A lesser - known edifice of the late Gupta period is the 6th century Shiva Temple located in the obscure village of Sakour. Archaeological excavations conducted in this village have uncovered coins of Maharajadhiraja Shri Samudragupta, Maharajadhiraja Shri Chandragupta and Maharajadhiraja Shri Skandagupta indicating that this village must have been an important seat of learning,... Continue Reading →
Udayeshwara Mahadeva Temple (Nilkantheswara Mahadeva Temple), Udaipur, Vidisha District, Madhya Pradesh
One of the finest examples of Bhumija style of architecture is the ancient Udayeshwara Mahadeva Temple in Udaipur. This city as per Sanskrit inscriptions was founded by the Paramara king Maharaja Udayaditya of Malwa, brother of Maharajadhiraja Bhoja who also designed a kund known as Udayasamudra. According to the many Sanskrit inscriptions found in... Continue Reading →
Shree Chaubis Khambha Mata Temple, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
The sacred city of Ujjain known in the ancient days as Avanti (or Avantika) and Ujjayini is revered for its spiritual and religious potency. Ujjain is one of seven sacrosanct cities (Sapta Puri) mentioned in the Puranas that helps one realize his or her true purpose of existence. This holy city is located on... Continue Reading →
Gwalior Potato
It is perhaps not known to many that Bharat is the second largest producer of potato (Solanum tuberosum) in the world. The top five states with the highest area under cultivation and production are Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. This rabi crop is grown extensively in the potato clusters of Indore,... Continue Reading →
Anuppur Tomato
Madhya Pradesh, a pioneer in organic, zero and natural farming has in recent years developed a formidable reputation in the country as a leader in agricultural production and food processing. This state has eleven agro - climatic zones which favour the cultivation of multitude of crops, vegetables, fruits, aromatic and medicinal plants and flowers throughout... Continue Reading →
Jabalpur Green Pea
It is perhaps not known to many that Bharat is the second largest producer of green peas in the world contributing a little more than 15 percent to the total production. The states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh have the highest area under cultivation and production in the country. ... Continue Reading →
Sehore Guava
Bharat is the world’s largest producer of guava with the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar having the highest area under cultivation and average annual production. It is estimated that guava (Psidium guajava) is the fourth most important fruit crop after mango, banana and orange. Known locally as jamaphal, the humble guava is... Continue Reading →
Bhind Bajra
Bhind district prone to drought and very less rainfall has in recent years become the hub for bajra and jowar cultivation. Small and marginal farmers who were highly dependent on rainwater for their farmlands for decades decided to shift to cultivating millets that would survive in these harsh climatic conditions and arid and semi -... Continue Reading →
Ujjain Onion
It is perhaps not known to many that Madhya Pradesh has the highest area under organic farming in the country with an extensive system that includes warehouses, cold storages, markets and micro food processing plants in place to boost the farmers' income, increase export potential and develop value - added products. Each district has its... Continue Reading →
Rajgarh Orange
Bharat is the second largest producer of orange in the world contributing a little over 13 percent to the total production. Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Haryana are the top - ranking states with the highest area under cultivation and production in the country. In fact, Madhya Pradesh alone contributes over 32 percent... Continue Reading →
Ujjain Soybean
The sacred land of Ujjain is dotted with ancient temples and is renowned for its history, literature, art and architecture. This former capital of Avanti Kingdom is the divine land of the legendary king Maharajadhiraja Vikramaditya, Mahakavi Kalidasa and others. Besides the glorious heritage that has been mentioned in countless texts and treatises, Ujjain... Continue Reading →
Takshakeshwar Nath Mandir, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
