Garh Mukteshwar, considered by many to be one of the most sacrosanct tirthasthalas of Akhanda Bharat has many temples of great antiquity. Said to have been a part of the Kuru kingdom, Garh Mukteshwar is famous for the five Lingas (pancha lingas) consecrated by Parashurama, a stunning Ganga Temple and smaller temples that date back to the Vedic... Continue Reading →
Commonly known as a poor man's sweet, the humble petha is one of the most popular and iconic sweets of Uttar Pradesh. Though petha is generally associated with Agra (Agra Petha), the angoori petha of Prayagraj is equally famous and delicious. The residents of Prayagraj have for long been accorded the status of being the biggest food... Continue Reading →
It is perhaps not known to many that Hamirpur road in Ghatampur tehsil has some of the most beautiful brick temples in Kanpur district. The ancient Temple of Mahadeo Baba in Parauri, Auilyeshwar Mahadev Mandir in Karchulipur, Two ancient temples at Koratha and some smaller ruined temples on this road have exquisite carved brickwork and... Continue Reading →
Kalyaneshwar Mahadev Mandir located at Braj Ghat (Brij Ghat) in Garh Mukteshwar is an ancient temple of immense spiritual potency. This temple popularly known as Bhooto ka Mandir is believed to one of the pancha lingas consecrated by the mighty Parashurama in this region. According to the Hindu scriptures, this Shiva Linga from the days of yore... Continue Reading →
Uttar Pradesh is a food lover's haven with each and every district and town offering a variety of local delicacies that are simply divine. The quality of food in this state is unbelievably high and everyone you meet will be able to dish out his or her ancestral recipes with utmost ease. The holy... Continue Reading →
The Chandelas of Jejakabhukti, undisputedly the most creative and prolific builders of Akhanda Bharat have many architectural masterpieces to their credit. Their best work is seen in Khajuraho, Kalinjar, Ajaigarh and Mahoba which was the capital city. The Chandelas favoured the Pratihara style of architecture but added their own charm and grandeur to each and... Continue Reading →
Garh Mukteshwar situated on the banks of the holy Ganga is a sacred tirthasthala of immense importance since the ancient times. This place known earlier as Shiva Vallabhapura and Khandava Vana has been mentioned in the Hindu scriptures as the place that liberates one from all sins and the cycle of birth and death. According... Continue Reading →
All gastronomical roads in Prayagraj lead to Dehati Rasgulla in Old Bairhana to sample their delicious dehati ke rasgulle. Dehati ke rasgulle are known as gulab jamuns in the rest of India while the white rasgulla is called chhena here. According to the locals, Baba Ram Sevak Yadav began making and selling his dehati rasgulle in his... Continue Reading →
The lesser-known Kakora Baba Temple (Kakore Baba) in the bustling town of Bahua in Fatehpur district is a magnificent architectural gem of the 10th century built by the Pratiharas. The original structure dedicated to Lord Maheshwara was made of bricks laid in mud mortar with a thin layer of plaster, had a grand shikhara of moulded... Continue Reading →
The sacrosanct tirthasthala of Shukratal now known as Shukrateerth (Shukratirth) is one of the most picturesque places located on the course of the downstream Ganga. This beautiful place full of ancient temples, bathing ghats and wells is truly a spiritual treasure trove for the followers of Sanatana and Advaita. This divine place derives its name from the... Continue Reading →
Thandai, the quintessential summer drink of Banaras makes its appearance on the auspicious occasion of Holi. This drink was first introduced by rich Gujarati and Marwari merchants who settled down in the holy city centuries ago. The thandai prepared by these families on important occasions was made from floral extracts of gulab (rose), ruh bela... Continue Reading →
The ancient brick temple of Bhorhare Baba (Bharahare Baba or Bhorahare Baba) located 10km north of Bahua in Thithaura village is considered by historians to be an outstanding piece of architecture that is still standing in the Ganga - Yamuna Doab. This temple complex of the 10th century appears to have been built on the... Continue Reading →
Brahmavart Ghat in Bithoor is a spiritual powerhouse since the dawn of creation and cannot be compared to any other tirthasthala in this universe. It has been stated in the Hindu scriptures that Lord Brahma descended to this spot on the banks of the holy Ganga River and consecrated a Shiva Linga made of sand... Continue Reading →
Though lassi is a fairly common native drink available in almost every part of India, the Banarasi lassi is in a class of its own owing to the ingenuity of the residents. This world-famous lassi is extremely popular not only with the locals but also people visiting from South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand. Interestingly, this lassi is... Continue Reading →
The fertile region of Fatehpur is dotted with exquisite examples of 4th to 8th century brickwork. The temples of Tenduli, Sarahan Buzurg, Thithaura and Korari have the most exemplary ornate bricks that is testimony to the technical proficiency and craftsmanship of the artisans of the post-Gupta period. Located to the south bank of an... Continue Reading →
The story of young Dhruva sitting all alone in the dense forest meditating on Lord Vishnu has been narrated to us a million times while growing up. How a boy of five years found solace in Lord Vishnu and sought His blessings with a single-minded goal is truly an inspirational story described in the Hindu... Continue Reading →
Banaras, a gastronomical haven offers a staggering variety of scrumptious sweets like malaiyo, jalebi, gulab jamun, rabdi and others but launglata is undisputedly the choicest sweet of this holy city. Believed to be derived from the Bengali lobongo latika, this sweet is said to have made an appearance in Banaras more than 500 years ago. Also known as lavanga... Continue Reading →
Fatehpur district is home to many stunning temples dating back to the ancient times. A sizeable number of brick temples, perhaps some of the earliest ever built are seen in various pockets of this region. Though most have been relegated to obscurity, credit must be given to the villagers for putting in the time, money... Continue Reading →
The fertile land of Fatehpur district has been a renowned centre for learning, knowledge, art and architecture since the Vedic Period. This region is dotted with a fair number of temples built in different periods that survived the savagery of Muslim invaders particularly Aurangzeb. Tucked away in the historically significant Dhamna Khurd village is... Continue Reading →
The 14 Kos Parikrama commences on Ekadashi in the month of Phalguna from the holy Janaki kund at Maharshi Valmiki ashram. Pilgrims carry bamboo sticks while making their way to Bithoor on the Pariyar road. This circumambulation is completed in three days and is done for the progress of one's lineage. Interestingly, pilgrims offer prayers... Continue Reading →
An authentic preparation of Bihar called litti chokha made its appearance in eastern Uttar Pradesh and specifically Varanasi a few decades ago. This scrumptious dish took on a new avatar in the holy city and was coined baati chokha. Baati chokha is essentially a harmonious combination of baati (wheat balls stuffed with sattu roasted over charcoal) and chokha (curry... Continue Reading →
Tenduli village, a rather small and quiet village in Fatehpur district is a treasure trove of Gupta period temples. This village, perhaps not known to many is of great antiquity and has some of the finest examples of the earliest brick temples along the Rind River. The Baba Chatrubhuj Temple (Chaturbhuj Baba) also referred... Continue Reading →
Another impressive edifice of the Gupta period is the pair of brick temples located in Koratha village in Kanpur Nagar district. This ancient temple complex is frankly in the middle of nowhere and yet, has been remarkably preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). On first glance, one will see the complex divided... Continue Reading →
Called locally as Veeron ka Thaur (place or land of braves), Bithoor is one of the most sacrosanct tirthashalas located on the banks of the Ganges. This place of immense spiritual potency is the land of Nana Saheb Peshwa II, one of the principal architects of the 1857 First War of Independence. Even Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi... Continue Reading →
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