Here are 6 places to visit near Kolkata that serve as the best weekend getaways.
1. Digha
Distance from Kolkata | 165 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | October – February
One of the most popular weekend getaways from Kolkata, this coastal resort town in West Bengal is known for its mellow sunsets and shallow sand beaches. Digha also has lush green parks and lakes that are just perfect for an idyllic amble. Add to this the delightfully painted Shiva temple at Chandaneswar, where the annual fair draws people from all over West Bengal during Chaitra, the last month of their calendar, you have the ideal itinerary for a quick refreshing weekend.
2. Mukutmanipur
Distance from Kolkata | 220 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | October – March
The water reservoir at Mukutmanipur together with India’s second biggest earthen dambuilt across the confluence of two rivers – Kangsabati and Kumari make for a tranquil weekend away from the chaos of city life. The blue hour of twilight at the dam is stunning. Delight in bird song as you catch the sunset from a boat, surrounded by the clear azure waters and luxurious green forests. Round off the experience with a picnic as you watch the night fall and the lights come on at the dam. The nearby tribal hamlets of Bankura, the Bonpukuria Deer Park, Bangopalpur Reserve Forest, all provide for pleasant outings during the day.
3. Bodhgaya
Distance from Kolkata | 470 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | September – June
Most revered of all Buddhist sites, Bodhgaya is where Prince Sidhartha attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, two thousand and six hundred years ago. Two hundred years later, Emperor Ashoka built a temple to mark the site. The temple and the Bodhi tree have gone through a tempestuous history but they are the descendants of the original. Like any other pilgrim town in India, Bodhgaya too wears an air of festivity mingled with the intensity of faith. Sit in the temple, under the Bodhi Tree and contemplate life, walk around in town to see the Buddhist temples from as many as eight countries.
4. Puri
Distance from Kolkata | 495 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | December – February
Orissa is a state that is underrated when it comes to tourism. The winters here are beautiful, night falls by five and the breeze couldn’t get any pleasanter. Puri with its painted houses carries its legacy of the Jagannatha and patachitra everywhere. And with its golden fields and silvery waves, the seaside temple town of Puri is right where the action is. Visit the fabled Puri Jagannath Temple in town and go on short drives to go dolphin spotting on the boundless Chilika lake or to be awed by the sheer magnificence of the Sun Temple in Konark.
5. Darjeeling
Distance from Kolkata | 615 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | April – June
Darjeeling has long been one of the most loved hill stations in India thanks to its pretty tea estates, its views of the Kanchenjunga and the iconic Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.Take the hundred and thirty seven year old toy train through the foothills of the Himalayas to India’s highest railway station at Ghum, while you spot wild orchids as the narrow gauge heritage train takes you winding through the dense forests of oak. Sip on some black tea and stroll along the charming little lanes of this quaint old town and be enchanted by the mock Tudor residences, gothic churches and the buddhist pagodas.
6. Kalimpong
Distance from Kolkata | 625 Kilometers Best Time to Visit | March – May
Famed for its impressive colonial era buildings, Kalimpong sits across from Darjeeling on the other side of the River Teesta. But surprisingly, it isn’t the tea plantations that drawpeople to this east Indian hill town but its flowers and cacti. The absolutely brilliant array of orchids and gladioli do not just adorn the local flowers markets here but are a major source of export revenue. So, head out to the nurseries check out their impressive cacti cultivation, walk along the sloping pathways in the backdrop of the Kanchenjunga, shop for Tibetan jewellery, eat noodles and cheese.
The Pancharamam Kshetras spread across Andhra Pradesh are essentially fivetemples built for just one Shiva Lingam. A popular pilgrimage circuit for the Hindus of Andhra Pradesh, this tour across temple towns (and, otherwise) takes you through Palakollu, Bhimavaram, Samarlakota, Draksharamam to the State Captial, Amaravathi.
The Legend of Pancharam Kshetralu
Once upon a time there was a Rakshasa King, Tarakasura and he owned a magnificent and powerful Shiva Lingam. Or so the story goes.
A war ensued between the devas and asuras, the classic showdown between Gods and demons.
Kumaraswamy, the God of War himself, was fighting the demon Tarakasura but couldn’t kill him, no matter how. For at every deadly blow, the rakshasa would reform, limb to limb, from his cut off body parts. This power to rejoin came from the aforementioned mighty Shiva Lingam that the demon wore.
The only way to destroy him was to break this powerful lingam first.
So, it was to be. And, by the end of the battle, there came to be five pieces of this mythicalSiva Lingam. Which fell in five different places in Andhra Pradesh. Temples were then built in those locations around the fragments and it is these five ancient temples that now constitute the Pancharama Kshetralu.
Architecture of Pancharamam Temples
All of the Pancharamam temples are two storeyed stone temples, for fragments though the Shiva Lingams are, they are all massive Shiva Lingams in themselves.
To continue the story, the five fragments were installed and worshipped at five temples by the five gods, Indra, Surya, Chandra, Vishnu and Kumaraswamy.
Temple 1 |Kumararamam / Bhimaramam
Where | Samarlakota Shiva Lingam Installed By | Kumaraswamy, Son of Shiva
The first one, by Kumaraswamy himself is at Samarlakota near Kakinada and is known as Kumararamam or Bhimaramam variously. The temple is beautiful, peaceful and yet not too crowded like the other four.
Getting There | From Kakinada, Kumararamam in Samarlakota is 15 kilometers away.
Temple 2 | Draksharamam
Where | Draksharamam Shiva Lingam Installed By | Surya, Sun God
The next one nearest to here is Draksharamam. Probably the biggest and definitely the most celebrated of the five, Draksharamam isn’t just a Pancharamam Kshetra but also a Shakti Peetham.
This expansive tenth century temple boasts of a rich history and numerous mythological legends are associated with it, which is one of the reasons for its popularity.
Believed to be the site of the mythical Dakshayagnam – where Daksha Prajapati’s daughter and Shiva’s wife, Sati immolated herself in the Yagna Fire – it is one of the eighteen major Asthadasa Shakti Peethams in the country. And she is manifest here as the Goddess Manikyamba alongside Lord Shiva.
Getting There | One can get to Draksharam too from Kakinada. It is at a distance of 34 kilometers from the city.
Where | Bhimavaram Shiva Lingam Installed By | Chandra, Moon God
The Shiva Lingam in Somaramam is said to change colour according to the phases of the Moon. If it is a pristine white on full moon nights, it is a dark ebony on the days of no moon or amaavasya, probably owing to the fact that legend says, this is the Shiva Lingam that was installed by Chandra or the Moon God himself.
Getting There | The easiest way to get to Bhimavaram is from Rajahmundry which is 90 kilometers away.
Temple 4 | Ksheeraramam
Where | Palakollu Shiva Lingam Installed By | Vishnu, The Protector
In Ksheeraramam, Shiva instated by Vishnu here, is Ksheera Ramalingeswara Swamy and the temple itself flaunts a nine storeyed temple tower.
Getting There | This too like the last one is in West Godavari and the most convenient way to get there would be from Rajahmundry via Bhimavaram.
Temple 5 | Amararamam
Where | Amaravathi Shiva Lingam Installed By | Indra, God of Wealth
The last of the five temples is Amararamam in Amaravathi, Andhra Pradesh’s burgeoning new capital. Legend has it that this Shiva Lingam laid here by Indra wouldn’t stop growing and a nail was affixed to it, in an attempt to stop its growth. But the Lingam started bleeding and today devotees from all across flock here, to this ancient temple on the banks of the river Krishna,to catch a glimpse of that red stain on the head of the Lingam.
Getting There | One can get to Amaravathi from Vijayawada, which is only 18 kilometers away.
Find yourself in the city of pearls for 2 days? Here is a quick guide to things to do in Hyderabad. Including where to eat and what to see for a truly local experience.
Things to do in Hyderabad
1. Go on a Heritage Walk in the Old City of Hyderabad
Conducted by the Telangana Tourism Department, this guided walk through the lanes of the old city, happens every Sunday from 7:30 am to 9 am. There are four walks to choose from, to explore the architectural and historical splendour of the city, but the walk from Charminar to Chowmahalla Palace remains the most popular.
2. Naubat Pahad | Science Museum & Birla Planetarium
A View of Birla Mandir from Naubat Pahad
The Sky Show at Birla Planetarium is popular across quite a few of the bigger cities in India, but here in Hyderabad, where it is located on one of the more popular hillocks of the City, the Naubat Pahad, it gives you two additional reasons to visit. One for the sweeping views of the Hussain Sagar and the pristine white Birla Mandir. And the other, for its Science Museum. The interactive science section here at the Museum has been engaging children and adults alike in exploring the basic laws of Physics in a fun way for over 27 years now.
3. Sunset Boating on Hussain Sagar
And who hasn’t seen pictures of the famousBuddha Statue of Hyderabad, believed to be the tallest monolith of the Gautama Buddha. Take an evening boat ride in the Hussain Sagar to see the Buddha against the backdrop of a setting sun.
This white granite statue of the Buddha was consecrated by the Dalai Lama himself!
4. Go on a Road Trip
Been there done that? Looking for some offbeat experiences? Then head out on the road to discover the unexplored side of Telangana. Plan your trip to include anything from forgotten forts to secluded waterfalls.
Here are some useful guides to help you design your road trip from Hyderabad.
See the iconicCharminar by the evening lights of the fruit sellers or on an early Sunday morning when it is at its atmospheric best with the Jummeraat Bazaar that pop ups enroute Charminar every sunday. While there, also check out Laad Bazaar, an entire lane dedicated to selling colourful bangles. Nothing else gives you a feel of old Hyderabad like this traditional bazaar.
One can also go up a minaret of Charminar to take in the entire old city – the heart of Hyderabad from its balconies.
Though they don’t rank high on the typical tourist checklist, the Qutb Shahi Tombs are yet another must visit. Some of the areas of this expansivecomplex are undergoing restoration, in the hopes of bringing this mausoleum onto the coveted list of UNESCO Heritage Sites.
3. Golconda Fort
Golconda Fort, believed to be the strongest of the Deccan Forts holds number one spot on every traveller’s Hyderabad itinerary and rightly so. For the earthy brown monument with its manicured lawns isn’t just beautiful. The architectural designs to draw water and even cool the citadel on a hot day are intriguing. Also, the trek up to the summit of the fort is invigorating, specifically around sunset.
