow (UPSTDC) Parade Kothi, Varanasi Cantt. Varanasi. A Tel: 0542-343413 Internet: http://www.up-tourism.com Calcutta Booking: U.P.Tourism Development Corp, 12-A N.S.Road, Bhagat Chamber, (2nd Floor) Beside Coal India Building, Tel: 220-7855. Places of interest (distances given are from Government of India Tourist Office) River Front 5 km, Alamgir Mosque 8 km, Bharat Mata Temple 3 km, Tulsi Manas Temple 8 km, Gyanvapi Mosque 5 km, Vishwanath Temple (Golden Temple) 5 km. |
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District: Nashik; PIN 422 212; State: Maharashtra, India Telephone: 543. |
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It's one of the four Jyotirlingas in Maharashtra, and one of the twelve in India. In February-March, on Mahashivaratri day, a large fair is held, which draws people from all over India. Every twelve years, the Sinhastha fair, the most important Kumbh Mela after Allahabad is held here. Other attractions Complementing the religious sanctity of the town, are some beautiful surroundings: Brahmagiri Hill, Neel Parvat, Kushawart Teerth, Gangadwar. Easily accessible are Nashik and Jawhar. Getting there By Air Nearest airport is Nashik 39 km By Rail Nearest railhead is Nashik Road 44 km on Central Railway. By Road Bombay-Trimbakeshwar 180 km Nashik-Trimbakeshwar 28 km State Transport buses ply between Nashik-Trimbakeshwar frequently. Reservation Bombay and Trimbakeshwar. Check-out-time: 12.00 noon. Accomodation Self contained rooms [11 blocks], dormitories [2 blocks - 20 beds] and tents. |
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Uttar Pradesh, India |
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Set amidst the stunning mountain-scape of the Garhwal Himalayas, Kedarnath, at the head of the Mandakini River, is mongst the holiest pilgrimages for the devout Hindu. Situated at an altitude of 3,581 metres, above sea level, the temple of Sri Kedarnath, is one of the twelve Jyotirlingams of Lord Shiva. Visited by hundreds of devotees every year, the temple, believed to be very ancient, has been continually renovated over the centuries. According to legend, Lord Shiva wished to elude the Pandavas, and took refuge in Kedatnath in the form of a bull. When the Pandavas followed him here, too, he dived into the ground leaving behind him a hump on the surface. This conical protrusion is worshipped as the idol in the shrine. The remaining parts of the body are worshipped at four other places: the arms (Bahu) at Tungnath, mouth (Mukh) at Rudranath, navel (Nabhi) at Madmaheshwar and hair (Jata) at Kalpeshwar. Together with Kedarnath these places are known as the Panch Kedar. The epic Mahabharatha, says, that it was at Kedarnath, that Yudhishthir, the eldest of the Pandava brothers, departed to Heaven. Another legend has it that the Pandavas of the Mahabharat epic underwent severe penances here to atone the killings of their kith and kin the great battle of Kurukshetra and so established this shrine. At the entrance to the temple is as statue of Nandi, the divine bull. The interiors of the Kedarnath temple are exquisitely carved with images. The present temple is credited to Adi Shankaracharya, while the remains of an earlier structure, believed to belong to the Pandava age, are seen behind this temple. The lingam at Kedarnath, unlike its usual form, is pyramidal. Season: May to October. The temple remains closed from mid-November to early April. Festivals: Badri-Kedar Utsav, Doli Yatra of Kedarnathji. Getting there Kedarnath is 239 km from Dehradun of which the first 225 km is by road and the remaining 14 km is a trekking route. Rishikesh the last railhead is 221 km from Kedarnath. Kedarnath is well connected by bus services to other centres in the region. Ponnies, dandis and porters are available at Gaurikund, from where the 14 km trek to Kedarnath starts. The district Magistrate, Chamoli, fixes the rates, before the Yatra season begins. The Uttar Pradesh Tourism Travelers lodge, private lodges, guest houses and dharamshalas are available. Accommodation reservation contact Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., 3, Naval Kishore Road, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) 226 001, India. U.P. tourism: email: upstdc@lw1.vsnl.net.in Internet: http://www.up-tourism.com Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd., Survery Chowk, Lansdown Marg, Dehradun (Uttar Pradesh) 248 001, India. Email: gmvsn@nda.vsnl.net.in Rishikesh: Yatra Office, Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd. Phone: (91-0135)-431793; 432648; 430799; Fax: (91-0135)-430372 |
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Maharashtra, India |
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One of the 12 jyotirlingams of Lord Shiva, is an important place of pilgrimage. This Shiva temple is rich, with beautiful carvings and exquisite architecture. Getting there Air The nearest airport is Aurangabad (42 km). Rail The nearest railhead is Aurangabad (42 km). Road Grishneshwar is well connected by road. It is 422 km from Bombay (Mumbai). State transport buses ply from Aurangabad to Grishnewhar. It is half-a-km from Ellora caves. Accommodation MTDC Resorts, with 48 A/C and non A/C self contained rooms. |
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