Heritage temple of Shri Morjai

Filled with coconut palms and white sands, the village of Morjim in Pernem taluka is a gift of nature to mankind. The Arabian Sea and the beautiful Chapora River make Morjim, a paradise on earth. The temple of Shri Morjai in Morjim commands attention of heritage lovers and is of great historic importance. The Goddess, Shri Morjai is believed to be one of the seven sisters who came and resided in different parts of Goa along with their brother, Shri Khetoba. Shri Morjai resides in a majestic temple amidst a coconut grove. Though the temple does not have a ‘Shikhar,’ it possesses an elegant look. The temple walls are adorned with the rare and extinct ‘Kaavi’ art friezes. Excellent attempts have been made by the temple committee to conserve these murals ‘in situ.’ The original ‘Mukhmandap’ has round masonry pillars with this unique art running along their periphery. The windows grills of the ‘Mukhmandap,’ various geometric and floral patterns, are depicted in ‘Kaavi’ art. The maroon coloured ‘Kaavi’ art designs blend beautifully with the white washed walls.

The exterior ‘Sabhamandap’ dating to 1936 AD has rectangular columns supporting a balcony above. Though the exterior ‘Sabhamandap’ was a later addition, it matches well with the ancient temple.

The ceiling of the interior ‘Sabhamandap’ is magnificent. The vaulted roof inside has exquisite ‘Kaavi’ art murals. Floral and geometric patterns etched in ‘Kaavi,’ on the roof are worth seeing. It is very surprising to see the art etched on an inner side of a vaulted roof. One stands to imagine as to how these murals were etched in the interior of the vault. The ‘Kaavi’ art frescoes give the temple an archaeological and historic significance. A unique well surrounded by a series of semi circular arcs, nearby, is a unique piece of architecture, which is worth seeing.

The ‘Agr-shaallaa’ and the temple of Shri Ravalnath, nearby, give the precincts a traditional look. The president of the temple committee, Mr Gopal Shetgaonkar observes that heritage temples should not be concretized but should be conserved and preserved. He also opines that addition of mismatched elements in the old structure destroy the originality and the historicity of the building.

Our heritage churches, temples and mosques are testimony to Goa’s past. They should be conserved ‘in situ’ as they are our prized possessions.

Visit site to book Goa holiday packages including Goa beach resorts and Goa honeymoon tour package

Moving with the Wildlife at the Silent Valley in Kerala

The dense rainforests of the Silent Valley is one of the few preserves that have been left practically untouched by man and modernization. Surrounded by hills, the inaccessible nature of the Silent valley has proved to be its blessing.

The brooding forests of the Silent Valley are located in the Nilgiri Hills in Kerala and are said to date back to 50 million years. The 236.74 square kilometer national park is a part of the Palakkad district in Kerala. The diverse ecosystem of the Silent Valley includes montane grasslands, deciduous, semi evergreen as well as evergreen forests. The Valley is an important part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve and lies adjacent to the Mukkurthi national park and the Attappady forests.

Legends of the Silent Valley

The Silent Valley has an interesting role to play vis-à-vis Hindu mythology. The locals call the Valley Sairandhrivanam. Sairandhri refers to Draupadi, the wife of the five Pandavas. According to local legend, the Pandavas along with Draupadi stumbled upon the beautiful, isolated valley in the course of their travels during a period of exile. So enamored were they by the green, rolling forests bursting with life that they stayed here for some time.

Exploring the wildlife at Silent Valley

The Silent Valley is home to an amazing number of mammals, birds and reptiles. Isolated due to the ring of hills around it, the forest has been able to retain the Indo-Malaysian nature of the flora and fauna that has characterized the area over the ages.

A trip to Silent Valley will give you some stunning glimpses of wildcats like tiger, panther, jungle cats, civets and fishing cat. The graceful sambar and spotted deer, the large gaur and smaller animals like mongooses, otters, flying squirrel and the scaly anteater are other wildlife that makes the Silent Valley an absolute delight for wildlife enthusiasts.

Among the more significant inhabitants of the forests are the lion tailed macaque and the Nilgiri langur; both of these are on list of endangered animals and the Silent Valley is one of their habitats on earth. The forests also have a large number of endangered birds. These include the Wayanad Laughing Thrush, Broad tailed Grassbird, the Malabar parakeet and the Great Indian Hornbill.

A survey conducted in 2006 reported that there were 138 species of birds in the Silent Valley. The forests also have 35 species of reptiles and 19 species of amphibians. In fact, there are two species of frogs that have been discovered in the Silent Valley. There are also several rare plants and herbs in the valley.

Reaching the Silent Valley

Given the heavy rainfall the area experiences, travelling here during the monsoon months might not be practical. The summers are warm while winters are pleasant. There are plenty of buses running from Palakkad to Mukkali. Palakkad is at a distance of 80 km, while Mukkali is 23 kilometers away.

The distance between Mukkali and Silent Valley will have to be covered either by hiring a jeep or van. You could also trek part of the distance. As far as accommodation is concerned, there are a few guest houses within the national park. You could also stay at one of the many hotels in Palakkad town.

The Silent Valley is quite simply an unforgettable experience. It takes us back to an age when nature reigned supreme. The preserve with its pristine and untouched character is truly a unique spot in a world where else where man has left his rather heavy imprint.

