India : Goa : What to see and Excursions - 7

Guys, take a look on some beautiful Churches at Goa.

Ruins of the Convent and Church of St. Augustine :

The Convent now completely in ruins was constructed by 12 Augustinian Friars in 1572 immediately after their arrival at Goa on September 3rd 1572. This church, now in ruins also was constructed in 1602. It was reportedly in good shape until it was abandoned in 1853 following the banning of religious orders by the Portuguese government. The church fell into neglect and its vault collapsed in 1842. All that is left today is a bell tower without the bell.

Rachol Seminary :
It is 12 kms from Margao in south of Goa. In the 1521 the Portuguese, in their customary to impart philosophy and theology. The museum of Christian art is housed in this seminary.

Church of St. Anne :

It was built in 1965 right on the bank of the Siridao river at Talaulim. The unique feature of this church is that its hollow walls, through which people could walk in secrecy for the purpose of confession.

India : Goa : What to see and Excursions - 6

Guys, Goa is belonging to the City of Church. Here are the scene of Churches in Goa.

Convent & Church of St. Francis of Assisi :

Built by eight Franciscan Friars who upon their arrival in 1517 constructed a small chapel, featuring three altars and a chair. However, this was demolished in 1661 and the present church was rebuilt retaining its old gate made of black stone and exquisitely carved. It has a courtyard and an old large cross made of black stone. Its external architecture belongs to the Tuscan order and its interior to the mosaic-Corinthian style. Its length is about 190 feet and its breadth about 60 feet.

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount :

This chapel is situated on an elevation, it is built of laterite plastered with lime mortar. It has three main altars dedicated respectively to our lady of the mount, St. Anthony and St. Andrew. The chapel was built under the orders of Afonso de Albuquerque in 1510.

The Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Navelim :

It is said to have been built by Alfonso de Albuquerque. Its facade has the appearance of a fortress. In front of its altar lies the tombstone of Garcia de Sa, one of the early governors of Goa and his wife Caterina a Piro - the first Portuguese woman to arrive in Goa. It is a fine, example of true "Manueline" style architecture of the early Portuguese. Its interior is simple and has five altars, the main altar of which bears the image of Nossa Senhora de Rozario or Our Lady of the Rosary.

Convent and Church of St. Cajetan, Mapusa :

It was build by Italian friars of the order of Theatines in 1640. The friars were missionaries appointed by the then Pope Urban VIII to preach Christianity to Our Lady of Divine Providence but is popularly called St. Cajetan, the founder of the Order of Theatines. The Church of St. Cajetan has been modeled after the Basilica of St. Peter's in Rome. Its length is 121 feet and breadth 81 feet. It is built of laterite stone and is lime plastered. The external architecture is Corinthian and the interior mosaic-Corinthian.

Chapel of St. Anthony :

It is dedicated to St. Anthony the patron saint of the Portuguese army and navy and is also one of the earliest to be built in Goa by Alfanso de Albuquerque. It was abandoned in 1835, and rebuilt in 1961 by the last Governor General of Goa, Vassalo de Silva.

India : Goa : What to see and Excursions - 5

Guys, some of the excursions I have visited at Goa. All are placed here for your easy and pleasureful tour.

Church of St. Alex :

Church of St. Alex, with its two towers and a magnificent dome displays the beauty of the architectural style and ornate altars.

Ries Magos Church :

This church is also known as Church of the Three Magi Kings, built in 1555 was once a mission center of the Franciscan Order of Monks. At another time it was the official residence of the Portuguese dignitaries.

The Church of Mae de Deus :

This Church was situated at 13 kms distance from Panaji amidst picturesque surroundings, in the village of Saligao, this beautiful church is the finest piece of gothic style. The shrine of the miraculous statue of Mae de Deus (Mother of God) was brought here.

Church of St. Andrew :

At the northern end of Goa Velha, is the Church of St. Andrew, wherein, a fortnight before Easter, 30 statues of the saints the stolen. Later these are paraded around the roads of the village.

