The picturesque city of Maheshwar, located on the banks of the sacrosanct Rewa River is synonymous with history, culture, art, architecture, faith, spirituality, courage, patriotism and romanticism. Every square inch of this ancient city has a story that will be leave you spellbound. Maheshwar is one of the most important kshetras on the Narmada Parikrama and... Continue Reading →
Narmada Parikrama: Gupteshwar Mahadev Temple and Chhappan Dev Mandir, Mandleshwar, Madhya Pradesh
The world's first Adi Shiva Linga is found in the Gupteshwar Mahadev Temple in Mandleshwar on the banks of the Rewa River. This temple is considered to be the oldest Shiva temple in the world and has been described in detail in the Puranas. Legend has it that a pindi (upper part of the Shiva... Continue Reading →
Narmada Parikrama: Karna Matha Temples (Amarkantak Group of Ancient Temples), Amarkantak, Anuppur District, Madhya Pradesh
The Narmada Parikrama, a 3500-km journey that starts near the Arabian Sea in Gujarat takes one to the origin of the Narmada River at Amarkantak. Known as Amarkuta in Kalidasa's Meghaduta, Amarkantak has been mentioned in the Hindu scriptures as a mountain of incalculable sanctity. Amarkantak is one of the most frequented places of pilgrimage in... Continue Reading →
Virateshwar Temple, Sohagpur Banganga, Shahdol District, Madhya Pradesh
'Poetry in stone' best describes the ancient Virateshwar Temple in Shahdol district renowned for its religious and spiritual potency. As the name suggests, Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Virateshwar, an embodiment of the entire gamut of creation. According to the priest and locals, the mere darshan of Lord Virateshwar helps one to experience the Supreme... Continue Reading →
Kherat Brick Temples, Kherat Village, Ater Tehsil, Bhind District, Madhya Pradesh
One of the finest examples of the Post Gupta period is the Kherat brick temples located in the sleepy village of Kherat in Bhind district. According to historians, Bhind region has been mentioned in both the Ramayana and Mahabharat wherein it is believed that Lord Rama spent a great deal of time here during his... Continue Reading →
Samadhi of Shrimant Peshwa Baji Rao I, Raverkhedi, Khargone District, Madhya Pradesh
"The place of Baji Rao I in India's history comes home to us with unmistakable force and vividness when we compare the political situation of this country in 1740 with that in 1720. These twenty years of his active career witnessed a complete revolution in the character of the Maratha national state and an entire... Continue Reading →
Hinglajgarh Fort, Navali Village, Bhanpura Tehsil, Mandsaur District, Madhya Pradesh
Located deep in the dense forest of the Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary in the geologically significant tehsil of Bhanpura in West Malwa on the border of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is the important monument and temple site of the fort of Hinglajgarh. This fort has a rich and glorious ancient history that is marred by the tragic events... Continue Reading →
Madan Mahal Fort, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh
One of the most iconic forts of Madhya Pradesh is the Madan Mahal Fort located atop a hill in the centre of the historical city of Jabalpur. Built by Raja Madan Singh of the Garh Mandla kingdom of Gondwana in 1116, this fort is also known as Rani Durgavati Fort or Rani Durgavati ka Qila. ... Continue Reading →
Singorgarh Fort, Singrampur Village, Damoh District, Madhya Pradesh
The fourth of the fifty-two forts conquered by Maharaja Sangram Shah of the Garha Mandla kingdom of Gondwana in the early 16th century is the impregnable Singorgarh Fort situated atop a hillock in Singrampur village in Damoh district. This hill fort is most famous for the valour and martyrdom of the ruling Queen of Gondwana,... Continue Reading →
Ananda Bhairavi Temple, Sukhria Village, Somrabazar, Hooghly District, West Bengal
The quaint village of Sukharia located on the busy Somrabazar railway line in Hooghly district has some of the finest terracotta temples and old mansions that you will find in Bengal. Somrabazar has historically been the home of some of the oldest Zamindar families whose wealth, grandeur and affluence has had a significant influence on the culture... Continue Reading →
Garh Kundar Fort, Tikamgarh Village, Niwari District, Bundelkhand, Madhya Pradesh
One of the most mysterious forts of India is located in the sleepy village of Tikamgarh about 70kms from Orchha. A curious aspect about this fort is that the entire fort is clearly visible at a distance of 12 kms but completely vanishes as you near the assumed location of the fort! Even if this... Continue Reading →
Dindigul Locks of Tamil Nadu
One of the earliest examples of the exemplary craftsmanship of the 'Lock City' of Dindigul, famous for its unique handmade locks is seen on the door of the Dindigul Malai Kottai (Hill Fort). This lock on the fort's door is at least 400 years old if not more and was commissioned by the Madurai Nayak king Muthu... Continue Reading →