Takshakeshwar Nath Mandir situated on the bank of the Yamuna River is one of the oldest temples in Prayagraj. The temple is believed to be at least 5000 years old if not more and historical and archaeological evidence found at the site suggests that this temple has been in existence since the ancient times. ... Continue Reading →
Samudra Koop, Ulta Qila, Jhusi, Prayagraj District, Uttar Pradesh
Samudra Koop that literally translates to ocean well is one of the most sacrosanct tirths of Prayagraj. Located in the archaeologically important town of Jhusi, this ancient well was established during the reign of the Chandravamsa dynasty (Lunar dynasty) roughly around 7100 BCE. Jhusi used to be known as Pratisthan Pur during the reign of... 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 →
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 →
आसाम की तेज़पुर लीची (Tezpur Litchi of Assam)
पूर्वोत्तर राज्य आसाम के बारे में शायद बहुत से लोग इस बात से अनजान हैं कि यह राज्य जैविक विविधता, विभिन्न वनस्पतियों और जीव जंतुओं से समृद्ध राज्य है। आसाम अपनी उष्णकटिबंधीय वर्षा वनों, बांस के बगीचों, राष्ट्रीय उद्यानों साथ ही विभिन्न प्रकार की स्थानीय खेती और फलों के उत्पादन के लिए भी जाना जाता... Continue Reading →
त्रिपुरा की क्वीन पाइनएप्पल (Tripura Queen Pineapple)
ऐसा माना जाता है कि अप्रतिम सुन्दरता से परिपूर्ण पूर्वोत्तर राज्य त्रिपुरा का नाम वहां की देवी त्रिपुरसुंदरी के नाम पर पड़ा है। हालांकि १८०० से १९०० के आरम्भ के दशक में त्रिपुरा राज्य अपनी सुगंधित चाय के लिए सुप्रसिद्ध था, परन्तु आज इसने अपनी सार्वभौमिक पहचान उष्कटिबंधीय फल और सब्जियों की विस्तृत श्रृंखला के... Continue Reading →
मणिपुर का कचि नींबू (Kachai Lemon, Manipur)
आमतौर पर "मणिपुर का गौरव" नाम से प्रसिद्ध, वहां का अनोखा "कचि चंपरा" या कचि नींबू , उत्तरपूर्व के मणिपुर राज्य के ऊखरूल जिले के सुदूर गांव कचि में पाया जाता है। यह गांव नींबुओं का सबसे बड़ा उत्पादक है, परन्तु इस नींबू में ऐसी क्या खासियत है? इसका कारण है वहां की उपोषणकटीबंधिय... Continue Reading →
Kanyakumari Cloves
Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of clove in the country with Kanyakumari district contributing a sizeable portion to the total production. Clove was introduced in India around the 1800s by the East India Company in its spice garden in Courtallam. The dense wooded areas of Maramalai, Karumparai and Vellimalai in the Western Ghats of... Continue Reading →
Peer Kho Cave Temple, Jammu, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
One of the most ancient Shiva temples in Jammu also known as the "City of temples" is the Peer Kho cave temple. This historic temple is situated on the banks of the holy Tawi river surrounded by igneous rocks and acacia forests. Locals regard this cave temple to be the oldest in the Shivalik region.... Continue Reading →
Shankaragaurishvara Temple, Pattan, Baramulla District, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
Shankaragaurishvara Temple in Pattan is an exemplary example of Kashmiri temple style architecture prevalent in the 9th century. Modern Pattan is actually Shankarapattana, the capital founded by Shankaravarman of Utpala dynasty. Both Shankaravarman and his father Avantivarman were patrons of art, architecture and Sanskrit literature. Their noteworthy contribution to the revival of Hindu philosophy and... Continue Reading →
Mahabilwakeshwar Temple or Harihara Temple, Billawar, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir
Billawar also known locally as Balaur is a tehsil in Kathua district located on the banks of Bhinni and Naaz rivers. This town is said to have been established by Raja Bhog Pal, a son of the king of Kullu Valley in 765 CE. Subsequently, the ruling family came to be called as Balouria deriving... Continue Reading →
Sangli Turmeric of Maharashtra
Sangli located in the western part of Maharashtra is considered to be the largest and most important trading centre for turmeric in Asia. Popularly known as the 'Saffron City', Sangli has been cultivating its world-famous turmeric since the 1900s. It is said that large quantities of Sangli turmeric used to be exported through the Rajapur... Continue Reading →
Hatu Mata Mandir, Narkanda, Himachal Pradesh
Hatu Peak at a staggering elevation of 11,152 feet (3400 metres) is the highest peak in Shimla district in Himachal Pradesh. A narrow treacherous single road, a little away from Narkanda passing through dense forests of deodar, fir, spruce, blue pine and others on one side and a dizzying fall into a valley below leads... Continue Reading →