The Church And Convent of St. Monica, Goa :

The Convent was sanctioned in 1598 and its foundation was laid by the Archbishop Dom Frei Alexio de Menezes who was also the then Governor of Portuguese India on July 2nd 1606. Its work was completed in 1627. It is a huge three-storied building of laterite with a large inner courtyard and many halls are pointed with floral decorations and scenes from the Holy Bible. The convent was subsequently called the Royal Monastery of Santa Monica. It was the first nunnery of the East.

India : Goa : What to See and Excursions - 4

The beach capital of India, Goa has more to offer beyond the beautiful nature. Amongst the other must visits landmarks in Goa are its many churches. The entire Indian state of Goa is dotted with churches that reveal the rich religious heritage of Goa. The churches of Goa are monuments in stone. They are of permanent interest to the historian, the archaeologist, the student of art and architecture, the tourist and indeed to every curious intellect.

The "Church of Old Goa" has received recognition by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It is a popular tourist attractions.

Basilica of Born Jesus :

It is dedicated to infant (Bom) Jesus, the Basilica of Bom Jesus is famous throughout the Roman Catholic world. The Church houses the Holy sacrament and the remains of St. Francis Xavier. the construction of the Church began in 1594 and was completed in 1605. Its richly gilded main alter has the figure of infant Jesus. Up above, there is a big statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the order of Jesuit. the Holy Trinity - the father, the son and the Holy Ghost are depicted on a medallion.

Se Cathedral :

Outside View - Se Cathedral

This is the largest church in Goa, India and reportedly all Asia. The original building was constructed of mud and stones and strow and was erected in 1510 and was dedicated to St. Catherine for it was on St. Catherine's day - Nov 25th that Alfonso de Albuquerque conquered Goa. The Portuguese viceroy, Dom Francisco Coutinho, the Count of Redondo (1561 - 1564) commissioned its construction. The construction begun in 1562 and completed in 1652, He wanted it to be "a grandiose church worthy of the wealth, power and frame of the Portuguese who dominated the seas from the Atlantic to the Pacific." Se Cathedral has 14 altars, an 80m long aisle and 5 bells - one of them is the famous "golden bell."

Inside View - Se Cathedral

The Chapel of St. Xavier :

Guys, architecturally, it is of the Doric order. The chapel was within the enclosure of the College of St. Paul and was dedicated either to St. Anthony or to St. Jerome. As the chapel was used by St. Francis Xavier, it was re-dedicated to him after his canonization in 1622. The original chapel fell into ruins in 1570 and the present chapel was rebuilt in 1884.

All Image Source Courtesy : Google

India : Tirumala : Tirupati : Attractions and Excursions - 5

Guys, here are the some attractions and excursions of Tirumala Tirupati. Just take a look :

Sri. Vedanarayana Swamy Temple (65 kms) :

The temple, believed to have been constructed by the Vijayanagar emperor, Sri Krsihna Devaraja at the behest of his mother, is a fine specimen of the Vijayanagar style of architecture. The sanctorum houses an image of Vishnu in his Matsya (fish) incarnation accompanied by Sri Devi and Bhu Devi on either side. An important aspect of the temple is the Sun worship.

Horsley Hills (140 kms) :

One of the best known hill resorts of Andhra Pradesh, the place has been named after a British Collector of Cuddapah who discovered the beauty of the area and made it has summer resort.

The hill station 1265 meters above the sea level.

Asthana Mandapam :

Asthana Mandapam (Sada Hall) is the venue for the devotional programs like discourses, music concerts, 'Harikathas' and Bhajans conducted under the auspices of 'Dharma Prachara Parishat'.

Guys here I am trying to elaborate some of the attractions and excursions of Tirumala Tirupati. There are many sightseeing to be come on this platform which are hidden. I will try to make it up in next article.

India : Tirumala : Tirupati : Attractions and Excursions - 4

Guys, here are some attractions and excursions of Tirumala Tirupati, just take a look.

