My Travel

I boarded Shalimar Express (6323) from Palakkad on 12.2.2010 at 00.15 h and reached Bhubaneshwar on 13.2.2010 at 6.30 am covering 1773 km via Chennai (10 am), Nellore (1 pm), Vijayawada (5 pm), Rajamundri (7 pm) and Vizag. I walk a little from platform 4 to reach the main road to Puri, where there was plenty of lodges. After checkin at Athithi Nivas, I visited the Puri and Konark temples. The next day was busy with visiting temples of Bhubaneshwar and State museum. I missed Dhauli Shanti stupa, Khandagiri - Udyagiri caves and the popular Nandan Kannan Zoo (white tiger safari) this time.

Puri was a 2 hour journey costing Rs 25 by bus. The handicrafts village Pipli is 19 km away on the way to Puri. From the bus stand, temple is 3 km away. I got a shared auto from just out of the stand (Rs 5). The temple is closed to non Hindus and cameras and mobiles were not permitted inside the temple complex. I climbed the steps of the nearby Library building after tipping the librarian. It has good views of Puri town and the temple. Puri beach is nearby (3 km).

Puri Jagannatha temple

http://www.gosai.com/chaitanya/saran...cture/puri.jpg

One of the major Hindu pilgrim centres in India located in Orissa, famous for the Car festival. The temple is 60 km from Bhubaneshwar, capital of Orissa. The wooden images of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were installed in that temple. No Admission to non Hindus and Photography prohibited inside the temple compound.

The temple complex with 120 temples has an area of 37,000 m2 with fortified wall. The 65 m temple tower is crowned by 'srichakra' (a eight spoked wheel) of Vishnu. The temple kitchen is one of world's largest.

http://youtu.be/ZvPS--FtCn0

From Puri I reached Konark by bus (Rs 15, 30 km, 1 hour) via NH 203A through Balushai sanctury, Chandravaga beach. At Konark temple Rs 10 for entry and Rs 25 for Video camera. The Konark museum is nearby (1.5 km). Car rental 0674 2532483/9437283254.

Konark museum : One of the worst museums under Archaeological Survey of India at Konark, Orissa. It is located 64 km from Bhubaneshwar. Palmlets of India's world heritage centres are for sale.

Opening Hours : 10.00 am to 5.00 pm
Closed on Fridays

Entrance Fee : Rs. 5/- per head (Children up to 15 years free)

Video

Konark Sun temple

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ark_Temple.jpg

The 13th century temple by Narasimhadeva I (1236-1264 AD), also known as Black Pagoda, is located 60 km from Bhubaneshwar in Orissa. It is a World Heritage centre by UNESCO.

The temple is made in the form of a chariot of Surya (Arka), the sun god, and is heavily decorated with stone carving. The entire complex was designed in the form of a gigantic chariot drawn by seven spirited horses on twelve pairs of exquisitely decorated wheels.

At the entrance is Nata Mandir mainly for dance performances. The temple tower is 229 ft high. Sun god is located at backside of the temple.

Sun temple video


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...a%2C_India.JPG

Other sculptures decorating the temple's exterior include deities, animals, floral patterns, voluptuous women, mythical beasts and aquatic monsters. The 24 giant wheels are beautifully carved and each of the eight spokes bears a medallion containing figurative carvings. The temple has around 2000 elephant sculptures. Erotic sculptures from Konark Sun temple competes with that of Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh. : Konark Erotica

Sisireswar temple is on the way to the Lingaraja temple, Bhubaneshwar in Orissa. This 8th century temple closely resembles to Parasurameswar temple. The Vaital temple is located close to this temple.

Video

Rameshwar temple is the first temple on the way to Lingaraja temple near State museum, Bhubaneshwar.

Video

Video : Miniature picture painting, temples around the Bindu sagar. The vast Bindu Sagar lake is the center around which are located the multitude of temples of Bhubaneshwar. It has a old story about this. Once lord Shiva revealed to Parvati that Bhubaneshwar - or Ekamra thirtha was a resort favoured by him over Banaras. Parvati in the guise of a cowherd woman, decided to look at the city herself. Two demons Kritti and Vasa desired to marry her. She requested them to carry her upon their shoulders, when they carry her she crushed them under her weight. Shiva, then created the Bindu Saras lake to quench her thirst, and took abode here as Krittivasas or Lingaraja.

Temples on the way to Lingaraja temple, Orissa. Huge temple pond, island temple and sculptures.

Video

Distance in km from Bhubaneshwar

Balasore - 214
Chandipur - 230
Chilka lake - 110
Cuttack - 23
Gopalpur - 169
Hirakud dam - 355
Koraput - 500
Phulabani - 211
Rourkela - 445
Sambalpur - 317
Similipal - 370
Talcher - 170

Bhubaneshwar is a temple city in Orissa state, India.

Video

I boarded Shalimar Express (6323) from Palakkad on 12.2.2010 at 00.15 h and reached Bhubaneshwar on 13.2.2010 at 6.30 am covering 1773 km vis Chennai (10 am), Nellore (1 pm), Vijayawada (5 pm), Rajamundri (7 pm) and Vizag. I walk a little from platform 4 to reach the main road to Puri, where there was plenty of lodges. After checkin at Athithi Nivas, I visited the Puri and Konark temples. The next day was busy with visiting temples of Bhubaneshwar and State museum. I missed Dhauli Shanti stupa, Khandagiri - Udyagiri caves and the popular Nandan Kannan Zoo (white tiger safari).

Birds of Shoranur railway station. The tree has been recently cut down by the railway authorities to make the evening calm. Shoranur is in Palakkad district near Thrissur.

Video

Guruvayur Sree Krishna temple is a major Hindu pilgrim centre in Kerala. Elephant race was celebrated on 26 Feb 2010 at 3 pm from Manjulal (banyan tree) to the temple. Of the 34 temple elephants, only 5 were participated actively in the race with their mahouts. Gopi kannan become the race winner.

Guruvayur temple is 30 km from Thrissur/Pattambi via Kunnamkulam (NH 17, 7 km). No photography inside the temple. Non Hindus are not permitted to the temple. The temple has two ponds for bathing. The temple has 64 elephants and are kept 2 km from the temple at Punnathoorkotta.

Guruvayur temple video >> Temple video >> Getting ready for the elephant race >> Elephant race video