Different places to travel » Religion

Ephesus in Turkey: Glory in the ruins

Traveller — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 18:08:28 +0000

Ephesus is an ancient city located near the town of Selcuk, about 44 miles away from Izmir, in the Izmir province. The city was once famous for the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Lying in ruins, the city is now an archaeological site. Originally founded as a port on the river Cayster, Ephesus has had a long and interesting history. The city is said to have been founded by Androclos, the son of Kodros, the King of Athens. According to legend, in 10th century BC, Androclos, who had to leave Greece because of the Dor invasion, was looking for a site to establish a new settlement for himself and his accompanying people. It was predicted by a Greek oracle that a boar and fish would guide them to the site of their new settlement. One day Anroclos was frying fish in an open pan, when the fish flew from the pan, and landed in the nearby bushes, where a wild boar was hiding. Scared, the boar came out of bushes and started running. Androclos killed the boar, after pursuing it for some time. The place where he killed the boar was where the city of Ephesus was established. Androclos later on died in a war with the Carians. There was a mausoleum built in the memory of the first king of Ephesus.
Ephesus was ruled by the Lydian’s in the mid 6th century BC, under the Lydian king, Kreisos. This was the golden age of Ephesus. Kreisos even restored the Temple of Artemis, which had been razed by the Cimmerians. His signature is can still found on an excavated column of the temple. The Lydian’s were later defeated by the Persians. Alexander the Great defeated the Persians in the year 334 BC and took over Ephesus. During his reign, the Temple of Artemis was destroyed during a rebellion. Ephesus prospered greatly under Alexanders rule.
After the death of Alexander the Great, Ephesus was ruled was by his general, Lysimakhos, in 287 BC. He moved Ephesus further west, because of the destruction of the port on the river Cayster, due to silting. Lysimakhos changed the name of Ephesus to “Arsinoeina”, after his wife’s name, and built huge stone walls around the city. After his death, the people of Arsinoeina broke down the walls, and Arsinoeina became Ephesus again.
Then the Romans arrived in 190 BC. Ephesus was at the peak of its power and wealth during the reign of Augustus in 27 BC. It grew into a metropolis with a population of around 500,000 people, becoming the most important centre of commerce and culture in Asia. Ephesus was the most powerful and advanced city in Asia during this time, second only to Rome for the Romans. The city remained famous for the Temple of Artemis and the Library of Celsus and its open theatre.
In 263 AD, the whole city was destroyed by the Goths, including the Temple of Artemis, marking the decline of the city’s glory.
In 395 AD, Ephesus became a part of the Byzantine Empire. Constantine I rebuilt most of it, and it was their most important city in Asia. In 406 AD, the archbishop of Constantinople, John Chrysostom, ordered for the destruction of the Temple of Artemis.
An earthquake in 614 AD partially destroyed the city again.
As time went on, silting of the harbour, made it unusable and the city became unfit for trade. Slowly, people started abandoning the city. The remaining locals started using the ruins of the once magnificent temples, including the Temple of Artemis, for domestic and other purposes. The Arabs sacked the city in 645 AD and again in 700 AD and 716 AD. The Seljuk’s took over Ephesus in 1090 AD, with the Byzantines regaining control in 1100 AD.
But now Ephesus, remained nothing more than a small village (called Ayasalouk) with the Temple of Artemis completely forgotten. In 1304 AD, the town Ayasalouk saw some good times under the Seljuk’s, who built some monuments of their own. By the 15th century AD, completely abandoned, Ephesus just remained a name in history for people to talk and write about. Ephesus has also played an important role in the spread of Christianity. In 52 AD, St Paul arrived here, and with a lot of struggle and persistence, was able to make most of the Ephesians accept Christianity. The Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, is said to have made Ephesus her last home. The house of the Virgin Mary, about 4 miles from Selcuk, is an important place of pilgrimage for the Christians.
The ruined city of Ephesus is the most important tourist destination of Turkey. It attracts millions of people every year, who can still see the glory, splendour and magnificence of Ephesus, in its ruins.

Climate and best time to visit:

The climate of Ephesus is typical Mediterranean with long, hot and dry summers and cold, rainy winters. During the summer months (May to August) temperatures can reach as high as 40 degrees C. Winters can be chilly with temperatures dropping as low as 5 degrees C. The best time to visit Ephesus is during spring (Mid Feb to April) and autumn (September and October), when the weather is mild.