Kanipakam :

This is a 11th century Vinayaka temple and the peculiarity is that the idol seems to be growing in size. A 'Kawacham' (breast plate) made of the idol half a century ago has become too small for it now. It's really amazing.

Sri Kalahasti (36 kms) :

The temple of Siva in the form of a 'Vayulinga'. According to legend, a spider (Sri) spun a web over the Linga, Kala, a snake, placed a gem atop it and Hasti, and elephant, brought water in its trunk to wash the Linga. All three were ardent worshippers of Siva. The flame (deepam) in the temple flickers frequently as air (Vayu) is said to be constantly emanating form the Sivalinga.

Agastyaswamy Temple (12 kms) :

At the confluence of three rivers, namely, Swarnamukhi, Bhima and Kalyan, lies the Agastyaswamy Temple. The temple has three beautifully sculptured entrances that heighten the grandeur of the hall inside. A separate shrine for Goddess Paravati is also located within this temple.

Talakona :

Talakona is a forest located 30 kms form Tirupati. Deep in these forest is a 6m prennial waterfall known as 'Talakona'. It is an enchanting picnic spot of great scenic beauty. It is believed that this place is the threshold to hte seven hills of Tirumala.


Kalyani Dam (18 kms) :

The dam is the main water source for Tirupati Balaji and Tirumalai.

India : Tirumala : Tirupati - Attractions and Excursions - 2

Guys, the town of Tirupati is one of the most ancient and sacred pilgirmage spots in India. The name "Tirupati" means the "Lord of Lakshmi", and should have been applied to the village on the Venkat hill, the swelling of Lord Venkateshwara. However, Tirupati is the town and transport bub at the bottom of the hill. The hill near the temple is called "Tirumala" or the "sacred hill". The temple here is said to be the busiest in the world, eclipsing even Rome, Jerusalem and Mecca in the number of pilgrims visiting it.

The Tirumala Hill is 3200 ft above sea level, and is about 10.33 sq. miles in area. It comprises seven peaks, representing the seven hoods of Adisesha, thus earning the name Seshachalam. The seven peaks are called Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrishabhadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri.

Lord Venkateswara Temple :

The temple of Balaji at Tirumala Hills is famous the world over and millions of pilgrims from across the globe visit the temple annually. The temple, which finds mention in ancient texts, was patronized by the Pallavas, Pandyas, Cholas, the Vijyayanagar rulers and Maharaja of Mysore.

The main temple is an excellent example of ancient Indian temple architecture, particularly from South India. The vimana over the sanctum santorum as also the Dhwajasthambam (flag post) are gold plated, done with meticulous care.

The idol of Lord Venkateswara itself is divine t behold and pilgrims are blessed with a sense of complete bliss and satisfaction the moment they glimpse the idol during the "darshan".

Sri Govindrajaswamy Temple :

The temple has an imposing gopuram (elaborate gateway) that can be seen from a distance. The temple was consecrated by Saint Ramanujacharya in AD 1130. The main sanctuaries in the temple are dedicated to Vishnu and Krishna.



Sri Kapileswaraswami Temple (3 kms) :

It is the only temple dedicated as Lord Siva. The temple has an attractive setting and there is a sacred waterfall called Kapila Teertham or Alwar Teertham located here.



Sri. Kodandaramaswami Temple :

Build by a Chola King during the tenth century AD, the temple has Rama, Sita and Lakshamana as the presiding deities.





Akasa Ganga :

About 3 km north of the main temple is a perennial stream that is said to flow from the feet of the deity. The Akasa Ganga, as it is called, is considered sacred as the Vedas describe it as flowing from the feet of Lord Vishnu. The water from here is used for the daily rituals in the temple.


Goddess Alameumanga Temple (Padmavati Temple) :

Being in a temple town at the foothills of the world famous Balaji shrine at Tirumala, one is bound to visit such temples as the Alamelumanga temple at Tiruchanur, four kms from Tirupati. The temple dedicated to goddess Padmavati, the consort of Lord Venkteswara is here and people visiting the Tirumala hills make it a point to visit Alamelumanga too. The town lies on the bank of the River Swarnamuki.