And when one has had enough of ruins and tombs, then a visit to the Chowmahalla Palace is sure to refresh you with a peek into the the erstwhile life of the Nizams ofHyderabad.
5. Birla Mandir
Built in a mix of Dravidian and Rajasthani architectural styles, the Birla Mandir is a beautiful marble structure sitting – in all its pristine white splendour – atop a hillock on the banks of the Hussain Sagar. The temple is dedicated to Venkateswara Swamy is a quiet and serene place.
Where to Eat – like a local – in Hyderabad
If you want to eat like a local in Hyderabad, then it isn’t just about the biryani or the haleem, you start your day with an Irani Chai and a side of Osmania Biscuits at Nimrah Cafe. Located bang opposite the Charminar, this landmark is the starting point for many a walk in the old city of Hyderabad, be that a photo walk or a food walk.
Just as iconic are Paradise and Pista House – ‘world famous in Hyderabad’ as one would put it – the former famous for biryani and the latter for haleem.
The city also boasts of eateries that grew from just a bandi (handcart) to full fledged multi storeyed cafes and restaurants. Amongst these are the Gokul Chaat Bhandar and Ram ki Bandi. Both worth a visit, for their chaats and dosas.
And if you are a vegetarian in Hyderabad, against popular belief, you needn’t despair. For you have an entire street that comes alive every evening and serves up everything from a dabeli or a vada pavto a fruit flavoured soda or a malai kulfi. That is Sindhi Colony for you. It is such a hit among the youngsters for street food that within hours of opening, most of these joints sell out. So be there in Sindhi Colony by five any evening, if you want to try out everything.
There is ever so often that you crave a quick weekend getaway. For a little breather between work and the drudgery of daily life and you do not have the time to plan an elaborate holiday. On those days, long Weekends are like answered prayers. And, just for times like that, here is a list of 8 places to visit near Chennai that are only a few hours away from the city but are as good a tourist destination as any in the country.
1. Mahabalipuram / Mamallapuram
Distance from Chennai | 57 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | Monsoon & Winter. October – April.
Renowned for its ancient monuments dating back to the Pallavas of the seventh and the eighth centuries, Mahabalipuram is home to numerous Hindu temples sculpted as monolithic chariots, cave sanctuaries and rock reliefs even. Together they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most famous of which are the five Rathas dedicated to the five Pandavas of Mahabharata and the elephantine open air rock relief which is The Descent of the Ganges – also known as Arjuna’s Penance.
Today this ancient seaside town is also buzzing with surfers that are thronging here in their quest for big waves making this the number one place to visit near Chennai.
Getting There | Mahabalipuram is only an hour and half away from Chennai by road. One can also take the train or bus to get here.
2. Pondicherry
Distance from Chennai | 156 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | Winter. December – April.
Go further down the East Coast Road from Mahabalipuram and you reach Auroville – Pondicherry, which is also next on our list of popular tourist places to visit near Chennai.
They say if you can’t afford a ticket to Europe, travel to Pondicherry instead. Stroll through the white part of town where cafes cool and inviting are at every turn. Or wander through the streets on the Tamil side to absorb the distinctive Franco-Tamil culture of the place.
Pay a visit to Auroville to experience life at this utopian community, meditate in the Matrimandir and shop for eco friendly products. Take a short drive to Arikamedu, an ancient Roman archaeological site or to the Fossil Forest in Tiruvakkarai. Or simply sit on the edge of the rocky beach and let a sense of tranquillity wash over you.
Getting There | The best way to get to Pondicherry from Chennai is by the East Coast Road. There are also trains and buses that connect both cities.
Distance from Chennai | 270 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | Winter. December – April.
Tharangambadi, ‘the place of the singing waves’, was the first Danish trading post in India and in a Danish twist to its original name, it came to be called Tranquebar. Just like Pondicherry, here too, you will find an eclectic mix of two cultures coming together. Of a former Danish colony and a fishing village of rural Tamil Nadu. Besides the lyrical singing waves and the swaying palms of the southern coast line, there are also the Dansborg Fort and the New Jerusalem Church to explore.
Getting There | The best way to get to Tharangambadi from Chennai is by road. The drive takes over six and a half hours, so one can also take a bus to get to Tharangambadi from Chennai.
4. Trichy
Distance from Chennai | 330 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | All year round.
The stunning gopurams of Srirangam Temple
One of the oldest inhabited cities of Tamil Nadu and my personal favourite on this list of places to visit near Chennai, Trichy is home to temples both unique and popular. From the more famous Ranganatha Swamy Temple of Srirangam to the little known Rockfort Temple.
Second in size only to the Angkor Wat, Srirangam occupies an entire islet in Trichy and is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world
The Rockfort Temple is a series of cave temples inside an ancient rock that dates back to over a billion years ago. The Jambukeshwara Temple is yet another one of interest in Trichy for all architecture lovers. Also here is the ancient Kallanai Dam, more commonly known as the Grand Anaicut which is a picturesque digression from all the temples.
One can also extend the trip by driving to Thanjavur or Kumbakonam, both towns boast of ancient temples of stunning architecture.
Getting There | There are regular flights from Chennai to Trichy everyday. By road the drive to Trichy takes around six hours. There are also connecting trains between the two cities.
Distance from Chennai | 320 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | Dry, cool months. January – March.
Airavateeswara Temple in Darasuram, one of the three great living chola temples in Thanjavur
In and around Thanjavur are ‘The Great Living Chola Temples’, three grand temple complexes dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries. These UNESCO classified world heritage sites make Thanjavur one of the best destinations in the country for architecture & history enthusiasts.
But this historical town earns its position on this list of places to visit near Chennai not just for this but also because it is the go-to shopping destination for art lovers and connoisseurs. It is from Thanjavur that the strikingly beautiful gold laid Tanjore Paintings come from.
The Thanjavur Maratha Palace along with its museum dedicated to the Chola heritage of the region is another tourist attraction here that is worth a visit.
Getting There | Nearest Airport is Trichy. One would have to fly to Trichy and drive down to Thanjavur, which takes about one and a half hours. But, there are frequent trains and buses from Chennai to Thanjavur.
Distance from Chennai | 460 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | All year round.
Madurai is Tamil Nadu’s pride and the illustrious Meenakshi Amman temple here is truly a marvel. One cannot help but lose oneself in the labyrinth of courtyards in this sprawling temple complex of immense proportions.
Its fourteen Dravidian style gopurams etched in beautiful detail and intense colour dominate the city’s skyline. So striking is this temple that it has even inspired full blown life size movie sets in the South.
Getting There | Madurai is connected to Chennai via regular flights, trains and buses. By road, it is an eight hour journey from Chennai to Madurai.
7. Kodaikanal
Distance from Chennai | 525 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | Summer. March – June.
Driving through the western ghats to get to Kodaikanal – this beautiful hill station that often serves as a less crowded alternative to the more famous Ooty – is in itself a pleasurable experience. It sure is the ideal destination for a leisurely holiday, for here you can spend your days amongst the mist rolled hills indulging in home made chocolates and boating in the Kodai Lake.
Getting There | One can get to Kodaikanal from either Coimbatore or Madurai. The drive to Kodaikanal takes anywhere between three to four hours from either of the airports. There are direct trains and buses too that ply regularly between Chennai and Kodaikanal.
8. Rameshwaram
Distance from Chennai | 540 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | All year round.
One of the major Hindu pilgrimage sites in the country, Rameswaram is where Rama worshipped Shiva or Eswara as he is also known, giving this unique holy city its name.
It is also believed that it was from here, in Rameshwaram, that Rama built the bridge to Lanka to bring back Sita after defeating Ravana.
But it is the Ramanathaswamy Temple here that brings the most travellers to this Ramayana site. This temple of the many sculpted corridors is a shining example of beautiful Indian architecture. The outer corridor alone has over a thousand carved pillars that taper off into what looks like an exquisitely painted tunnel.
Add to it the beauty of Pamban Island itself, the island on which this temple town is located and Rameshwaram becomes the one destination on the list of places to visit near Chennai that just cannot be missed!
Getting There | Nearest Airport is Madurai and the drive from Madurai to Rameshwaram takes around three and a half hours. By train or bus, it is an overnight journey.
Every destination on this list of weekend getaways from Hyderabad are within 200 Kilometres of the city and can be reached in under 4 hours, making them just the place to head to for the weekend. So get out that bike or car and make the most of your 2 days off from work.
#1 Warangal
Distance from Hyderabad | 145 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | June – February
In the courtyard of Ramappa Temple
Warangal is not just the second biggest city in Telangana today. It is also the state’s most historic, for it was once the capital of the Kakatiyas. Making it weekend getaway from Hyderabad for heritage lovers.
From magnificent medieval temples like the Ramappa Temple to the lyrical Thousand Pillar Temple, this 12th century city is most definitely The Heritage City of Telangana. Also popular here is the Lakanavaram Lake, with its holiday island and the widely recognisable yellow suspension bridge.
Take the NH163 from Hyderabad to reach Warangal via Bhongir.
Where to Stay in Warangal
At the Haritha Kakatiya Hotel, which is probably the best Telangana Tourism run hotel in the State.
#2 Bidar
Distance from Hyderabad | 145 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | All year round
Bidar Fort
If one loves visiting places of historic significance and can’t get enough of architecture, then, Bidar – just across the state border in Karnataka – is one of those weekend getaways from Hyderabad that you just can’t miss.
Though the most prominent landmark here is the Bidar Fort, there are over sixty listed monuments here, in this little town. The other often frequented tourist place here is the Guru Nanak Jhira Sahib Gurudwara. People of all faiths come here, even straight from the Hyderabad airport just to get water from the holy spring that is said to possess healing powers.
From Hyderabad take the ORR and then the NH65 till Zaheerabad From there head right to get to Bidar.
#3 Jetprole, Kollapur & Somasila
Distance from Hyderabad | 175 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | July – February
Jetprole, Kollapur and Somasila are small villages within minutes of each other along the left bank of the River Krishna.
These little hamlets are significant in that, here is where all the ancient temples that were in danger of being submerged – when the Srisailam Dam was being built – were brought to and put back together stone for stone as they were originally.
Somasila is also with popular with nature lovers for the scenic river bed is just ideal for a restful camping experience.