Book Kerala Tour Packages for Kerala Houseboats and Alleppey Houseboats

Famous Khajuraho Dance Festival

The classical dance festival in Khajuraho is staged against the backdrop of tenth century temples built by rulers of the Chandella dynasty.

Organized by Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department, the cultural extravaganza takes place at an open-air auditorium in front of the Chitragupta Temple dedicated to the Sun God and the Vishwanatha Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Khajuraho Dance Festival, though comparatively a dance festival of recent origin, has already become a legendary festival having earned a great deal of reputation among locals and foreigners. The dances performed here are said to be truly divine with the wonderful backdrop of the sculptures of Khajuraho. The temples are brightly lit and are shimmering with the lights.

Among the Indian classic dances portrayed during the festival include Kathak, Odissi, Kathakali, Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi and Manipuri. The best performers of these dance forms are specially invited to the festival. The festival offers an opportunity for amatuer artists too to rub shoulders with the exponents. For many of them, a performance in Khajuraho Temple is the opportunity of a lifetime.

A cluster of Hindu, Buddhist and Jain Temples dating back to 950-1050 AD, known for its erotic sculptures, has endowed Khajuraho with international fame and recognition.

The Land Of Many Mountain Passes

Leh is the capital of Leh district of Laddakh region situated in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, amidst the lofty mountain ranges of the Great Himalayas. Leh-Ladakh is flanked by two of the greatest mountain ranges on either side, the Himalayas and the Karakoram mountains.

Leh Ladakh is an ethereal desert area in the Himalayan region caressed by freezing winds and sharp sun rays. The thin air makes the heat in the summers more sharp and intense. In fact it is not surprising that if a person would be sitting out in the summer with his feet in the shade, he could suffer from a sunstroke and frost bite at the same time.

The mean altitude is three thousand five hundred metres above sea level and the temperatures range between twenty seven Celsius in summers to a sharp dip down to twenty below zero Celsius in winter. ‘Laddakh’ is a Persian word that means 'the land of many mountain passes'. The native population of Ladakh is believed to be of an Indo-Aryan origin from the Indus Valley, but over the years, a mix of cultures between India and Tibet have seen the facial features change to rounder faces, shorter noses and thin slit eyes. The people of Leh-Ladakh are very simple and good at heart.

The main religions dominating this region are Buddhism and Islam. This used to be a bustling trade route in the past between Punjab and Central India but since China has closed all borders, tourism has become the core industry of Leh-Ladakh. Owing to its specific ecological balance and climate, his place has a fascinating mix of wild life. Some species natives to this area are the Yak or wild ox, Ibex, Tibetan Shapu and the wonderful blue sheep.

There are many beautiful places to be seen here, mainly the Leh Palace and the Buddhist Monasteries. The Leh Palace has always been a big attraction for tourists in the city. It exudes a certain sense of mystery and the landscape around it is extremely beautiful and scenic. Some of the famous monasteries are Alchi, Gompa, Sankar Gompa, Hemis Gompa and the Likir Monastery.

The Laddakh festival is attended by many people as it showcases the cultural richness of the region. It is held during the winters, when the majority of the population is not busy at work due to the severe climatic conditions. These festivals are attended for their atmosphere of great festivity and gaiety. One of the main attractions of tourists visiting Leh-Ladakh is the beautiful winter trek organized by the tourism authorities. The Zansker winter trek is one such unforgettable experience as it is made over a strange route when the hikers traverse over the frozen Zansker River. All these treks pass through breath taking mountain regions and locales. Adventure sports like parasailing, river rafting and skiing are also very popular in Leh-Ladakh. Many tourists voice the sentiment that was coined by the Moghul Emperor Jahangir when he said that places in Kashmir like Pahalgam and Leh are the closest that we can get to heaven on earth.

The Char Dham Pilgrimage Tour

In India, Uttrakhand is known as the Dev Bhoomi, because it has many popular and sacred Pilgrimage Destinations of God. It is located at the Himalaya region of North India. Chardham Yatra (Four Pilgrimage Destinations) is famous on Worldwide so peoples are comes from every corner of the world for this Yatra. The four dham are Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath. According to Hindu religion, a journey to the Chardham is considered to the very spiritual significance. Each destination of has its own spiritual acception for the peoples. Hindus believes that by the journey of Chardham we can acquire Moksha to our life. The main season of Chardham Tour starts from May to October, in this period a lot of peoples are go for Yatra so it is the peak time of Chardham Tour.

Now let us take a brief introduction of each destination of Chardham. The first one is Gangotri, it is dedicated to river Ganga .This is the most sacred place where river Ganga touched earth for the first time. Similarly Yamunotri is dedicated to river Yamuna and has a temple devoted to Goddes Yamuna. And the same way Badrinath Temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu and it is found between the Nar and Narayan parvat. The last one is Kedarnath devoted to Lord Shiva and surrounded by the peaks which are covered by the ice. Some another Pilgrimage destinations near to Kedarnath are Gaurikund, Panch Kedar.

 

Holiday Packages

Holiday Packages
Check out today's hot deal on your dream destination. Grab this great deal or get a bespoke package customised to your requirements.

Today's Recipe

Today's Recipe
Check out today's recipe and discover the great tastes of worldwide cuisines and dishes to pamper your taste buds.

Shopping

Shopping
Get an insight of the local market of your travel destination and shops where you can buy the things typical signage of the area.