Bishnupur or ‘land of Vishnu’ has many stunning terracotta temples to its credit but the Madan Mohan Temple stands tall with its outstanding detailed relief work. This centuries-old temple was built by the devout Durjan Singha Dev of Mallabhum around 1695 CE. Legend has it that the original idol of Madan Mohan in ashtadhatu was actually... Continue Reading →
The long-established tradition of rasa leela (Dance of Divine Love) has been prevalent in West Bengal for centuries. This auspicious occasion is either celebrated on Krishna Janmashtami or on Kartik Purnima where Lord Krishna is brought from different temples and placed on a viewing pavilion called rasmancha or dolmancha. One of the most famous rasmancha is the Rasmancha at... Continue Reading →
The lip-smacking Sitabhog served with nikhuti (tiny gulab jamuns) will assuredly send you to a heavenly place! This century-old sweet of Bardhaman along with Mihidana is an invention of the late Khettranath Nag. The city of Bardhaman derives its name from Mahavira or Vardhaman Swami (around the 6th century B.C.E.) and is famous for its... Continue Reading →
The delectable Bardhaman Mihidana that literally means fine grains was first prepared along with Sitabhog in honour of Maharaja Mahtab Chand Bahadur by the late Khettranath Nag according to his grandson, the late Nagendranath Nag. Seventy-two years later, both these dishes were served to Lord Curzon in 1904 when he visited Bardhaman on the invitation... Continue Reading →
Once a part of the kingdom of the Pandyas of Madurai, Chettinadu or the land of Chettiars comprised of 96 villages founded by the Nattukottai Chettiars or Nagarthar meaning townsfolk. This aristocratic community were seafarers, bankers and businessmen. This wealthy stretch of land in Sivaganga district is famous for its architecture, art, utensils, tiles, weaving and... Continue Reading →
The ancient Lokpal lake situated at an altitude of 14,200 feet has been the focal point of many spiritually significant events. This sacred place finds mention in Ramayana, Mahabharat, Puranas and more recently in the autobiographical poem of Guru Gobind Singh. The sanctity of this place is attributed to Goddess Durga, Lakshmana and the Pandavas.... Continue Reading →
The rapturous cadence of bells ringing and the spectacular panoramic view of the Garhwal Himalayas forms the background for the ancient Karthik Swami temple situated at an elevation of 10,000 feet. This lone temple dedicated to Lord Kartikeya in Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand finds mention in the Kumara Khanda of the Shiva Purana. A short 3... Continue Reading →
Another legacy of the glorious reign of the Chandelas in Mahoba is the stunning Kakramath temple in the middle of Madan Sagar. Kakramath temple is widely considered by architects, historians and artists to be an exceptional structure made entirely of the famous Mahoba granite. This temple is believed to have been built in the... Continue Reading →
Popularly known as the 'Land of Saints', Mangalwedha taluka in Solapur district is renowned for its culture, heritage and agricultural produce. Traditional crops like sorghum, bajra, groundnuts, corn and sugarcane cultivated in this historical place has been famous for centuries. The local variety of jowar known as Maldandi jowar has been cultivated here for at... Continue Reading →
Ringal is a socioeconomically and ecologically important type of bamboo that is extensively found in the rich forests of Garhwal Himalayas. Ringal or ningaw as it is locally known is considered by the local communities to be an important resource for their livelihood. Ringal weaving is an age-old craft of Uttarakhand with almost every family directly... Continue Reading →
The picturesque town of Chamba named after the devout royal princess of Bharmour, Champavati is situated on the banks of the river Ravi at an elevation of about 926 feet. Historians say that Chamba was known as Airavati in the ancient times. There are very few places in the world that can rival its stunning... Continue Reading →
Ajaigarh located south-east of Mahoba, south-west of Kalinjar and north-east of Khajuraho formed the formidable quadrilateral seats of power, religion, art and architecture of the Chandelas. Ajaigarh is said to have been derived from the word Jaya-pura-durga which then became Jaya-garh as seen in some inscriptions found in Jaipur. This historical city was established by the... Continue Reading →
Bandhavgarh National Park is a treasure trove for wildlife enthusiasts, history buffs, naturalists and spiritualists. This ancient forest has been home to many great saints, sages and yogis as well as a strategic stronghold for many kingdoms. Bandhavgarh derived from the word bandhu which means brother and garh meaning fort has been a historically important... Continue Reading →
The ancient city of Mahoba in the geographically and culturally important Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh has played a vital role in defining the heritage, art, architecture, literature and regional food of India. This city was called Kekpur in Treta Yuga, Patanpur in Dwapura Yuga and Mahotsava Nagar derived from the grand celebrations held by... Continue Reading →
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