Things to Do & Places to Visit
Madana Gopala Swamy Temple (Jetprole)
Group of Shiva Temples (Jetprole)
Kollapur Palace, Chandra Mahal (Kollapur)
Madhava Swamy Temple (Kollapur)
Riverside Camping (Somasila)
Lalita Someswara Swamy Temple (Somasila)
Getting There
Take the NH765 from Hyderabad straight to Somasila. Or take the NH44 to Pebbair and then go left towards Kollapur.
#4 Khammam
Distance from Hyderabad | 195 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | July – February
From prehistoric rock paintings to historic temples from the era of the Kakatiyas – who built many temples in the region dedicated to Shiva, Khammam is one of the more unusual of weekend getaways from Hyderabad.
The two twelfth century temples in Kusumanchi are just as exquisite in their architecture as other better known Kakatiya temples like the Ramappa Temple and the ones in Ghanpur.
It was also here in Khammam, in Nelakondapalli that numerous Buddhist antiquities and even coins dating as far back as to the Ikshvakus were unearthed. And, the Stupa that still stoically stands here is the testimony to this region’s spiritual significance.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Khammam
Khammam Fort
Nelakondapalli Buddhist Site
Kusumanchi Shiva Temples – Sri Ganapeshwara Alayam & Mukkanteswara Alayam
Getting There
Take the NH65 from Hyderabad to Suryapet and then head left to Khammam.
#5 Karimnagar
Distance from Hyderabad | 165 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | July – September. Monsoon for the dramatic clouds.
Elgandal Fort
Undoubtedly Telangana’s most striking fort, Elgandal Fort makes Karimnagar, the state’s most underrated tourist destination. Little known and too far from Hyderabad, Karimnagar is peppered with quite a few other forts, ancient temple ruins and Buddhist sites. This is the one road trip on the list here that promises a packed weekend!
You can also hear me talking about my road trip to Karimnagar for The Musafir Stories, here.
Take the Hyderabad – Ramagundam Road or the NH163 to reach Karimnagar via Siddipet. Alternatively, you can also take the NH44 from Hyderabad and go right from Kamareddy.
Distance from Hyderabad | 175 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | July – September. For the rain washed landscape.
Armoor
An ancient temple that is a Ramayana place, where Rama is believed to have stopped on his way to Lanka to rescue Sita. Lakes both expansive and small, nestled between hills or sitting serenely behind boulders. Extensive gravity defying rock formations with hidden cave temples inside. All of these and more make Nizamabad truly an explorer’s delight.
It cannot get more offbeat than this if you are looking for one of those quick weekend getaways from Hyderabad.
Distance from Hyderabad | 150 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | July – October. Monsoon is when the flood gates open.
The Nagarjuna Sagar Dam in Nalgonda district holds the record for being India’s tallest masonry dam. Almost fifty years old, this dam which took twelves years to finish, is still considered to be one of the largest dams built in Asia in the recent times.
It is quite a sight to behold when all of its twenty six flood gates are open and the water gushes down in a roar.
Distance from Hyderabad | 105 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | June – February
Pillalamarri (Telugu for banyan tree and its children) isn’t just the name of a famous Banyan Tree but of the village – where it stands – itself. This seven hundred year old Giant Banyan Tree spread over four acres of land just outside the city of Mahbubnagar is so popular with tourists, that it now has a deer park and science museum for the children who come there.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Pillalamarri, Mahbubnagar
Banyan Tree
Science Museum
Deer Park
Gadwal
Mahbubnagar
Getting There
Take the NH44 from Hyderabad, till Jadcherla and from there on head right onto NH167 to get to Pillalamarri, Mahbubnagar.
Distance from Hyderabad | 132 Kilometres Best Time to Visit | June – February
This small village just off the busy Hyderabad – Vijayawada Highway, somewhere near popular highway pit stop – Suryapet, does not boast of an olden Giant Banyan Tree like the other eponymous village mentioned previously.
This Pillalamarri, in Nalgonda District, boasts of two ancient temples from the Kakatiya Era. Some say that the beautifully adorned pillars of these Shiva temples have inspired an entire range of traditional jewellery in South India. Making this lesser known Pillalamari a definite addition to this list of unusual weekend getaways from Hyderabad.
Things to Do & Places to Visit in Pillalamarri, Suryapet
Pillalamarri Shiva Temples
Sri Erakeswara Temple
Sri Nameswara Temple
Pillalamarri Lake
Phanigiri Buddhist Site
Getting There
Take the NH65 from Hyderabad and just before Suryapet head left. Use Google Maps to guide you towards Pillala Marri Rural.
A quiet descends over you as you find your way – through the expansive grounds of the Dadabadi Jain Sevashram hemmed in with trees– towards the Terracotta Jain Temple in Hyderabad. Only a stones throw from the other, more popular Karwan Jain Temple in Gudimalkapur near Mehdipatnam, the Dadabadi Jain Temple is a lyrical beauty of dulcet contrasts and a true oasis of peace in the otherwise crowded and narrow lanes of Karwan.
Dadabadi Shwetamber Jain Temple, Hyderabad
Built in a combination of terracotta and marble, this two hundred year old Shwetambar Jain temple makes for striking contrasts. You cannot but stop to admire the beauty of the rather unusual combination of the brick red of the terracotta and the pristine white of the Rajasthani Marble. Not to mention the intricate patterns carved into them. And, there is never a frisson of disturbance to the peace. Not by the pigeons flocking to the basins of birdseed kept out for them, nor by the steady trickle of regulars who come by everyday from all parts of the city to go about their solitary sojourn of faith and religion.
Past all this, as you enter the main sanctum, the smile on Dada Shri Jin Kushal Suri’s idol, to whom this temple is dedicated, only adds to the mood. You don’t have to be a Jain to experience a sense of stillness, here in this atmospheric temple.
Alongside the Dadabadi Shrine and terracotta temple, you will also find an old step-well, now in disuse, a conspicuously bright and new play ground, a multi-tiered marble fountain here and there amidst all the lush foliage on the grounds here. There is also an oldpeoples home and a wedding hall for Jains here.
Explorers Guide
Don’t Miss
Sundays and full moon days, if you want to attend a ritualistic Jain prayer.
Handy Tip
Though not mandatory, it is recommended that one wears white when visiting the Dadabadi Jain Temple. For it is of the Shwetambar Jain Sect.
Getting There
Head towards to the Gudimalkapur Park from Mehdipatnam. The temple is inside the Dadabadi Jain Sevasharam complex opposite the Sarada Nagar Community Hall, a little beyond the Gudimalkapur Park.
In the northeastern corner of Karnataka, closer to Hyderabad than any other city in the state is Bidar. It is a city steeped in Islamic history and if you love visiting places of historic and cultural significance and can’t get enough of architecture, Hyderabad to Bidar is the one road trip that you must take. Even the celebrated Bidri Artwork though known as a Hyderabadi Artform, originally comes from here.
Hyderabad to Bidar Distance | 135 Kilometres
Drive Time | 3 Hours
Trip Duration | FullDay
Hyderabad to Bidar Route Map
Places to Visit in Bidar
Bidar Fort
Inside the expansive Bidar Fort
The most prominent landmark of this city though is the Bidar Fort. It was built by the first sultan of the Bahamani Dynasty, Ala Ud Din Bahaman Shah when he set up his capital in Bidar, this city that dates back to the third century BC. Built on the brink of the Deccan Plateau, the Bidar Fort has been damaged and renovated many a time, but it stands till date as one of the strongest and the better-preserved medieval forts of the country.
Chaubara
Chaubara, Bidar’s most popular landmark, at the heart of town.
Once a watchtower, this cylindrical Chaubara of twenty two meters is now a popular clock tower in the area serving as a landmark from where all the roads lead into different parts of town.
Khwaja Mahmud Gawan Madrasa
The facade of Khwaja Mahmud Gawan Madrasa in the Old City Fort Area
This Madrasa, the Madrasa Mahmud Gawan, that housed everything from lecture halls and a library to housing for professors and students – everything that could be thought of over five centuries ago – and even a mosque was built by Mahmud Gawan. And, so the name, Khwaja Mahmud Gawan Madrasa. He, in 1466, was the Prime Minister and an important figure in the Bidar Sultanate. Despite the ruined façade on the main road, you can still parts of all this still standing, once you go in or even just cross the road.
Bahamani Tombs
Bahamani Tombs in Ashtur
Four kilometres from the Bidar Fort is the final resting place of the Bahamani Sultans, the little known Bahamani Tombs. Some of these are in a state of disrepair today, but even these crumbling mausoleums stand a beautiful testimony to the art of an era gone by. And, no visit to Bidar is complete without a trip to these majestic structures located in Ashtur.
Chaukhandi, Dargah of Hazrat Nemat Ullah Shah Kirmani in Ashtur
En route to Ashtur just before you get to the tombs, on the left is yet another idyllic setting for the ancient, to rest in peace, the Dargah Hazrat Nemat Ullah Shah Kirmani. Known simply as the Chaukhandi, this octagonal structure beautiful in its simplicity and clean lines is set in a lush expanse of green and is the tomb of Hazrat Khalil Ullah, a popular religious preceptor of the Bahamani Period.
Gurudwara Sri Nanak Jhira Saheb
Entrance Gate of Gurudwara Sri Nanak Jhira Saheb
The most frequented tourist destination in Bidar, though, remains the Gurudwara Sri Nanak Jhira Saheb. People of all faiths come here – sometimes even straight from the Hyderabad airport – to get the holy water from spring in the Gurudwara, which is believed to possess powers of healing. The structure itself is a classic example for modern day religious splendour, probably the grandest gurudwara I have visited till date. But, this for me completely shadowed the moment of quiet and tranquility usually experienced in a Gurudwara.
Sri Jharani Narasimha Swamy Cave Temple
The Jharani Narasimha Swamy Cave Temple is yet another popular destination, albeit of a different faith in the largely Islam dominated Bidar. Pilgrims have to wade through waist deep water in an underground cave to reach the inner sanctum of the temple get darshan of Sri Narasimha Swamy. Quite an experience in itself, that.
Hyderabad to Bidar Road Trip
Itinerary + Route
Leave early morning from Hyderabad and you should be in Bidar in less than two and a half hours. Just in time for when the Bidar Fort opens and is relatively less crowded.
Right in the heart of town are the two famous landmarks – Chaubara and Madrasa Mahmud Gawan. Visit these next, after the Bidar Fort.