Location on Google Maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:

By plane: There are flights to Izmir International airport from all major cities of Turkey and Europe as well. From the airport you can take a bus from Izmir central bus station to Selcuk or if you decide to stay in Izmir, your hotel can provide you with shuttle buses to Selcuk. Or even still, if you are tight on time and don’t mind spending some extra bucks, you can take a taxi from the airport to Selcuk.
By sea: You can also get there via ferry from the port of Kusadasi. Take a bus from Kusadasi bus station or a taxi from Kusadasi to Selcuk.

Places to stay (Hotels / Restaurants along with website / Contact details):

There are almost no hotels in Ephesus itself, but accommodation is available is available in the nearby towns of Selcuk and Kusadasi. If you are on a tight budget, some families also give away rooms on rent to tourists. Some nice hotels near Ephesus are given below:

1. Hotel Bella
Ataturk Mah. | St. John Street No: 7, Selcuk, Turkey
2. Hotel Nazar
S.M.Tavaslioglu cd. 2019 SK. No: 14, Selcuk 35920, Turkey
3. Aqua Fantasy Hotel & Aqua Park
Ephesus 35920, Turkey
4. Richmond Ephesus Resort
Pamucak, Selcuk 35920, Turkey

Source: Trip Advisor

You would find many small restaurants and fast food joints in Ephesus near the gates. Besides this, there are plenty of restaurants on the way to Ephesus from Kusadasi or Selcuk and in the towns itself, selling all kinds cuisines.

Some nice restaurants are given are given below:
1. Ejder Restaurant
9 Cengiz Topel Cad. Selcuk 35920, Turkey
2. Mehmet and Ali Baba Kebab House
4A, 1047 Sok. Selcuk 35920, Turkey
Phone: +902328923872
3. Amazon
Anton Kallinger cad 22, Selcuk, Turkey
4. Okumuslar Pide Salonu
Sahabettin Dede Caddesi 2, Selcuk, Turkey

Source: Trip Advisor

BLOGS / SITES ABOUT EPHESUS (WITH SMALL EXCERPTS FROM THESE BLOGS):

1. A brief history: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus
Ephesus was founded as an Attic-Ionian colony in the 10th century BC on the Ayasuluk Hill, three kilometers from the center of antique Ephesus (as attested by excavations at the Seljuk castle during the 1990s). The mythical founder of the city was a prince of Athens named Androklos, who had to leave his country after the death of his father, King Kadros. According to the legend, he founded Ephesus on the place where the oracle of Delphi became reality (“A fish and a boar will show you the way”). Androklos drove away most of the native Carian and Lelegian inhabitants of the city and united his people with the remainder. He was a successful warrior, and as a king he was able to join the twelve cities of Ionia together into the Ionian League. During his reign the city began to prosper. He died in a battle against the Carians when he came to the aid of Priene, another city of the Ionian League. Androklos and his dog are depicted on the Hadrian temple frieze, dating from the second century. Later, Greek historians such as Pausanias, Strabo, the poet Kallinos, and the historian Herodotos reassigned the city’s mythological foundation to Ephos, queen of the Amazons.

2. Things to do, sightseeing and attractions:
• http://www.ephesus.us/ephesus/templeofartemis.htm
The temple of Artemis is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It has been built in the areas of Ephesus on a flat area which has over the centuries turned into a swamp. Today one can only see the ruins of the foundations of this marvelous construction of the Hellenistic Age, entirely made of marble and full of sculptured columns’ capitals and shafts. The most beautiful remains of this temple are today exhibited in the London British Museum.
The oldest remaining found date back till the 6th century BC. It was surrounded by 36 huge columns, later enlarged upon the orders of the Lydia King, Kreisos, during the 6th century BC. Most of the exhibits in the London British Museum belong to this period.

• http://www.turizm.net/cities/ephesus/celsus.html
Library of Celsus: Although the building is of a mainly cultural character it is also a funerary monument. After the death of Celsus Polemaenus, a former consul who had been appointed governor of Ephesus, his son erected a magnificent reading room over his tomb. The building, which dates from the 2nd century, was attacked by fire in 260 but the facade suffered no damage. It is 21 m wide and 16 m high. Equestrian statues stood on pedestals on each side of the main staircases and there are also indications that statues were placed in the niches on the upper floor. The main room measures 16 x 10 m. The burial chamber under the ground floor contains a sarcophag s in an excellent state of preservation. Excavations carried out by Austrian archaJologists at the beginning of the 20th century revealed a 4th century fountain in the front courtyard and very valuable carvings in high relief depicting the wars waged by Marcus Aurelius and ucius Verus against the Parthians.

