One of the most outstanding examples of iconography along the Rewa River (Narmada River) is the Datta Guru Temple also known as Garudeshwar Datta Mandir in Garudeshwar village. Garudeswar village lies to the south of Tilakwada and east of Rajpipla and is a part of the important Narmada Parikrama. Thousands of devotees walk barefoot visiting... Continue Reading →
One of the most important tirthasthala along the Rewa River is the ancient temple of Kuber Bhandari Shiva in Karnali village. People often stop over at the 'City of Temples', Chandod located at the Triveni Sangam of Saraswati, Narmada and Orsang rivers before proceeding to Kuber Bhandari Temple by boat. Legend has it that Lord... Continue Reading →
Our search for the holiest shrines along the Rewa River (Narmada River) takes us to the charming village of Shuklatirth located about 16 km from Bharuch. Not many are aware that Shuklatirth village located on the bank of the Narmada River is one of the most sacrosanct places in the world. Shuklatirth derives its... Continue Reading →
The vibrant saffron hue and sinfully sweet taste of the Gir Kesar mango puts it on the list of much loved and sought-after mangoes of India. Titled by the locals as the 'Queen of Mangoes', this delightfully bright and delicious mango finds its place among the country's five best indigenous varieties. Gir Kesar mango... Continue Reading →
The ancient city of Bharuch (Broach) located at the mouth of the holy Rewa River (Narmada River) derives its name from the exemplary tapasvi Bhirgu Maharshi. Not many are aware that the Rewa River is in fact older than the Ganga and deemed to be immensely sacrosanct. The spiritual potency of this river is discernible... Continue Reading →
The Second Sack of Surat paved the way for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to make preparations for his ambitious missions by land and sea. The raid into Khandesh and Berar followed by Baglana and Karinja led to the bloody toil of Salher. The spirit of the Marathas was greatly roused by their comprehensive victory over Ikhlas... Continue Reading →
The cat and mouse game continued between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Aurangzeb with the former keeping the latter on his toes with raids on his territory at an alarming regularity. It started with a surprise entry into the Deccan controlled by the Mughals. Maharaj made quick work of Junnar, Ahmednagar and Parenda advancing quickly as... Continue Reading →
The night attack on Shaista Khan however spectacular did not inflict any discernible damage on Aurangzeb. Shaista Khan's seizure and occupation of Pune and its surrounding districts for over three years and the siege of Kondana (December 1663 to June 1664) by Mirza Raja, Jashwant Singh or Jai Singh I had crippled the Maratha empire... Continue Reading →
The quaint seaside village of Kuchhadi, located at a little distance from Porbandar has many archaeological sites of historic importance. One of the hidden gems found on this unexplored seashore is the ancient Khimeshwar Mahadev Temple. Legend has it that the Pandavas along with Draupadi spent a great deal of time in this... Continue Reading →
One of the oldest forts in Gujarat which at its zenith would have been an outstanding example of the grandeur and architecture typical of the Kutch region is the Roha fort located at a little distance from Bhuj. Standing tall at 800 feet on the Roha hill overlooking the vast town of Roha, this centuries-old... Continue Reading →
गुजरात के स्थानीय निवासियों का मानना है कि भाल नामक क्षेत्र में बड़े पैमाने पर उगाए जाने वाले गेहूं का नाम संस्कृत के शब्द भाल के ऊपर पड़ा है, जिसका अर्थ है 'मस्तक', ऐसा इसलिए है क्योकि यह क्षेत्र भी मस्तक के समान सपाट दिखता है। यह सुनने में अजीब लगता है, परन्तु वास्तव में... Continue Reading →
The beautiful Polo forest also known as Vijayanagar Forest located at the foothills of the Aravalli range bordering Gujarat and Rajasthan on the banks of the Harnav river was a place of great importance for the ancient kingdom of Vijayanagar. This densely wooded region derives its name from the word Pol meaning gateway in the... Continue Reading →
The supremely sacrosanct Jambavant cave or Jambuvant ki gufa located in Ranavav in Porbandar district is one of the most historical places in Gujarat. This beautiful ancient cave which is on the Panchadwaraka path is the resting place of Chiranjeevi Jambavan who had the rare opportunity to not only witness the divine Kurma avatar of Lord... Continue Reading →
The ancient Shiva temple in the remote village of Bavka in Dahod district in Gujarat is popularly known as the 'Khajuraho of Gujarat'. This absolutely stunning temple that stands on a small hill near Hirlav lake in ruins was probably one of the most spectacular temples built in the Solanki era (or the Chaulukya dynasty... Continue Reading →
Locals say that Bhalia wheat that is largely cultivated in Bhal region of Gujarat derives its name from the Sanskrit word bhalah meaning forehead suggestive of the flatness of this region like one's forehead. As bizarre as that may sound, the land is indeed extremely flat with barely any change in landscape or any sort of... Continue Reading →
After the devastating earthquake of 1819, the people of Kutch came up with an innovative circular design of bhungas to minimize the damage to their lives as well as properties. The reworked design of bhungas that is about 200 years old stood very firm during the earthquake of 2001 when it was very close to... Continue Reading →
Jamjir Falls on the Singoda River makes for an idyllic setting to sketch or paint a watercolour or relax and take in the scenic spectacle in the famous Sasan Gir Forest. This well-hidden picturesque locale is for those who love the off-beat. You can see the water ravines and the thick wooded areas as you... Continue Reading →
"Vaiṣṇava jana to tene kahiye je pīḍa parāyī jāṇe re, para duḥkhe upakāra kare to ye mana abhimāna na āṇe re Call those people Vaishnav who Feel the pain of others, Help those who are in misery, But never let self-conceit enter their mind. sakaḷa loka māṁ sahune vande, nindā na kare kenī re,... Continue Reading →