A few minutes from here onChaubara Road are stores selling Bidriware. One can make a quick stop for souvenirs.
While on the road back to Hyderabad, one can visit the Gurudwara Nanak Jhira Sahib or even takea short detour to the Jharani Narasimha Swamy Cave Temple.
From the ORR, take the NH65 till Zaheerabad and then head right.
Pit Stop
Famous Tea Point near Sangareddy. This little dhaba claims to serve the best tasting Chai in the area, so much so that you will see cars parked all along the highway. So if you are craving some good old Irani Chai, you could make road trip just to and back from here!
Those were his first words to me as we met at a dhaba along the road to Pushkar. He had left early from his home in Delhi, while I joined in from Jaipur later. This is where I met the entire group that I was to spend the next few days with, shooting at The Pushkar Mela. Eleven Photographers, the crew from Creative Image Magazine and him, the Father of Indian Photo Journalism.
Here is a quick look at what he taught us:
No static images
No pretty pictures please.
Wait a minute. Perceive & Receive.
Capture a moment. Stop thinking.
Action
Tension
Continuity
Intensity
Resonance of forms
And, the oft-heard refrain that has come to be his legacy to me – “not enough”.
Every time I would read or hear people say how we need a human element for scale I never was convinced but after the life changing five days with Mr. Raghu Rai at the Pushkar Fair, I learnt to see through pictures. See what adds that spark of life to a photograph.
Though I might not always to be able to take a photograph that has action in every inch of the frame, interaction and an intensity of emotion and expression in every face. I do now try to incorporate at least a tiny gesture, some form of action – interaction and for lack of a better word the precious ‘human element’ in my images.
The pictures that I took while walking in the alleyways of Old Udaipur in 2016 today seem so much more interesting. The motion blur that seemed flawed then adds movement and fluidity today. The people dotting the scene who were then a crowd today narrate a story, a life paused as the shutter of my camera closed.
Thank you sir, for changing my entire perspective. I haven’t just learnt crafting images but also how to see and understand them. What I knew and understood of photography before you, now, seems nothing.
An indelible image now. It will always stand for Pushkar Ji with Raghu Rai for me. Incidentally, this was also the first image that I made alongside this brilliant master of photo journalism.
& these here are the rest of the images that got a nod.
CGH Earth has two properties in Pondicherry – Maison Perumal in the Tamil Quarter and Palais de Mahe in the French Quarter just off the famous Pondicherry promenade. We split our time in Pondicherry in two parts – two days in the Tamil Quarter and two in the French, and stayed at both of these boutique hotels. One a restored Tamil home, another a recreation of a French home.
Definitely amongst the most charming of boutique hotels in Pondicherry, Maison Perumal is the one hotel there that I haven’t had enough of. Just as much as I can never tire off being in Pondicherry, I can’t think of not wanting to go back to this beautiful heritage home.
Maison Perumal Review: Past Perfect in Pondicherry
Location
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Restored by INTACH, this heritage building in the Tamil Quarter of Pondicherry was once – nearly three hundred years ago – a Chettiar mansion in the affluent neighbourhood around the temple. Maison Perumal is located right at the heart of the bustling side of Pondicherry, where the locals go about busily attending to their day’s work away from the precise boulevards of the French Quarter where most of the tourists restrict themselves to. It is the perfect location for those wanting to get a glimpse into the local Tamil way of life and still be able to get back to the promenade and its chic cafes and boutiques on a whim.
Design
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From the redoxide flooring to the typical colonial Indian wooden furniture, Maison Perumal, transported me straight back to my grandparents hundred and eighty year old house in Visakhapatnam and I happily walked straight back to those summer holidays of my childhood. This beautiful house is tastefully done up in furtniture and accents that are are alive with detail. And, the sunlight that filters in through stained glass windows only adds dimension to this heritage home sequestered away in the colourful lanes of the Tamil quarter.
Our Room
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Quietly elegant, the rooms are furnished keeping with the Franco-Tamil character of this property and this corner of India that is Pondicherry.
Restaurant + Food
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The smell of cooked fish that wafted from the kitchen clung stubbornly to all that came out of the kitchen. So much so that I couldn’t gulp down more than a sip of my fresh watermelon juice the first night we were there. Making the one restaurant in the hotel, out of bounds for vegetarians, especially for those like me, who have been so all their life.
& NO, there is no room service.
But having said that, the food is delicious and is served hot and fresh by staff who are willing to whip up whatever it is that suits your preference. Like they did for us.
Service
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We had checked into the hotel only late in the night, way past dinner time but the staff were so welcoming and helpful, they rustled up a quick vegetarian dinner for us by the time we were through checking-in. Not only did they suggest this themselves (we were too tired to even think of dinner!) but they did it happily too.
And, just for that they deserve a big thumbs up!
Convenience
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Wifi
Unlike most other hotels, wifi works well in the rooms too.
Drinking Water
Two litres of bottled water replenished daily.
Getting Out & About
The leafy lanes of the forgotten Tamil Quarter are shady, colourful and peppered with just the right amount beautiful old buildings. Add to that there is only the occasional tourist that wanders on to this side of the canal that divides Pondicherry into precise cultural quarters, there is much to explore right outside the Maison Perumal. The staff are also helpful enough to find you a “tuk-tuk” for those times when you aren’t just up for a walk and would rather head straight to the promenade or the more happening neighbourhood of Pondicherry.
Value for Money
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While Palais de Mahe, has the feel of a modern day hotel with all the amenities, Maison Perumal which is priced a little lower feels like an old lived in home, which is what it is. And, for those who love staying in heritage homes, Maison Perumal at around Rs.10,000 (150 USD) is good value.
My Take on Maison Perumal
Would I stay at Maison Perumal again? Most definitely, yes!
What did I love about Maison Perumal?
Genuinely helpful staff
Decor and Ambience
Courtyard Cafe
What did I hate about Maison Perumal?
Smell of sea food. But thats just a personal quirk. ?
Once an heirloom piece to be passed on from one generation to the next, the Pashmina Shawl today, has donned a new avatar.
As Indian designers are rediscovering this artisanal craft from the Himalayas and giving it a modern twist in terms of blending it with silks and giving them structure and silhouette by turning them into open shawls, stoles and jackets even, there still are a large number of puritans who advocate for the traditional hand spun, hand woven fine ‘cashmere’ shawls from the valleys of Kashmir.
Even the word cashmere itself can be traced back to Kashmir, for the word that has come to mean fine wool is but a western adaptation of the name Kashmir, the land that it comes from.
What is Pashmina? What sets it apart from Cashmere?
Both pashmina and cashmere wool come from mountain goats. But sets Pashmina apart from Cashmere is that it is much finer and makes for lighter fabric when woven. While the cashmere fibre can be anywhere between fifteen to nineteen microns thick, the ultra fine pashmina fibre is only about twelve microns or slightly more.
This is also the reason why pashmina needs to be hand processed, for it is too delicate to survive the power loom or any machine. Even the fleece that goes into crafting a ‘real’ pashmina is either that is naturally shed or hand combed, it cannot be sheared as is the case with the regular cashmere wool.
The Pashmina Goat
This extraordinarily fine wool that goes into the making of the luxurious Pashmina comes from different breeds of Himalayan goat that are found in the Changthang and Kargil regions of Kashmir and in pockets of Himachal Pradesh, Nepal and Tibet. Though cashmere even comes from regions in Mongolia, it is the wool from the Kashmir Pashmina Goat – locally known as the Changthangi or Changra – which is finer, lighter, softer and three times more warmer than regular sheep’s wool that is considered to be the finest. And, it is this that goes into crafting the most exquisite and expensive Pashmina shawls.
A Changpa kid returns with his family’s Pashmina Goat and sheep to his encampment in Changthang, Ladakh, as day fades.
It is the Changpas, a semi nomadic people of Ladakh and Tibet who traverse theChangthang Valley, that have traditionally reared these Pashmina Goats (so, the name Changthangi) and continue to do so even today. These nomadic tribes who follow the same migratory routes in Ladakh every year, bring their livestock to the same seasonal pastures every year, settle in semi permanent encampments in Changthang for the four harsh months of winter, an important season for them, for this is when the undercoat – which is to eventually become the pashmina wool – grows.
The pashmina goats have a double layer of fleece and it is their warm undercoat near the neck that is spun into the yarn that goes into a pashmina shawl. In spring, which is the moulting season, these goats shed their winter coats and this naturally shed fleece from the thick, warm undercoat is collected and hand processed. This involves combing the raw wool to remove the goat’s overcoat which is the coarser guard hair and other impurities and then washing, dyeing and spinning it into clean yarn.
An Authentic Kashmiri Pashmina Shawl
True to its name ‘Pashmina’ – which can be roughly translated from Kashmiri to mean Soft Gold – an authentic Pashmina Shawl flows lightly through your hands like spun velvety gold.
Kani Shawls
The most elaborate of these handmade Kashmiri Pashmina Shawls is the Kani Shawl, which comes from the artisan village of Kanihama in the Kashmir valley. The Kani Shawl even received the protection of a Geographical Indication Tag a decade ago.
This star of Kashmiri Craftsmanship commands pride of place in the museums of the world, from the MOMA in New York to the Louvre in Paris, where a portrait of the French Empress Josephine in a Kani Shawl is on display.
These intricate Kani Shawls come in two styles. One the Jamawar which is covered all over in exquisite embroidery. The other which is the Palldar, the more minimal of the two, with only a patterned border. Designs include signature patterns of paisleys, creepers, flowers and vases that are typical of a traditional Kashmiri design in pastel hues.
It takes anywhere between a year to two tears to create a full length Jamawar Kani Shawl, while the Palldar can usually be completed in two to three months. Little surprise then if this work of high art finds a place in a woman’s heart and wardrobe as a statement luxury piece.
Modern Day Pashmina Shawl: A First Copy
Modern methods though, have brought pashmina shawls and stoles within the reach of many. But this easily accessible, widely available pashmina is like a first copy of a genuine pashmina.
What goes into making these devalued “impure” variants starts right from the raw wool that goes into it. Synthetic fibres are added to the cashmere fibres to strengthen them just enough to be able to weave them on a power loom and once the shawl is ready, it is given an acid wash that melts aways the unnatural adulterant leaving behind only the natural pashmina in the fabric. That in itself is enough to bring down the quality of the shawl; not considering the thread count, the fineness of the pashmina fibre, the softness that comes from weaving by hand on a hand loom and the craftsmanship of a master artisan. And, it is these power looms that are quickening not just the production of pashmina shawls but are also hastening the demise of a time endured craft loving kept alive by generations of traditional Kashmiri artisans.