3. Map of Ephesus: http://www.ramtur.com/images/map/ephesus_big_map.jpg

4. Photos of Ephesus:
• Huge photo gallery of Ephesus: http://www.turkishclass.com/turkey_pictures_gallery_45
• Another picture gallery: http://www.ephesus.us/ephesus/ephesus_photos.htm

5. Videos on You Tube:
1. A tour of Ephesus:

2. Temple of Artemis (small video clip):

Konya in Turkey: City of the whirling dervishes

Traveller — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 18:00:53 +0000

Konya is situated in the Central Anatolian region of Turkey on an elevation of about 1027 metres above sea level. It is the capital of the Konya province with a population of around 1 million people. Konya was one of the first cities in the world to be inhabited by humans. Excavations show Konya had human activity as early as the 7th millennium BC. In fact, Catal Hoyuk, 50 metres to the south of the city, claims to be the oldest area in the world, known to have been inhabited by man. Konya has seen the reign of many powerful civilizations since time immemorial. Under the Romans, it was called Iconium, and given the status of an important provincial town. Both St Paul and St Barnabas delivered their sermons here, during that time. However, it was when Konya was the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum from 1097 to 1243, under the Seljuk’s, that it acquired most of its important monuments, wealth and fame. It was also during this period that Celaleddin Rumi, the reason for which Konya is best known for, visited and decided to make Konya his homeland. Celaleddin Rumi was a Sufi mystic, who founded the Whirling Dervish sect or the Mevleviye. The Mausoleum (tomb) of Rumi is the most important place to visit in Konya, along with the neighbouring Mevlana museum, which has relics of his life and time on display.
Today, Konya is one of the most religiously conservative cities of Turkey and still a centre for practicing of Sufi teachings. The Mosques and other historic buildings, built during the rule of the Seljuk’s, add to the beauty and mystique of this city, known as the city of the whirling dervishes.

Best time to visit / climate:

The climate of Konya is typical Central Anatolian, hot and dry in summer and very cold in winter. Spring (April to Mid-June) is the best time to visit Konya when the weather is moderate. The second best time would be autumn (Mid-September through October) when the weather is mostly mild.

Location on Google maps:

View Larger Map

How to get there:

By plane: Konya Airport is located about 18 km out of the city. Turkish Airlines and many other local airlines fly from Istanbul to Konya regularly. During summer’s you can also fly from various European countries, such as Netherlands, Norway, Denmark etc. Shuttle buses run by Havas, is the best way to get to the city centre from the airport.
By train: Trains are a slower alternative. Konya’s railway station is in a suburb called Meram, which is some distance away from the centre. One can always take a taxi from the station to the city centre. There are direct trains travelling to Konya from Istanbul, Adana and Karaman.
By bus: Konya is well connected to other major cities of Turkey through a very fine network of intercity buses. You can buy bus tickets from any travel agency on Mevlana Caddesi, Konya’s main street, according to your destination.
By car: Konya can also be reached by car. From Istanbul it’s a 10 hour drive to Konya and from Izmir it takes about 7 hours.

Places to stay (Hotels / Restaurants along with contact details):
There are plenty of hotels available in Konya, from luxury to mid-range and budget; there is a hotel to suit everybody’s pocket. Some of the top rated hotels are given below:

1. Ulusan Hotel
Sukran Mah. Kursuncular Sok. | No: 4 Meram Konya, Konya, Turkey
2. Dedeman Konya and Convention Center
Ozalan Mah Selcuklu, Konya 42080, Turkey
3. Hotel Rumi
Durakfaki Mah Durakfaki Sok No 5 | Mevlana Alani, Konya 42030, Turkey
4. Rixos Konya
Istanbul Yolu, Selcuklu, Konya 42250, Turkey (Formerly Hilton)
Source: Trip Advisor

In Konya there are many places to eat from local eateries to restaurants selling international cuisine. Local food is the favourite and most widely available. Soups are the staple food in Konya, and these include lentil, okra, milk, vermicelli etc. The city’s speciality is the firin Kebab (mutton, roasted and oily) and etli ekmek (a round pocket bread called “pide” with meat topping, something like a pizza). Alcohol is not sold in Konya. Some of the top rated restaurants are given below:

