Gokarna

Gokarna is a village in Karnataka, in the district of Uttara Kannada of Karnataka state.  Gokarna literally means “Cow’s ear”.  It is believed that Lord Shiva emerged from the ear of a cow here. Hence it is also known as the temple town and is an important pilgrimage center for the Hindus.  Another probable reason for the name Gokarna could be due to its Geographical location. The area where it is located is the convergence of rivers Gangavali and Agnashini and resembles the shape of a cow’s ear.

Mahabaleshwara temple is one of the chief temples here. It is a famous Shiva temple. There is a custom that one has to bathe in the sea and pay respect to a Shivalingam, made out of sand.  The famous Atmalinga is housed here. It is preserved in a square called Saligrama Peetha. It is opened for viewing once in forty years.

The other temples are Maha Ganapathi Temple, Uma Maheshwari Temple, Varadraj Temple and many more. Gokarna also has many mythological stories associated with it.

The best time to visit Gokarna is from October to March.

Elephanta Caves Mumbai

Mumbai the economic capital of India is thronged by the tourists throughout the year. All type of trading is carried out over here and is also known as the capital hub of India. There is numerous places of tourist attraction which one can visit in Mumbai. The beautiful beaches, the colonial construction, museums and art galleries are the chief tourist attractions in Mumbai which attracts millions of tourists round the year and from ll parts of the world. The Elephanta Caves, Prince of Wales Museum, Gateway of India, Haji Ali's Tomb, Victoria Terminus, and Bollywood Industry are the most sought after places in Mumbai.

Elephanta Caves are well known in the whole world for its sculptural beauty and in the rock cut caves. There is A Shiva temple in these caves which is also a great attraction present here and is also marked for the beauty of the sculpture of the temple and the image of the Trimurti Sadashiva.

About 10 kilometers to the east of Mumbai, lies the island of Elephanta.  A true example of Hindu cave culture, it consists of seven caves which can be divided into two groups.  The first is a large group of 5 Hindu caves while the second is a smaller group of two Buddhist caves.  The Hindu caves are the glorious abode of Lord Shiva. Nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, this unique island is not only a worthy destination in itself, but it also provides a great view of Mumbai’s skyline and is a perfect escape from the chaos of the city.

The origins of these temple caves is still quite vague, though there are believed to date back to about the 7th century. The island was originally a Hindu place of worship and was called Gharapuri, until the Portuguese rule began in 1534. They renamed it Elephanta after they found a large stone statue of an elephant near their landing place. Unfortunately, the figure collapsed in 1814 and has been reassembled and placed in the garden outside the Bhau Daji Lad Museum at Jijamata Udyan in Mumbai. Moreover, many of Elephanta’s priceless statues were damaged or destroyed by the Portuguese, who apparently used the Hindu gods for target practice.

One enters the caves through the main northern entrance to a massive hall which is supported by large pillars. The caves are felled from solid basalt rock. All caves were painted in the past but now only traces remain. The most notable cave among them is Cave 1 or the Mahesamurti cave. It is a rock cut temple which is enormous in size covering an area of 60,000 feet supported by a row of six columns each.

The main temple consists of a large pillared hall and a freestanding shrine at the west end of the hall. The huge Mahesamurti statue is housed in the massive hall. At a height of 6.3m, this impressive sculpture depicts Shiva in his three-headed aspect: as Creator (facing right), Protector (the crowned face at the center) and Destroyer (facing left, with serpents for her). Other sculptures near the doorways and on the side panels celebrate Shiva’s accomplishments. What makes this sculpture all the more remarkable is that in spite of Shiva’s multiple actions, this work of art still conveys a sense of grace and peace. The temple consists of a main chamber, two lateral chambers, courtyards and subsidiary shrines. Is it the residence of Shiva.

On the eastern side of the island is the Stupa hill. It gets its name from the religious Stupa monument that the caves display. This is where the caves which house the Buddhist monuments are located. One of the two caves is incomplete, while the other contains a Stupa made out of brick.

An outstanding dance festival is held at the Elephanta caves every February, hosted by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC). The best time to visit this island is between November and March.

Nandi Hills

Approximately 60 km from Bangalore, the ancient hill fortress of Nandi Hills makes for an excellent weekend getaway, or a daytrip. Actually, scratch that. Here's a tip: it's best visited on weekdays or early in the morning when it remains free of boisterous crowds. Four rivers -- Arkavathy, Penner, Palar and Ponnaiyar -- are believed to originate in the Nandi Hills complex, which includes a number of surrounding smaller hills. Many of these sources are now dry. It is a popular destination with bird-watchers, trekkers and photographers. The 4850-feet-tall hill was fortified by the 'Tiger of Mysore' Tipu Sultan to hold off British forces until it fell to Lord Cornwallis' forces in 1791. Atop the summit are several buildings including a bungalow that housed Mahatma Gandhi. The monolithic statue of the Nandi bull known locally as Nellikai Basavanna, carved in the Chola style, is 10 feet long and 6 feet tall. Enjoying the solitude that Nandi Hills offered, our photo editor Azhar Mohamed Ali captured their many moods -- wintry dawn, bejewelled dusk and in radiant moonlight. Enjoy these photos and don't forget to submit your own.

The Famous Yumthang Valley

Yumthang valley, which one must not miss during Sikkim rhododendron trekking tour, is one of the most picturesque places in the entire world.