The Price of a Pashmina
It is a combination of this lyrical skill of the traditional craftsman and the rarity of procuring pure and authentic pashmina wool that decides the price tag on a pashmina.
Production of pashmina still remains true to its roots in Kashmir. With the city of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir being one of the major centre where raw wool from Ladakh is processed and woven by hand into the shawls and stoles that go out into the world.
Before Dubai became the glitzy capital of the famously fashionable that it is today, it was once an arid land of Bedouins. A semi-nomadic people who traversed the desert with their herds of camel and goat, eternally in search of oases that would sustain their agriculture. Everything from the famed dates and coffee of Dubai to the cultural amusements of today, like camel racing and hunting, trace their origins back to these nomads that had settled in the oases of Hatta and Al Aweer.
And the one thing that has remained a constant through the centuries in Dubai’s history is its trade. It was trade that brought Dubai its fame, paved the way for its later riches and even decided where the city itself would come into being. On the banks of a creek.
Take an abra, the traditional wooden boat on this very creek where Dubai’s story began; from Diera to Bur Dubai, from the new to the old.
To Al Bastakiya Quarter or Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood.
History of Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood & Al Bastakiya
An Abra docked in the courtyard of Al Fahidi Fort, which houses The Dubai Museum today.
Built in the 1800s for settlers from the Bu Flasa tribe, when Dubai first became an independent political entity, the Al Fahidi area even today is home to the Ruler’s Court Mosque, the Al Fahidi Fort and the old residential houses.Only, these houses of the past have now been restored and converted to cafes and galleries, cool and quirky.
While this entire area in and around Al Fahidi is formally known as the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, the houses that were originally built by the traders from Bastak, Iran – and have now been restored – have come to be the Al Bastakiya Quarter.
Here, in Bastakiya, in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, you can stroll through the lanes of history and be transported in time in those cobbled pathways, winding away between tightly packed buildings of ochre, the colour of the desert. These buildings are the Al Arish, the typical summer houses of the region, built with the signature wind tower made up of burlap pieces.
How to get to Bastakiya?
Along the winding walkways of Al Bastakiya
Al Bastakiya is just across the road from the Al Fahidi Fort (Dubai Museum), with its tell tale Abra docked in the courtyard. Walk down Al Fahidi street towards the creek keeping the fort to your left and you will come to Arabian Tea House. & sprawling complex housing this cafe is the Bastakiya Quarter.
Quiet and inconspicuous in the otherwise bustling Al Fahidi, the bazaar where local Indians flock to, this complex that is Bastakiya holds a myriad of interesting restored buildings for culture buffs and the artistically inclined.
NOTE: If you are taking a cab then Dubai Museum, Al Fahidi should do the trick. Otherwise simply take the Metro to the Al Fahidi Station and from there it is a 7-10 minutes walk.
What to See & Do in Bastakiya?
From galleries that double up as boutique hotels with just the few rooms to rent out, to those that bring together the specially abled to unleash their creative potential, every gallery here is also a café. There is much to discover here and one can easily spend the day just wandering through the maze of buildings and leafy boulevards, never knowing just what one might stumble upon next.
It is also in these very walkways that the aptly named, Dubai Art Fair, Sikka (Arabic for alleyway) happens every year around March.
Art Galleries
Art everywhere at Mawaheb, from the courtyard outside the villa to the terrace upstairs.
In the traditional Arabian villas of Bastakiya, there are many art galleries from the old and established ones like The Majilis Gallery to the newer, trendier ones like the XVA Gallery.There is also theMawaheb, From Beautiful People Art Studio where art in both its artistic and functional interpretations is created by beautiful people indeed. For here people with special needs – ‘the determined ones‘ as they are now known since the directive by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai – predominantly young adults, come together to discover and voice their creative ideas.
Museums
Inside the Coffee Museum
If it is a Coffee Museum or a Coin Museum now, it could be a Philately House next, which in great detail traces the evolution of postal stamps and postmarks from the Middle East. Or even a museum dedicated just to the local architecture and its restoration.
Cafés
The Cafe in the courtyard of XVA Gallery and Art Hotel
Arabian Tea Houseright next to the entrance to Al Bastakiya is like a landmark here. Easy to spot, the traditional Arab vibe draws you in; right from the crowded carpets that welcome you in through the low roof to the whiff of the typical Emirati breakfast tray of hummus and bread being prepared. And, as you begin walking in through the sikkas of the Bastakiya Quarter, the first vibrant place to greet you is the Make Art Cafe. Originally developed as a co-working space in another part of Dubai, it has since been reinvented as an Art Cafe here in Bastakiya. Then there are also the art galleries that brew just as good a coffee as they dish up art, like the XVA Gallery, Art Hotel & Cafeand theMawaheb, From Beautiful People Art Studio.
Restaurants
For a sumptuous spread of Middle Eastern fare, end the day at Bastakiya Nights, in one of the many courtyards of Bastakiya facing the Dubai Creek. This place comes alive at night and transforms the Bastakiya Quarter into a romantic setting straight out of somewhere in the middle of the desert.
Sheikh Mohammed Centre of Cultural Understanding (SMCCU)
Looking into the Diwan Mosque (Rulers Court Mosque) in Al Bastakiya, by the Dubai Creek
Also in the Bastakiya quarter is the Sheikh Mohammed Centre of Cultural Understanding. Where one can wind down at the end of a day of walking, with a dose of culture served up with a side of delicious Arabic coffee and dates. Or those looking for a more leisurely deep dive into the Emirati culture can indulge in a local style breakfast or lunch here on prior appointment.
To book your cultural meal at SMCCU, Al Bastakiya: Click here.
NOTE: One can also club the cultural immersion program at SMCCU with a heritage walk and a visit to theDiwan Mosque or the Rulers Court Mosque. Visits to the Diwan Mosque along with a walking tour of Bastakiya are conducted on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 10:30 AM and on Saturdays & Sundays at 9AM, all around the year except during the holy month of Ramadan. This tour is for about 90 minutes.
Where to Stay in Bastakiya?
Orient Guest House
Hidden in one of the leafy corners of the Bastakiya alleyways, is a traditional two storey Arabian villa, complete with a Majlis (public meeting) lounge that is the tranquil Orient Guest House. The local style rooms in this boutique hotel are also easy on the pocket!
XVA Gallery, Art Hotel & Cafe
The XVA Hotel with its many courtyards and wind towers is the idyllic retreat for creators and artists looking for a restful haven. The café with its award winning vegetarian menu and the art on display in the corridors of this Persian home only add to the mood.
You can also choose to stay in Bur Dubai, a bustling residential and commercial neighbourhood minutes from Bastakiya.
Explorers Guide
Entrance Fee: Free. There is no fee to go into the Bastakiya Quarter, to wander through its alleyways or to explore any of its museums even.
Timings: The Art Galleries and Museums are open from 10AM to 6 PM. Most of the cafes are open right from 7AM (like the XVA Cafe) to 10PM (like the Arabian Tea House).
Nearby Places of Interest: Dubai Museum in Al Fahidi Fort
The Souks – Gold, Spice & Perfume
Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood
Ammapalli Temple. Long Long ago, before Lord Rama met Hanuman during the course of events set out in the Ramayana…Well, thats the time that the few Kondanda Rama Temples that there are, hark back to.
Five kilometres from the Shamshabad Bus Station is a quiet little village called Ammapalli. In this quite forgotten leafy corner of the city outskirts is a centuries old temple that has long been popular with movie makers and has yet eluded mainstream popularity.
The road leading to Ammapalli Temple
Believe it or not but over four hundred Telugu movies have been shot here! & a few Hindi and Tamil movies too. For there is a sentiment among the Tollywood fraternity that a movie with even one scene shot here at this temple, will surely have a successful run at the box office and for a hundred days at the least.
Did you know? This temple was extensively featured in the 2001 blockbuster Murari, the very same movie that launched actor Mahesh Babu’s career towards superstardom. The central theme of the movie revolves around an ancient temple and its powerful presiding goddess. Little surprise there then that this Seeta Ramachandra Swamy Temple in Ammapalli makes frequent appearances right from the opening credits to the very climax.
Locally known as the Ammapalli Temple, this is the Sri Seeta Ramachandra Swamy Temple in Ammapalli,Shamshabad. Spread over two hundred and fifty acres, it was built sometime in the 11th Century by the Eastern Chalukyas. Like most of the prominent temples dedicated to Lord Rama in our country, this thousand year old temple too marks the spot where he once stopped to rest during his journey in the historic-mythical Dandkaaranyam.
Tree lined roads, manicured lawns and clearly sectioned off sandy areas lead you from the archway to the wide parking ground right outside the main temple. Along the way there are two smaller temples dedicated to Lord Shiva and Hanuman, a couple of mandapams and abandoned looking structures and a beautiful step-well hidden in a grove of coconut trees.
If you love discovering beauty in little details, then this step-well is where you should start your exploration of the temple from. Corridors that start off in the Hindu style of pillared mandapams transition into Islamic arches as they go around enclosing the step-well. This was once the koneru where the Brahmostavams were held and people of all faiths would watch from these very corridors the on going festivities.
Step Well on the grounds of the temple
Sri Rama Navami is celebrated in a big way here and the Seetarama Kalyanam is attended by thousands of people annually. As you walk along the grounds, it becomes evident that the Kalyanam has been but an age old tradition of the temple. For most of the structures on the grounds outside the main temple complex are built to serve but this one purpose. From the two storeyed kalyana mandapam to the edurukolla mandapam and even the Nagaar Khana, were the musicians would be seated to play the wedding tunes, they are all laid out for this specific purpose.
Set against these structures is the main temple complex entered through a Gali Gopuram of ninety feet. Like every other aspect of this temple, the architecture of this too is strikingly unique with its colourful Seshashayee Vishnu carved into an otherwise drab brown tower. Then there is the bright white prahari or the boundary wall, which doubles up as a two storeyed corridor with benches on the upper level built into it. To serve as yet another viewing gallery undoubtedly.
