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.

Kushinagar

Kushinagar is the place where Buddha breathed his last and attained parinirvana on the full moon day of the Vaishakha month.

                                                               Mahaparinirvana temple
The Mahaparinirvana temple is most famous in Kushinagar as it has a 6 meters long reclining statue of Buddha lying on his right side facing the west representing the image of Buddha leaving his soul or attaining Nirvana. 

                                              Statue of Buddha inside Mahaparinirvana temple

Dr. B.R.Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial 

Constructed in 6.5 Acre of land (27,440 Sq.M.) the Memorial has 4 opening gates. Visitors enter the Memorial through a large gate in north side. The Memorial looks like a grand Stupa. Walls are made of pink marble.  The central hall consists of attractive bronze Murals based on the life of Dr. Ambedkar. In the main hall of the Memorial, a large  bronze statue of Dr. Ambedkar, seated in chair and facing the two domes,  is the main attraction of the hall. At the  bottom of the statue a message in Hindi language reads: मेरा जीवन संघर्ष ही मेरा संदेश है (My Struggle of life is My only message).

                                 Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Samaik Parivartan Sgrahanalay

 

Constructed in an area of about 2.5 acre (11,008 sq.m.) The building with two domes on its top, looks impressive and grand.  You can see inside large statues of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj, Shri Narayan Guru, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, Manyawar Shri Kanshiram Ji.  Another building consists of  18' tall marble statues of Tathagat Gautam Buddha, Sant Kabir das, Sant Ravidas, Guru Ghasidas and Shri Birsa Munda.

                                             Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Gomti Buddha Vihar

A 18 feet high four-faceted marble statue of Gautam Buddha installed here is worth seeing.

                                                           Fountain with elephants

                                Fountain illuminated at night

Imambara Shah Najaf

This Imambara was built by Ghazi-ud-in Haider at a place called Paltan ghat on the banks of river Gomti, as a token of his devotion to Caliph Hazrat Ali, the husband of Fatima, the favourite daughter of Prophet Mohammed.

Chandeliers,glass artilces

Shah Najaf Imambara is also called Karbala, because within its main hall lie the mortal remains of its builder, Ghazi-ud-Din Haider, who wished to be buried here. It also contains the graves of his wives, Mubarak Mahal (died 1849), Sarfaraz Mahal (died 1878) and Mumtaz Mahal (died 1896).

Safed Baradari

Baradari of Qaiser Bagh is known as Safed Baradari because of its colour. It is a place of celebration where the elite of the city hold marriages and receptions. It was built by last Nawab, Wajid Ali Shah as an Imambara for observing mourning.

Inside hall

                                                     Closer view of chandelier

La Martiniere college

La Martiniere College is an educational institution in Lucknow. It has two schools on different campuses for boys and girls, established in 1845(boys) and 1869(girls).
The Boys' school has been awarded Royal battle honours(only school in the world to have been awarded) for its role in the defence of Lucknow during the first war of Indian Independence,1857.

La Martiniere Boys College was founded by Major-General Claude Martin, an officer in the French and later in the British East India Company. For the first time in history schoolboys were called to assist in the military conflict, for the defence of Lucknow Residency in 1857. The names of six staff members, sixty seven boys and one ensign are inscribed on the 'Roll of Honour, defence of Residency  1857' at La Martiniere Lucknow

Tombs of Saadat Ali Khan And Mushir Zadi

The tombs of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan and his wife Khurshid Zadi has a refined Indo-Islamic architecture. It's symmetrical domes and elegant kiosks make the structure more attractive.
These twin tombs situated in Qaiser Bagh near Begum Hazrat Mahal Park are one of the beautiful sites in Lucknow.
                  

Saadat Ali Khan's tomb

Side view of Saadat Ali Khan's tomb

Begum Mushir Zadi's tomb

Sarnath

Buddha and his teachings have always fascinated me. This being my first ever visit to a place related to Buddha, i was pretty excited. I was lost in myself for quite sometime staring at his images, the ruins of Sarnath and the stupas. That was really an unforgettable experience.

Sarnath Archeological Museum is one of the well maintained museums of India and the oldest site museum of ASI. It is located near Varanasi, in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

                                         Entrance of Museum

The main attraction of the museum is the Lion Capital of the Mauryan Pillar which has become the National Emblem of India. One can find a number of images of Buddha in different postures, various deities of the time, many secular objects.

                                                                  The Lion Capital

 As we all know Buddha after enlightenment came to Sarnath and its here in the deer park he delivered his first sermon. Sarnath is one of the sacred places to the followers of Buddhism, Lumbini, Bodh Gaya and Kushinagar being the other three.

                                                             Original Asoka Pillar
 Chaukhandi Stupa:

                                                               Chaukhandi Stupa

Dhamek Stupa:

                                                                 Dhamek Stupa

                                                        Beautifully carved stones