Sirumalai Hill Banana of Tamil Nadu
One of the most unique crops of Tamil Nadu are the Hill Bananas of Sirumalai and Virupakshi grown extensively in the eastern parts of the Western Ghats and lower Palani hills, Sirumalai and other parts of the Eastern Ghats. The aromatic and delicious Hill Bananas have been grown here for centuries by marginal farmers. ... Continue Reading →
भागलपुरी जर्दालू आम (Bhagalpuri Zardalu Mango, Bihar)
हालांकि भागलपुर के जर्दालू आम का उल्लेख भारत की उच्च कोटि की आम की श्रेणियों जैसे: दशहरी, लंगड़ा, हापुज में कहीं नहीं पाया जाता, परंतु इस सौंधी खुशबू वाले आम को अब धीरे धीरे वह पहचान मिल रही है, जिसका यह अधिकारी है। असल में, जर्दालू आम का अपना रोचक इतिहास है, कहा जाता है... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Nadir Shah invited to invade India by the Mughal Invaders
If ever awards for stupidity were to be handed out, it is highly likely that Aurangzeb would confer one for himself and award the rest to his incompetent descendants. By the end of his reign, Aurangzeb who had waged war with the Marathas for twenty-five years and had only pyrrhic victories to his credit undid... Continue Reading →
Temples of Chandrakona, Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal
Chandrakona like nearby Bishnupur and Ambika Kalna is often referred to as the ‘city of temples’. This city grew in eminence during the reign of the Hindu Malla kings of Bishnupur whose architectural ingenuity in using the locally available terracotta to build their stupendous temples was adopted by successive rulers. It would appear that at... Continue Reading →
Govind Mahal, Datia, Datia District, Madhya Pradesh
The ancient city of Datia located at a little distance from Gwalior is considered to be one of the most sacred kshetras of India. This historical city is mentioned as Daityavakra in the Mahabharat and is titled as Laghu Vrindavan (Little Vrindavan) for its numerous Shree Krishna Temples. It is also home to the Shri... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Tulja Bhavani and The Battle of Pratapgad
The capture of the hill forts of Purandar, Kalyan and Bhiwandi and the death, ruin and defection of feudatories like the Mores of Javli and the Sawants of Wadi respectively effected by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his able aides brought the crippling Bijapur kingdom to its knees. The construction of the new hill fort of... Continue Reading →
Kurumbera Fort, Gaganeshwar Village, Paschim Medinipur District, West Bengal
An interesting fort complex built during the glory days of Bengal relegated to obscurity is the Kurumbera Fort which is at a little distance from Kharagpur. Kurumbera Fort which derives its name from kurum which means stone and bera which means fence and collectively means an area fenced by stone in the local language is located in the historically... Continue Reading →
Santipore Saree of West Bengal
One of the most exquisite weaves in cotton and silk is found in the Bengal heartland of Shantipur - Phulia. Called as Shantipuri, this centuries-old tant (traditional Bengali saree) derives its name from Shantipur in Nadia district. The ancient handloom industry in Shantipur has been mentioned in manuscripts glorifying the life of Advaita Acharya as... Continue Reading →
Eathamozhy Tall Coconut of Tamil Nadu
A rare type of tall coconut variety with immense historical, religious and commercial importance known locally as Eathamozhy or Eathamozhi tall coconut thrives in Kanyakumari district. The unique morphological traits found in this variety are of a superior genetic constitution and it is unsurprising that there is great demand for the seedlings of Eathamozhy tall... Continue Reading →
महाराष्ट्र का लासलगाव प्याज़ (Lasalgaon Onion, Maharashtra)
नाशिक जिले के निफाड तालुक में स्थित लासलगाव न केवल भारत अपितु समस्त एशिया में प्याज का सबसे बड़ा बाज़ार है। कई लोगों को इस बात का पता ही नहीं होगा कि महाराष्ट्र देश में प्याज का सबसे बड़ा उत्पादक है। प्रसिध्द लासलगाव प्याज़ जिसे लाल निफाड या नाशिक प्याज के नाम से भी जाना... Continue Reading →
On the history trail: Chandashoka and The Kalinga War
Along with the wily Chanakya, Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Maurya dynasty built one of the largest empires in Akanda Bharat. He abdicated the throne in favour of his son Bindusara who was equal to the task. Bindusara not only consolidated the control over the empire but also extended it further south. Travellers' documentation and... Continue Reading →
Nibiya Khera Temple, Bhadwara, Kanpur Dehat District, Uttar Pradesh
One of the best-preserved brick temple complexes of the 9th - 10th century is found in the sleepy village of Nibiya Khera in Bhadwara. Though no inscription has been found, it is likely that the Gurjara - Pratihara dynasty who ruled over a large part of Northern India built this temple. This temple complex... Continue Reading →