For all its splendour though, what stands out the most about the Amapalli temple are the ekashila (single stone) idols and the story behind them. These are doubly unique in the fact that, firstly, this style of carving the deity with the surrounding makaram toranam from a single stone was prevalent only for a brief period of time in history making them rare and invaluable today. Secondly, they date back to a time when Lord Rama hadn’t yet met Hanuman, making this a Kodanda Rama temple, where Lord Rama is depicted devoid of a bow and a Hanuman next to him.
And adding to the intrigue is the Abhaya Anjaneya sculpted into the dwaja stambham (pillar) opposite the inner sanctum. On command from Lord Rama, he, Hanuman is said to fulfil the wishes of those devotees who seek it there and this is why when you go here to pray do not block the view between them!
Route: Take the PVNR Expressway from the city. Around 8 kilometres before the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, take the right adjoining the Shamshabad Bus Station. Another 5 kilometres on this straight road and you will find an archway on your left, leading to the Sri Seeta Rama Chandra Swamy Temple . Don’t Miss: Every month on the day that falls under Lord Rama’s birth star, Punarvasu, a Seeta Rama Kalyanam is held here in the morning. Followed by a Pallaki Seva and lunch.
Legends surround Sri Kalahasti, the temple town near South India’s most popular pilgrimage centre, Tirupati. Home to the ancient Shiva temple, the Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple, this town has been the centre of many legends, stories and folk lore.
But it isn’t as widely known that this town in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district also boasts of something that is in fact more renowned than the temple itself. Kalamkari.
Literally meaning craftsmanship of the pen, Kalamkari refers to the hand painted cotton fabric that is counted amongst one of the most beautiful traditional Indian art forms.
The Sri Kalahasteeswara Temple was originally built in the 5th century by the Pallavas under the shadow of a hill by the banks of the River Swarnamukhi. This was later extended by the Cholas in the 11th and 12th centuries. But it was in the 16th century, under Sri Krishnadeva Raya that it was most celebrated. And from then on, it hasn’t been just a mythical place of worship but the fountainhead for art and culture.
Vilasini Natyam, which is the traditional temple dance form, also originated here.
& what started out back then as a hand painted backdrop for the deities in the temple is what has today evolved to become one of the most appreciated fabric there is, purely for its artistic value.
That there is the story of Kalamkari.
But, there is more. For there is a variant, a different school of Kalamkari art that flourished under the Mughals and Qutb Shahis of Golconda. Here the fabric is block printed rather than hand painted and the motifs are more Persian than religious. This form of Kalamkari is produced in the town Machilipatnam, yet another town in Andhra Pradesh where flowing water is readily available. For whatever be the art form, it almost always draws inspiration from the society of the time, the geography of the land and availability of indigenous raw materials. And flowing water is an essential to the process of creating the Kalamkari textile.
Before the actual process of art begins, the cotton fabric has to be prepped for drawing by washing it in water and soaking it in milk. A master artist then draws the design freehand in bold black strokes using a charcoal pencil.
The cloth is then soaked once again, this time in boiling water before colours are filled in by the artisans using a bamboo kalam (pen).
The colours are always natural and made from ingredients like indigo and myrobalan fruit.
From sarees and dupattas to bed linen, this hand painted cotton fabric is considered hip and not just in the art circles. There is a huge demand for it today not just in India but internationally as well. Which is probably why now the Kalamkari motifs have grown to be so ubiquitous that you see them everywhere from bags to utility trays even.
Explorers Guide
Distance from Chennai: 116 Kilometres Distance from Tirupati: 36 Kilometres Trip Duration: One Day Getting There: Less than an hours drive from Tirupati, this trip can be a detour on your journey there. One can also drive down from Chennai, shop and get back, all in a day.
The temple town of Alampur in the Mahbubnagar district of Telangana is renowned for its Ashtadasa Shakti Peetham, the Jogulamba Temple.
But there is more to this sleepy little town that is only a few hours from Hyderabad. It is believed to be the Western gateway to Srisailam, one of the important pilgrimage centres for Shaivites (Shiva believers) in the country.
Locals say that there are so many Shiva Lingams everywhere, in and around Alampur only waiting to be found that this little town is known as Dakshina Kasi, implying it is South India’s very own Benaras/Varanasi/Kasi, the abode of Lord Shiva and the Hindus’ City of Moksh (salvation).
Navabramha Temple Complex & Jogulamba
Nine for Navabramhas, nine forms of Lord Shiva.
Legend has it that a 6th century saint, Rasa Siddha had created a tantric Siddha Rasarnavam here at the Navabramha temples, built by the then Chalukya king, Pulakesi II. Using which, he could create gold out of mercury just by adding a few herbs. It is after this tool of alchemy – religious mysticism, that the nine deities here are named.
It is in this Navabramha Temple Complex, that the Jogulamba Temple is situated. One of the eighteen major Shakti Peethams, as listed by Adi Shankaracharya.
Here the goddess takes her Roudra Roopam or the form of fury. Which is why there is a moat around the main shrine, to cool the atmosphere and make it easier for us mere mortals to pray to this ‘Mother of Yogis’, they say.
So, both the principal deities of this temple come power packed with legends and beliefs! It is little wonder then that Alampur is a popular destination for a lot of Hindu pilgrims in Telangana.
But what is different here is that, this temple complex stands a stoic witness to a lot of mankind’s history.
For within its original walls, amidst all the temples, sits a dargah (grave/shrine of a religious figure or saint).
Speaking volumes of a time when not just this temple was invaded by intolerant rulers. The Bahamani sultans of the 14th century, in this case.
Sangameswara Temple
Every temple in this town seems to some how signify the importance of the holy confluence of the rivers Krishna and Tungabadhra. To begin with, Alampur itself gets the monicker ‘Navabramha Theertham’ from this. the most prominent one, the Navabramha Temple Complex built on the banks of Tungabadhra in the 7th century, together with the word ‘theertham’ meaning holy water give this town the name . Yet another temple in Alampur hinting at the holy confluence or Sangam is the Sangameswara Temple.
Did you know? The Sangameswara Temple was moved stone for stone from the banks of the river to where it is now, during the construction of the Srisailam Dam in the 1970s.
This temple comes next only in terms of popularity for it is just as beautiful as the first if not even more striking in its stoic solitude. This only leaves us to wonder just how important were these rivers once, spiritually!
Papanasi Group of Temples
Save the best for the last and use Google Maps to take you to the Papanasi Group of Temples next. Tucked away, just around the corner from the main town of Alampur, is this cluster of 24 temples, stunningly elegant in their simple design.
Majority of these shrines are dedicated to Lord Shiva – yet again – housing Lingams in numerous forms.
Explorers Guide
Distance from Hyderabad: 215 kilometres
Trip Duration: Full Day
Route: Alampur is a three hour drive along the Hyderabad-Bangalore Highway. One can either go via the Outer Ring Road or the Airport. To save on time, plan your day trip so that you are not stuck in the city traffic during peak hours. Tourist Info: The Jogulamba Temple in Alampur is open from 7 am to 5:30 pm, and is closed for an hour during the day between 1pm to 2pm. It is advisable, though not mandatory, for women to dress in traditional Indian clothes like a salwar kameez or a saree. Remember: The Jogulamba temple closes early, so make sure to visit here first. It is also customary to take along a saree and bangles as an offering to the Mother Goddess.
It is that time of the year again. When I look back at my year and see what is the one thing that I set out to do at the beginning of the year and actually did.
So, here I am proudly proclaiming that I did visit 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India in 2017.
PS: I had set my target at 7 but I knew I could only visit 5. Like with anyone with travel plans, one is always majorly dependant on budgets and life in general. But then fate conspired and the universe showed a way (however clichéd that may sound!). I was selected to shoot at the Pushkar Fair with none other than Mr.Raghu Rai himself and we could choose to join him either from Delhi or from Jaipur, along the way to Pushkar. And here I am with that wished for number. 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2017.
PSS: Even a year of missed opportunities can have a happy ending. All negativity comes with a counter balancing positive energy.
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year, 2018. Love & Light. ??
Who doesn’t know the Kakatiya Kala Toranam? It is the omnipresent symbol of Telangana Heritage, incorporated even in the emblem of this newly formed state. A massive stone gateway and the proud legacy of Kakatiya art and architecture, one of these today stands in a park in Warangal. With the rest of the ruins from the Kakatiya fort.
Read on to find other such unmissable places to visit in Warangal to add to your trip itinerary.
#1 Thousand Pillar Temple
The most popular tourist place in Warangal is the Thousand Pillar Temple.
It has featured in numerous Telugu movies, most prominently in Varsham, Bahubali star Prabhas’s first major romantic blockbuster. The many songs and scenes from movie shot here in the rain are by far the most stunning take on the Thousand Pillar Temple.
Constructed in 1163 AD by Rudra Deva in the Chalukya style, it has three presiding deities, Vishnu, Shiva and Surya. The most recognisable feature of this temple besides its richly carved pillars is the huge monolithic Nandi of black stone.
The Thousand Pillar Temple – currently closed to public and under restoration
Some areas of the Thousand Pillar Temple are closed off for renovation but there is a fully functional Hindu temple on the grounds in the same architectural style. So don’t just leave it off of your list of places to visit in Warangal. It is still is the place from where you should start your day in the city.
#2 Warangal Fort & Kakatiya Kala Toranam
If you are using Google Maps to navigate within the city, look for Warangal Fort Park and not Warangal Fort. For that will take you to where the original fort once stood and which is now just a crumbling structure of stone, overrun in grass.
& yes what is now referred to as the Warangal Fort is just a park with well laid out pieces of sculptures and entry ways from the fort, including the Kakatiya Kala Toranam.
Ruins of Warangal FortKakatiya Kala Toranam in the Warangal Fort Park
TOURIST INFO
Warangal Fort Park is a ticketed monument. Open from 10am to 7pm, all days of the week. There is also a sound and light show here every evening after sunset.
#3 Kush Mahal
Built within the walls of Warangal Fort, Kush Mahal is Tughlaq era hall. Though the original use for which it was built is not known for sure, we know that when the Tughlaqs conquered Warangal, they razed Kakatiya architecture to ground and built over them to mark their conquest.
So its a stones throw from that which it aimed to obliterate – the gateway and what it stood for.
Though not counted amongst popular tourist places of Warangal, it is a local favourite.