Sri Kalyana VEnkateswaraswami Temple (12 kms) :

Legend has it that Lord Venkateswara stayed here after his marriage with Sri. Padmavathi Devi before proceeding to Tirumala.

India : Kerala : Alappuzha : Attractions & Excursions - 7

Guys, here are some beautiful locations you should not miss to visit. Particularly the areas where Boat Racing has the main attraction.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race (Punnamada) :

Nehru Trophy Boat Race, the most colourful water sport in Kerala, is conducted at PUNNAMADA LAKE in Alappuzha on the second Saturday of every August. This prestigious cultural event of Kerala has been attracting people from all over the world. Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a festival for the people of Alleppey the main attraction of which is the sportive spirits among the participants of the race.

This trophy named as NEHRU TROPHY was donated by the late Prime Minister of INDIA Jawaharlal Nehru to the winners of the first boat race which was an impromptu one conducted in 1952 in honour of Panditji who visited Alappuzha.

Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race (Pulinkunnu) :

Rajiv Gandhi Trophy Boat Race is held on two weeks after the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. It is held at Pulinkunnu, 10 km away from the Alleppey town. The boat race is conducted in memory of Late Mr.Rajiv Gandhi, the former Indian Prime Minister.

Champakulam Moolam Boat Race :

This boat race is the oldest and most popular vallam kali (snake boat race) in Kerala state of south India. The race is held on the river Pampa on Moolam day of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple.

Payippad Jalotsavam :

The Payippad Boat Race is organized in the month of September and it carries on for three days. The venue of the boat race is the Payippad Lake, situated at a distance of 35 km from the Alappuzha district of Kerala. Payippad Boat Race Of Kerala is organized to commemorate the installation of the idol at the Subramanya Swamy Temple, Haripad. There is a very interesting legend associated with this boat race.

It is believed that residents of the Haripad Village decided to build a temple, with the presiding deity being Sree Ayyappa. Before the idol was about to be installed, the villagers had a vision. In the vision, they were directed to install the idol of Sri Subramanya Swamy, which they will find under a whirlpool in the Kayamkulam River. Divers and swimmers from the village rowed to the same spot and brought back Subramanya vigrah in a boat.

The same idol was then installed in the temple, amid much fanfare. As a tribute to that incident, Kerala Payippad Jalotsavam, a three-days water festival, is conducted every year.

India : Kerala : Alappuzha : Attractions & Excursions - 6

Guys, now we must move towards Alappuzha, a last destination of our tour here. Following are the attractions and Excursions of Alappuzha. Just take a look.

Image Source : Alappuzha

(Alleppey) Alappuzha has a large network of canals and is the center for backwater cruises in Kerala. It is also known as the Venice of the East, it's famous for its boat races, houseboat holidays, beaches, marine products and fiber products industry.

Kuttanad :

Image Source : Kuttanad

It is called the rice bowl of Kerala, Kuttanad is at the very heart of the backwaters. This is perhaps the only region in the world where farming is done 1.5 to 2m below sea level. Inland waterways which flow above land level are an amazing feature of this region.

Slide Show : Kuttanad

Alappuzha Beach :

Image Source : Alappuzha Beach

A 137 old pier, which extends into these and an old lighthouse are the attractions here. Entertainment facilities at the Vijaya Beach Park add to the beach.

Pathiramanal :

Image Source : Pathiramanal

This is a small beautiful island in the Vembanad Lake and is accessible only by boat from Kumarakom and Muhamma. The enchanting island on the backwaters is a favorite is a haunt of hundreds of rare migratory birds from different parts of the world.

