The Secret Wish List

 Read this in few hours on my way back to Bangalore from Jhansi. What else you need when you have to do a train journey all alone. Completely loved it. Well done Preeti!

Surya Mandir

Surya Mandir(Sun temple) is one of the tourist attractions in Gwalior. It was constructed in 1988 by G.D. Birla.

It is influenced by the famous sun temple at Konark in Orissa. The 
Temple has a beautiful sculpture of Lord Surya.

                                                

Jai Vilas Palace

Built by Maharaja Jiyaji Rao Scindia, Jai Vilas palace is the current residence of Royal Scindia family with around 35 rooms being converted into Scindia Museum. It is one of the main attractions in Gwalior.

Silver chariot

Carpet

This carpet is supposed to be Asia's largest single carpet.

Chandelier

Chandeliers

These Belgian Chandeliers weigh 3.5 tonnes each and are the biggest pair of chandeliers in Asia.

Footwear of Maharani Chinku Devi

Some Royal outfits of Maharanis

Gwalior fort and palace

Gwalior fort is one of the biggest forts in central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
It was built in two parts: the main fort, Gurjari Mahal and Man Mandir Palace.The first part was built during early Tomar rule whereas Gurjari mahal and palace were built by Raja Man Singh Tomar in the 15th century.

View of Gwalior city from the fort

Man Mandir palace is a testimony to the Rajput culture way back  in the medieval period. It houses luxury rooms for the Raja and queens, music halls, jauhar pond, an underground dungeon where the prisoners would be held captive during the Mughal era.

Finely carved roof

Jauhar Kund

India International Trade Fair-2013

Here are photos in front of some of the pavilions which we could mange either to visit or just pose, in between our busy schedule in our stall.

Our very own Karnataka

Rangoli with kids

Kids badly wanted to colours Rangoli, hence the simple design where they could fill colours with ease.

Kesaribhath

                                                                  Kesaribhath

My first attempt making Kesaribhath. It came out really well!!!

Somnathpura

Karnataka is rightly called the cradle of stone architecture by historians.Somnathpur temple is a testimony to this.The construction of the Chennakeshava temple, the one dedicated to lord Keshava was started by Somanatha, a high-ranking officer under Hoysala king Narasimha III(1254-1291 AD)      

                                                   Historical facts inscribed on stone

                                                            See the intricate pattern

Shravasti

Shravasti is one of the important site for Buddhist as well as Jain pilgrimage.
Saheth:
Saheth is a cluster of shrines situated in the middle of Sravasti and covers an area of around 32 sq. km.  This was the site of the Jetavana monastery.

                                                          Temple 2
Temple 2 is believed to stand on the spot of the original edifice called Gandhakuti. Built by Ananthapindika, it is one of the most famous edifices in Jetavana, having been hallowed by the personal use of  Buddha.

Sobhanath Temple:
It is believed to be the birthplace of Jain Tirthankar Sambhavnath. It is revered by Jain pilgrims.

                                                        Sobhanath Temple

Double Stupa and Bodhi-tree:

                                                             Bodhi tree
Pakki Kuti:
This is an excavated remains of a stupa. It is identified with the stupa of Angulimala( the murderer with chain of thumbs round his neck who got converted to Buddhism after an encounter with Buddha)

Kachchi Kuti:
It is the most important excavated structure situated in Maheth. It is identified with the stupa of Ananthapindika. It is known as Kachchi Kuti in the view of the fact that a sadhu made temporary shrine of kachchi bricks on the top of this structure.

New hairstyle

                                                                  My new hairstyle

I had never thought such short hair can be styled with French plate. Though full of hair clips, it has come out good ;) Thanks Grusha. You are awesome experimenting new hairstyles often.

Kapilvastu

Kapilvastu is the place where Lord Buddha spent the early years of his life.

Important sites include Piprawaha Stupa and Palace.

Piprahwa Stupa:

                                                     Piprahwa stupa

This stupa was excavated in 1898 by W.C. Peppe. This Excavation revealed a massive sandstone coffer containing valuables and other objects, including a casket bearing an inscription, deciphered as sukiti bhatinam sa-bhaginikanam sa-putadalnam iyam salila nidhane Budhas bhagvate sakiyanam.On the basis of this inscription it is opined that the Piprahwa stupa housed the bone relics of Lord Buddha.

Palace site:
Excavations carried out by Dr. K.M. Srivastava indicated the ruins of the palace of King Shuddhodhan, the father of Prince Gautam (Lord Buddha). It is said to be the place where Lord Buddha spent the first 29 years of his life.

Ayodhya

Amidst tight security, we got an opportunity to have darshan in Ram mandir. Except the idols though hardly any structure stands out at the site, one still feels blessed for having darshan. Since no elecronic gadgets are allowed in the campus, could not capture anything. Only in Kanak Bhavan, we could do.

                                                                    Kanak Bhavan

It is believed that Rani Kaikey built this bhavan for Sita and it has been subsequently restored time and again by various kings.
The bhavan also has statues of Lord Ram and Sita in the inner sanctum. Apart from being embellished with gold ornaments, the images also wear gold crowns. Moreover there is a plague written on the outer wall of the temple, which states that there were many palaces on this site since the Treta Yuga.  

Gorakhnath Temple

This is one of the prominent tourist attractions in Gorakhpur. It is believed that Mahayogi Guru Gorakshnath performed penace here, where the magnificent temple has been built now. 

This temple built in 12th century houses many small temples. The temple premises is spread over about 52 acres. The main temple is rectangular in shape with a huge hall. In the sanctum of the temple, idol of Guru Gorakshnath in meditation posture is seated on the white marble platform.