#4 Bhadrakali Temple
Set against a backdrop of water and hills, the Badhrakali temple isn’t just scenic. There is something powerful about the place, for darshan here is an intense experience.
Making it the foremost of places to visit in Warangal for many.
#5 Ramappa Temple & Lake
Ageless in its magnificence, it is as if the Ramappa Temple is a time capsule. This medieval temple from 1213 AD is beautiful beyond words and almost intact.
Definitely one of those tourist places in Warangal that one will regret to miss.
Did You Know? The bricks used to build the Ramappa Temple were so light that they can actually float on water!
It is alsothe only temple in the country to be known by the name of its sculptor. No surprise there for its sculptures are truly exquisite and an image of them will probably stay with you forever.
5 minutes from the temple is the Ramappa Lake.
Peaceful and serene it is neither crowded nor noisy, even on a weekend. The resort on its banks serving piping hot, spicy Andhra food makes Ramappa an ideal location for a quiet overnighter.
#6 Laknavaram Lake
The Lakanavaram Lake is beautiful and its waters soothing no doubt, but its popularity is its curse.
From its yellow suspension bridge to the mini island resort on the lake, it is so popular as a weekend getaway from Hyderabad that it gets nearly impossible to even stay a while if your intention is to wind down and enjoy being outdoors with nature.
Inspite of all that, here is a lake which was formed in the 13th century by closing down three narrow valleys and is actually so well hidden by the surrounding hills that even today you wouldn’t be able to see it till you actually reach the bridge.
So it is worth a quick day trip if you are in the area and want to tick it off your warangal tourist places list!
GETTING THERE:
Hyderabad to Warangal Distance 145 Kms Route Take the NH163 via Outer Ring Road to reach Warangal in two and a half hours.
Warangal to Ramappa Temple Distance70 Kms Warangal to Lakanavaram Lake Distance 70 Kms Ramappa Temple to Laknavaram Lake Distance 29 Kms
Every second house in the village of Uppada, in coastal Andhra Pradesh is a handloom store. Just like Mangalagiri. It goes with the territory. For it too is a handloom village that has brought forth a commercially successful style of saree.
Known for its soft texture and lightness, what defines this saree is its thread count. A hundred threads go in lengthwise while a hundred and twenty go in sideways. Not a thread more, not a thread less. For it is this thread count that ensures the quality and feel of this beautifully rich handwoven fabric.
Once the royal garment of the rulers of Andhra Pradesh, weavers were prohibited from weaving these sarees for anyone outside of the royal household.
Though it is now the favoured form of wedding saree, the Uppada weave has had quite a roller coaster ride. From being a simple cotton saree in the 1950s, to fading out in the 80s to achieving the Geographical Indication tag in the 2000s. Today this saree sells from anywhere upwards of Rs.6000/- to around Rs.3,00,000/-, not taking into account the custom orders of course.
This style of weaving is a local variation on the three hundred year old Jamdani technique. The Uppada Saree evolved to its current form when Bangladeshi weavers came and settled in Uppada and the traditional Jamdani technique took on a new essence.
So, don’t be surprised if you hear the Uppada Pattu (silk) Sarees being referred to as Uppada Jamdani Sarees. For its origins can be traced back to today’s Bangladesh.
Would You Believe?
That late Ms.Jayalalitha, erstwhile Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu had once come to Uppada to commission a saree made with threads of pure molten gold! & that today there still is a picture of her in that saree at the weaver’s house.
Explorers Guide
Getting There: 16 kilometres from Kakinada and almost 500 kilometres from Hyderabad, a trip to Uppada is better done on a road trip through Konaseema. Remember: Avoid the bigger stores with the glass fronts and the air-conditioning. It is in the smaller houses that you will find the better stuff. Not just in terms of the quality of the threads used but also in terms of design and colour. Don’t Miss: Sunset at Uppada Beach
Second on UNESCO’s list of The Great Living Chola Temples, is the Brihadeeswara Temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram.
In a tiny village lost in time, is this 982 year old temple. This Brihadeeswara Temple too is built on the same lines as the Big Temple in Thanjavur, complete with a massive stone sculpture of Nandi facing the main shrine. Upon the death of Rajaraja I the capital was shifted from Thanjavur to Gangaikonda Cholapuram and there came about this smaller version of the original Brihadeeswara Temple.
This temple complex isn’t merely structurally beautiful. It is also tranquil. Owing not just to its gentler architecture but also probably to it’s secluded location.
After driving around all morning and noon in the summer heat of Tamil Nadu, it was evening by the time we got here.
& what with the setting sun deciding to play peek-a-boo from behind the looming rain clouds, an all pervading sense of peace descended over me, as I took my time exploring, strolling around the expansive, almost deserted grounds of the temple.
The bronze sculptures here are said to be priceless specimens of Chola art, but it was the Simhakeni or The Lion Well, that I found singularly intriguing.
Explorers Guide
Trip Duration: Day Trip Getting There: Road Trip from Thanjavur. Route: Thanjavur – Darasuram – Gangaikonda Cholapuram -Thanjavur
(183 Kilometres) Distance from Thanjavur to Darasuram: 72 Kilometres
Distance from Darasuram to Gangaikonda Cholapuram: 39 Kilometres Distance from Gangaikonda Cholapuram to Thanjavur: 72 Kilometres
Konaseema. The lush bucolic countryside of Coastal Andhra. ‘Kona’ for corner, this land wedged into a corner surrounded by water, is one of the most fertile deltas of Southern India.The Godavari river keeps you company, as you Road Tripthrough these idyllic coastal towns. Known for its beauty, Konaseema has been depicted extensively with its swaying coconut trees and green backwater canals.
But, how best do you enjoy this beauty? For it is no tourist destination like Kerala where houseboats abound aplenty on the backwaters.
So here I chose one town, rather a small city, Kakinada and put together a two day itinerary for a road trip through Konaseema, that include visits to beaches, ancient temples and artisan villages.
Window Views of Konaseema
Story goes.. There was once a powerful asura (demon) Tarakasura who was at war with the gods and thanks to a boon, he could only be killed by a son of Lord Shiva. So there began a battle between him and Kumaraswamy, Shiva’s younger son and Lord Ganesha’s brother. But, at every deadly blow, the rakshasa, Tarakasura would reform limb to limb from his cut off body parts. This power to reform came from a Shiva Linga that the demon wore. So the only way to destroy him was to break the lingam first. Eventually, there came to be five pieces of this Siva lingam and these fell in five different places in Andhra Pradesh. Temples were then built in those locations around the fragments. Those five ancient temples now constitute the Pancharamam.
& Kakinada happens to have two of those in driving distance.
Bhimaramam (at Samarlakota)
All the pancharamam temples are two storeyed stone temples for they are all home to massive Shivalingas.
To continue the story, the five fragments were installed and worshipped at five temples by the five gods, Indra, Surya, Chandra, Vishnu and Kumaraswamy. This one near Samarlakota was by Kumaraswamy himself. & the temple itself is beautiful, peaceful and not too crowded.
Draksharamam
Probably the biggest and definitely the most celebrated of the five is Draksharamam, a pancharamam and also a shakti peetham. This 10th century temple has a rich history of mythological legends associated with. It is even believed to be the site of Dakshayagnam and that Daksha’s daughter Sati is none other than the Goddess Manikyamba who is alongside Shiva in this temple. Making it one of the major asthadasa shakti peethams in the country.
Annavaram
In Annavaram is a small hill, Ratnagiri, which is home to the temple dedicated to Lord Satyanarayan Swamy. A form of Lord Vishnu, that all Hindus worship at weddings, housewarmings and all important social occasions in one’s life. Making this a pilgrimage centre that is second in popularity only to Tirupati.
Uppada
The famous handcrafted Jamdani silk sarees come from here. Need I say more?
Getting There: Every place on the itinerary is less than an hour and a half from Kakinada. Distances from Kakinada:
Samarlakota – 15 kilometres
Draksharamam – 34 kilometres
Annavaram – 45 kilometres
Uppada – 16 kilometres Highway Pit Stop: One. Foodcourt near Annavaram. Best Time to Visit: Monsoons Stay: Paradigm Sarovar Portico. Comfortable and centrally located. Vegetarian Restaurants: Subbaya’s Hotel, Bhimas. Bring Back: Kakinada Kaja
They say if you can’t afford a ticket to Europe, travel to Pondicherry instead.
Stroll through the white part of town and be transported in time and place to a laid back French town. Or just wander the streets to absorb the distinctive Franco-Tamil culture of the place.
This small seaside town has a lot to offer for those who are looking for a leisurely laid-back holiday.
There is always coffee and croissants to intersperse your endless explorations with. For, Puducherry is blessed with both – cafes & heritage – in abundance!
Once an important port of call and a very prominent fortified town, as it changed hands, it was razed to ground and its ramparts flattened to what are today the tree lined boulevards of Pondicherry.
Laid out in a grid, the town is divided into the French and Tamil quarters by a storm water canal.
Both these quarters are so distinctive that you can tell which part of town you are in just from colour and style of the houses that go from classical European architecture to vernacular Tamil in a step.
As a lingering shadow of its European past follows you along its every street or rue as it known here, the historical richness of this town comes to life. In its art & architecture.
So what could possibly be a better way to discover this quaint little town than via Heritage Walks and Cycle Tours!
My first day in Pondicherry, I walked 9.6 kilometres to be exact. Discovering urban street art and restored heritage bungalows.
Besides, in this town of neat little blocks, self reliance comes easy to a girl, who just wants to explore, camera in hand.
I have been to Pondicherry thrice. & my longing for it only gets the stronger. :)
PS: INTACH orThe Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage has been working with the Government of Pondicherry and its public to conserve and restore the unprotected architectural heritage and townscape of Pondicherry. Almost all of the heritage buildings you see today have been brought back to life by them. Even the rocks to tame the sea on the famous promenade were by them.
They conduct heritage walks in the white town every morning and evening. Ending on the promenade, this hour long walk is a perfect way to to get to the beach just in time for dusk.
In Nizamabad, is a temple. Though not quite as legendary as the Dichpally Ramalayam, but just as historic. Popularly known as Armoor Siddula Gutta, this is the Navanatha Siddheswara Temple and a series of cave temples inside the rock formations of Armoor.