Krishnapuram Palace (47 kms) :

Image Source : Krishnapuram Palace

The 18th century Krishnapuram Palace built during the region of the Travancore monarch, Marthanda Varma, is a double stored structure which displays typical characteristics of Kerala architecture-gabbled roofs, dormer windows, narrow corridors. Its houses one of the largest mural paintings in Keralal called the Gajendra Moksham. It measures 14 feet by 11 feet and is at the western end of the ground floor, a walking distance from the Palace Pool. Inside is also a museum of antique sculptures, paintings and bronzes.

Ambalappuzha (Pilgrim Centre) :

Image Source : Ambalappuzha

The Sri Krshna Temple at Ambalappuzha, 14 kms from Alleppey is among Kerala's more famous ones boasting of the typical temple architectural style of the state. It is equally famed for tis palpayasam - a sweet milk porridge offered to the deity. The temple's main festival occurs in March/April.

Karumadi :

Image Source : Karumadi

Close to the Ambalappuzha, the village of Karumadi is famous for its Karumadi Kuttan, a black granite figure of Buddha said to belong to the 9th or 10th century.

Arthunkal (Pilgrim Centre) :

Image Source : Arthunkal

Arthunkal known of the St. Andrews Church established by Portuguese missionaries is near Sherthallai, 22 kms north of Alappuzha. The feast of St. Sebastian is held here in every January.

Punnapra :

Image Source : Punnapra

A short distance from Alappuzha is Punnapra, a village which has gone down in history as the scene of a bitter and heroic fighting between the communists and Travancore State Police in the Punnapra Vayalar Communist uprising of 1946.

Boat Races :

Image Source : Boat Races

Alappuzha district can be proud of being the cradle of boat races. All the important boat races, namely the Nehru Trophy Boat Race a Punnamada, the Pulinkunnu Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race, the Champakulam Moolam Boat Race, the Payippad Jalotsavam, the Thiruvandoor, Neerettupuram Karuyatta and Thaikkottam boat races are held on or around the Onam holidays at different parts of the district. Thousands of people from all parts of the world came and witness these races.

India : Kerala : Kollam : Attractions & Excursions - 5

Guys, here are some remaining attractions and excursion that you must visit.

Ariankavu (70 kms) :Image Source : Ariankavu

This beautiful place is situated on the Kollam Shenkottai road, Ariankavu is famous for the shrine dedicated to Sree Sanstha. Mandala Pooja and Trikalyanam celebrated in the month of December are the main festivals here.

Palaruvi Waterfalls (75 kms):

Image Source : Palaruvi Waterfalls

The Palaruvi which means stream of milk makes its way down the rocks, from the height of 300 feet. The Palaruvi woods is a beautiful picnic spot.

Rameshwara Temple:

This temple which shows Pandyan influence in its design has inscriptions in Tamil, dating from 12th to the 16th centuries. The Vyala monster sculptures in this temple give one the impression that the creatures are animate and actually climbing up the stairs with their outstretched paws.
(Image Source : Rameshwara Temple)

Matha Amrithanandamayi Ashram, Vallikavu :

The residence and headquarters of Matha Amrithanandamayi Devi, is situated at Amrithapuri near Vallikavu. the ashram is accessible both by road and boat. (Image Source : Matha Amrithanandamayi Ashram, Vallikavu)

Picnic Village :

Image Source : Picnic Village

This village located at Ashramam, along the backwater front, is the main center for recreational activities in Kollam. A 200 year old Government Guest House, and Adventure Park, a Tourist Boat Club, a Children's Traffic Park and a Yatri Nivas are all housed in this vast tourist complex.

Kottukal Rock Cut Cave Temple (11 kms from Chandayamangalam) :

Image Source : Kottukal Rock Cut Cave Temple

This temple situated on the Thiruvananthapuram Kottayam MC Road is an idyllic example of rock cut temple architecture.

Jatayupara :

A huge rock at Chadayamangalam takes its name from the mythical bird Jatayu in epic Ramayana, who is belived to have collapsed on the rock after failing in his attempts to thwart Ravana's kidnapping of Sita.

Image Source : Jatayupara