A trip to Himalayas is always a memorable experience. The great Himalayas have continued to attract visitors from every place as it has something for everyone; like for adventure sport lovers it has variety of adventures up its sleeves for example rafting, trekking, mountain biking, climbing etc. But often, visitors take to Himalayan trekking expedition to get a closer look at the beauty that nature treks in Himalayas offer like an encounter with Himalaya flowers, rare trees, shrubs and coveted sightings of elusive animals. Hence, it is not wrong to say that one of the prime reasons of undertaking such trekking expeditions is to see nature bloom in all its glory, hence, such nature treks have become extremely popular these days. Below are the top three Himalayan treks that no visitor should miss.

The famous Yumthang valley in North Sikkim lies 140km north of Gangtok. Lachung provides the base for exploration of Yumthang, the valley of flowers. Situated at an altitude of 11800 ft ( 3564m) with a close proximity of Tibet, Yumthang is a unique place where the tree line ends, but rhododendron and primula still bloom covering the whole area in a surreal shade.

Yumthang Valley also offers views of a stunning array of peaks with Pauhunri and Shundu Tsenpa. The best season for visiting the valley starts in late February and continues up to mid June, when thousands of colourful flowers are in full bloom. However, to enjoy a clear sky and brilliant view of snow-capped mountains, the September – December season would be ideal. During the summer months, villagers take their cattle to these heights to graze (a practice known as yaylagpastoralism). In view of increasing number of tourists, there is possibility of environmental degradation in the near future.

The Yumthang Valley has an astounding, over 24 species of Rhododendrons which paint the Valley red in spring. Rhododendrons are shrubs or trees, and different species of Rhododendron cover different large stretches of the Valley. In spring, the Valley looks like a collage of little forests of different colors. The flowering of Rhododendrons is over by May end. During monsoons, starting in June, the Valley blooms with all kinds of tiny Himalayan flowers, like the Primroses, Cinquefoils, Louseworts and Cobra-lilies. This is a much more enchanting scenario, but takes a keen viewer, with an eye for detail, to truly appreciate. A number of hot springs are scattered in the valley providing an unexpected opportunity to feel the warmth of the water even in freezing temperature. Rich in sulphur these springs are believed to have miraculous healing power.

There is no accommodation available at the valley. Visitors may stay at Lachung from where the valley is about an hours drive. Accommodation in Lachung is basic and can not be compared to other destinations in Sikkim. Lachung has been described as the “most picturesque village of Sikkim” by British explorer Joseph Dalton Hooker in his definitive, The Himalayan Journal (1855). Skiing is conducted in Phuni near this town. The region has been opened to tourists during the recent years although trekking is still not allowed. Tourism infrastructure in the area is still very basic but fast improving. The road to Yumthang from Gangtok follows the Teesta River, crossing a spectacular gorge over the Rang Rang suspension bridge. The last major town is Chungthang about from where Lachung is an hours drive where tourists stay overnight.

The experience of visiting Yumthang Valley should not be missed. From the beautiful drive through breathtaking forests, the awe-inspiring views of the mountain ranges and peaks, the added attraction of staying at the wonderful hamlet of Lachung, and finally the incredible Yumthang Valley itself – tour operators in the area ( who are your only option for visiting locations in North Sikkim ) generally offer a 2 night, 3 day package, and with a little care in picking one with a good reputation – you can surely count on having one of the most pleasurable and memorable holidays of your life.

Roopkund Lake, Uttaranchal

When you look at Roopkund Lake from a distance, it lulls you into believing that it’s just another picturesque glacial lake in the Himalayas. However, at the bottom of this clear water lake lays a mystery that dates back hundreds of years and has been the subject of speculation among scientists, historians and mountaineers from all over the world.

It is located at an altitude of about 5,000 meters above the sea level in Chamoli district, Uttaranchal. When this glacial lagoon begins to melt, hundreds of corpses can be seen floating around. This revelation shook people worldwide and different theories were formed as to how such a terrible incident could’ve occurred. Were these people on a pilgrimage tour? Did they die in an epidemic? What were these people doing in one of the most inhabited regions of the Himalayas? It is also for this very reason that the lake is also referred to as the “Skeleton Lake”.

The matter was investigated and it was found that the people were from the 12th century to the 15th century. Remnants of 500 people were found and it is believed that more than 600 people lost their lives.

According to local legends, King Jasdhawal of Kanauj wanted to celebrate the birth of an heir by going on a pilgrimage to the Nanda-Devi Mountains in the Garhwal Himalaya. However, he ignored the rules of pilgrimage by indulging in unruly singing and dancing. The entourage thus had to face the wrath of the local deity, Latu. It said believed that they were caught in a dreadful hailstorm and were thrown into the Roopkund Lake.

As it turns out, it was not all folklore. National Geographic television channel commissioned a team of European and Indian scientists to examine the skeletons. They found jewelry, bones and even flesh and clothes of a few bodies that had been preserved in the icy ground. However, what really caught their attention were the skulls which showed short, deep cracks. No other part of their body had been harmed. The only plausible explanation that scientists in Hyderabad, Pune and London could come up with is hailstorms. With hailstones as large as cricket balls and nowhere to seek protection from them, it is quite possible that many, if not all of them, perished.

The world breathed a collective sigh of relief when this age-old mystery was finally uncovered. However, a number of questions still remain unanswered. Where were all those people originally from? Where were all they headed to? Science still has quite a way to go before all answers can be found.