Armoor Rock Formations
As you drive along the highway from Nizamabad to Armoor, you will go past a long stretch of hills that look like they were made by someone who has artistically and quite laboriously piled up boulders to form them. These are the Armoor Rock Formations. Naturally weathered rocks crafted by mother nature for over millions of years. They are so distinctively striking that they are but a natural stopover for anyone driving that way and rightly so.
Sitting in a cave somewhere in those rocks is the Navantha Siddula Gutta, gutta for cave and Navanatha Siddhas for the sages who are believed to still reside in them.
Armoor Siddula Gutta
Fifteen years ago a ghat road was built through the rock formation, leading straight to Siddulagutta. There is also a walkway from the Gol Bungalow for pilgrims wishing to do the climb up to the temple by foot.
Inside these caves is a Shiva Temple, where the Shiva Lingam is said to be swaymbhu or self-manifested. It is said that the lingam here has always been worshipped by devotees, since the Tretayuga. That is the second age of mankind, in Hinduism! We are currently in the fourth.
The entrance to this cave temple is a door that is barely three feet. Once you crouch through it, the cave opens up and skylight filters in. You walk along in the designated route through the caves and you will come across many little temples in interconnected passageways. Even one dedicated to the Goddess Durga.
Just outside the exit point of this narrow cave is a Ramalayam and the temple tank, Jeeva Koneru. Legend has it that during the construction of the temple, when this tank was dug, it failed to well up with water. So, Rampriyadas Maharaj, the person who built the temple took up a tapasaya, that lasted forty-one days. At the end of which Lord Rama himself came to him in a dream and the water in this is believed to have been blessed with curative powers. Making the armoor siddula gutta popular amongst pilgrims undertaking the journey to be healed.
Otherwise quiet and forgotten, the temple tends to get crowded on the festival of Sri Rama Navami. Work is currently underway to build facilities to accommodate these devotees and also other temples around it on the flat ground between the rocks.
Beyond the Cave Temples
Further up the rocks, the summit flattens out into a breezy plateau. The village of Armoor with its houses of redbrick roofs and the setting sun glinting off the black rocks lend the landscape such beauty, that it has actually been the location for many a movie shoot.
Just about perfect for that evening picnic.
Explorers Guide
Distance from Hyderabad: 184 Kilometres
Trip Duration: Day Trip Getting There: Armoor is around 37 kilometres from the town of Nizamabad, along the intersection of NH7 and NH16. Other Places of Interest: Pochampadu Dam (Sri Rama Sagar Project)
30 kilometres from here this dam on the Godavari River is widely accepted to be the lifeline of Northern Telangana. It is quite a sight to behold when its forty-two floodgates are open.
Reflections, Reflections. Everywhere.
From the pristine white marble floors to the inky blue pools around them, its all about reflections.
The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, of course!
Because one is not grand enough. We have two.
One real & one a reflection.
Located in Abu Dhabi, the capital of United Arab Emirates and an hour and a half’s drive from Dubai, is The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Undoubtedly one of the grandest mosques today, it is visible from all the three bridges that connect the Abu Dhabi island city to the main land. & as you enter Abu Dhabi, it only takes ten minutes before this gloriously grandiose mosque in its pristine white and gold strikes a splendid welcome. Eighty two domes of Macedonian marble greet you from afar, and you know you have arrived at your destination.
The Grand Mosque, as it is popularly known, has to be one of the most iconic structures of the region. Also, probably one of the most photographed since it opened its doors to public in 2007. It is now the world’s second favourite landmark on Trip Advisor.
Why even Rihanna posed here for photographs and created quiet the stir!
Through a car park, a security building with screened-off ‘cover up’ rooms, and there you are out in the open. Where the glint of the sun reflecting off the glossy white surfaces gilded in gold is sure to catch you off guard.
Go closer and you see the sprawling complex of arches mirrored in the pools that surround the mosque. You are free to enter, wander around and take pictures to your hearts content as long as you maintain the decorum that one would accord a place of worship.
Once inside you are treated to a visual spectacle. Unending rows of crowned columns, a thousand to be precise. Ceilings into which Moroccan artwork is etched alongside verses from the Holy Quran. A courtyard, whose minarets stretch out to touch the sky and semi precious stones of hues ranging from the stunning blue of lapis lazuli to the blood red of agate come together with mother-of-pearl, in a floral motif on the floor. And the prayer hall brings it all to a stoic still, with shafts of natural light streaming in through the windows, onto handwoven carpets and massive Swarovski chandeliers that gleam with the forty kilos of 24-carat galvanised gold in them.
While the experience of taking in its beauty can only be described as overwhelming, it is the vision behind its founding father that makes the Sheik Zayed Grand mosque truly grand. It was for him, the first president of UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, an expression of Islam’s true religious values. One of the few mosques that is open to people of all faiths alike it is surely worth a visit.
Explorers Guide
Distance from Dubai: 125 Kilometres Trip Duration: Half a day Best Time To Visit: Sunset. The facade lighting has been designed to shift with the changing phases of the moon. Everyday the mosque lights up anew as the moon progresses from a crescent to a whole. So as night falls and colours fade, watch the whites transform into brilliant reflections mirrored in its pools. Timings: Open to visitors from 9am to 10pm all week, except on Friday mornings when it is open to worshippers alone. During the Holy Month of Ramadan, the mosque is open only in the mornings, Saturday through Thursday. Remember: It is recommended for both men and women to dress modestly. If found inappropriate, you may be asked to wear an abaya (for women) / kandura (for men) over your clothes.
PS: The mosque is very tourist friendly with a cafe on the grounds, free wifi and complimentary guided tours.
Tucked away in a quiet corner of the old city of Hyderabad is the Sitaram Bagh Temple. Built by a banker Mr. Puranmal Ganeriwal in 1832, this centuries old Shri Sitaram Mandir is a sprawling complex of temples and beautiful airy courtyards spread over twenty five acres.
From the main entrance and its imposing facade to the labyrinth of quadrangle courtyards leading you on to endless discoveries, this peaceful temple is a visual treat. Built in a style that is exquisitely distinctive, it combines the North and South Indian styles of architecture with the European.
Back in the day, Seth Puranmal acquired land in what was then the village of Mallapally, in the outskirts of Hyderabad, laid out an expansive garden (bagh) and built a temple for Sitaramji. Thus bestowing on this temple, the moniker Sitaram Bagh.
This stretch of land was also the site for a Qutb Shahi Mosque, which stands till today, albeit separated from the temple by a concrete wall. Also on this expanse is an archaic step well that was connected via subterranean ducts to a well in the mosque. It is around this step well that the various structures of the temple complex, including a gaushala, ved pathshala and houses for the Bramhin families were constructed.
This entire compound is now a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India.
As you enter the main temple, intricately painted doors, imposing archways and massive colour blocked doors take you through a series of courtyards.
Each one opening out to a mandapa, a temple or to just an open-to-sky pavilion enclosed in European style terraces adorned with Rajasthani style jharokas.
If one courtyard boasts of a South Indian mandapa adorned with the Dasavataras carved in stone, the very next one will surprise you with a mandapa of European columns and fading frescos.
Even the two main temples alternate in their styles. While the Sitaramji Mandir is built in the North Indian style, with an entrance reminiscent of a palace in Rajasthan, the Varadarajaji Mandir is built in the typical Dravidian architecture style of South India.
The idols of the main deities are in marble, staying true to the prevailing theme of Rajasthani. Little surprise then that the Sitarambagh temple is popular with the local Marwaris in and around the old city.
The Hanuman Mandir though, sitting away from the maze of the courtyards and almost too close to the boundary wall of the complex is a little cut off from both the main temple and its old world charm.
It wasn’t until renovations began around 2015, that people even knew just how old or huge the stone idol of Hanumanji was. Only once the twelve inch sindhoor chola on the sculpture was taken off did they realise that the Hanuman idol was in fact burrowed knee deep in earth. The eight feet by five feet statue was then dug out and reinstated, complete with a new South Indian style Gopuram. What is distinctive about this addition though is that, facing the four directions are Abhay Hanuman, Veer Hanuman, Bhakt Hanuman and the Das Mudra. All of them typically North Indian on a South Indian style shikhar.
Every turn that you take in this grand layout, will only reinforce in you the awe that you experience at how beautifully North meets South in this temple.
Explorers Guide
Timings: 5.30 – 11.30 am & 5 – 8 pm
Remember: Dress conservatively. For though not really crowded like the other temples in the city, the management including even the security of the temple complex are quite orthodox in their ways. They double check to ascertain that you are indeed a Hindu before you are even allowed to wander into the outer courtyard of the temple!
Don’t Miss: The baoli (step-well). It is outside the main Sitaram Mandir and fenced off, making it in a way, quite easy to miss unless you go looking for it. Go straight along the path to the Hanuman temple, right across from the main entrance and you will find it to your left.
PS: The famous Purana Rangji Mandir in Pushkar was also built by the same Mr. Generiwal in the year 1844. Yet again, in the same unique combination of the South Indian Dravidian style and the North Indian Rajasthani Vaastukala.
Named after a Khiledar under the reign of Sikandar Jha during 1803 to 1823, Syed Karimuddin, Karimnagar is one district in Telangana, which has ancient places seeped in historic importance to both Hindus and Buddhists alike. The most popular amongst these is Manthani.
Home to the ruins of a Gautameswara Temple, Manthani is a timeless village from an era gone by.
On the banks of the river Godavari, it had once flourished as the seat of Vedic learning. Also referred to as Mantrapurior The Town of Hymns it gets its name from the Sanskrit word Mantra Kutam, meaning House of Mantras.
It is also popularly believed that Manthani is home to a thousand Bramhin families, which is why it is also called the Sahasra Brahamana Gadapa i.e. a Thousand Brahmin’s Threshold. Little surprise then that though the temple in Manthani is in ruins today, overrun with a patchwork of undergrowth that is a brilliant-hued green, the town continues to be culturally significant for Hindus.
Work is underway to put back the beautiful stone temple of Manthani to how it once stood. Meanwhile there is a new, fully functional temple on the premises.
Explorers Guide
Getting There: The distance from Hyderabad to Karimnagar is around 164 kilometres, but if you take the NH44 via Medchal you will reach the town in less than two hours. Manthani is a further 64 kilometres from here. Route: Once on the road by the village, ask around and get to the ‘temple on the banks of Godavari’. It can get a little tricky, because this one is not on Google Maps. Best Time to Visit: In the rains.