1. Kosk Konya Mutfagi
Kosk Lokantasi | Akccesme Mahallesi, Konya, Turkey
2. TAKA
ANKARA CD, Konya, Turkey
3. Mevlevi Sofrasi
Nazim Bey Cd 1-A, Konya, Turkey
4. AKKONAK
AFYON, Konya, Turkey

Source: Trip Advisor

Blogs / sites about Konya (WITH SMALL EXCERPTS FROM THESE BLOGS):

1. A brief history: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konya)
Excavations have shown that the region was inhabited during the Late Copper Age, around 3000 BC.[3] The city came under the influence of the Hittites around 1500 BC. These were overtaken by the Sea Peoples around 1200 BC. The Phrygians established their kingdom in central Anatolia in the 8th century BC. Xenophon describes Iconium, as the city was called, as the last city of Phrygia. The region was overwhelmed by Cimmerian invaders c. 690 BC. It was later part of the Persian Empire, until Darius III was defeated by Alexander the Great in 333 BC. Alexander’s empire broke up shortly after his death and the town came under the rule of Seleucus I Nicator. During the Hellenistic period the town was ruled by the kings of Pergamon. As Attalus III, the last king of Pergamon, was about to die without an heir, he bequeathed his kingdom to Rome. Under the rule of Emperor Claudius, the city’s name was changed to Claudioconium, and during the rule of emperor Hadrianus to Colonia Aelia Hadriana.

2. Things to do, sightseeing and attractions:
• http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/Genel/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D31395FB1C5180B6EBD6FBC7CF4E89607860
Çatalhöyük: This ancient site, 50km south-east of Konya, is said to be the first settlement in the world with houses and sacred buildings dating back to 6800 BC. The remains were discovered by British archaeologists in 1958, and research shows 13 different strata with evidence of houses that had to be entered by holes in the roof as there were no streets. There is little left at the site, except the remains of mud brick houses, murals, plaster reliefs and pottery. Construction was from adobe, wood and reed and most of the findings are now in the Konya Museum of Archaeology.
It is possible to get most of the way by minibus, then a taxi for the remaining 10 miles.

• http://wikitravel.org/en/Konya
Mevlana Museum/Mausoleum of Rumi (Mevlana Müzesi) (this is a very prominent landmark in downtown, you can’t miss it), 9AM-5PM. This must see tourist destination of Konya, is the tomb of the famous mystic/Sufi/thinker Rumi (known shortly as Mevlana in Turkish, or with the full name Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi in English literature), as well as the neighbouring museum that displays relics of his life and his time. The items on display in the museum range from old manuscripts, hand written copies of the Koran, musical instruments used at Rumi’s time, as well as numerous art works dating from the Seljuk era.

3. Map of Konya: http://www.planetware.com/i/map/TR/konya-map.jpg

4. Photo Gallery:
1. Beautiful collection of pictures by a traveller: http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/konya_turkey
2. Pictures of Konya with descriptions:

http://www.galenfrysinger.com/konya_turkey.htm

5. You Tube Videos:
1. Normal Konya, the streets and market places etc. with the locals going about their daily routine:

2. Small video of whirling dervishes shot in the Mevlana museum courtyard:

3. Two videos of Mevlana museum, both very different:
•

•

Trabzon: A Turkish adventure, situated on the Black Sea

Traveller — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:28:49 +0000

Trabzon is a city in north eastern part of Turkey situated on the coast of the black sea. Once known in the ancient world as Trapezus and Trebizond, it is the capital of the Trabzon province. The city has a population of around 1.3 million people. Founded by Miletion traders in 7th century BC the city has been ruled by many empires including the Goths, the Romans and the Ottomans. Trabzon was a part of the historical Silk Route, and as such, an important trade centre, being visited by merchants from countries like India, Iran, and Russia etc. who left a mark of their own culture, religion and language on Trabzon. Trabzon still retains its status as an important trading port exporting tobacco, livestock and foodstuffs.
The city has its own rich culture. Trabzonites are very open to other religions. Christians and Muslims live together, proud of their common cultural heritage. Trabzon is popular for its folk dance, Horon, performed by men and women of all ages, during festivities and other joyous occasions. Trabzon is a feast for every tourist’s eyes with its gorgeous sightseeing area’s and remains from its ancient history, mostly from the Byzantine period. The moment you enter Trabzon you are greeted, by its most important tourist attraction: The Hagia Sophia, a 13th century, well preserved Byzantine church. It has now been restored as the Ayasofya Museum. The walls of the church are decorated with frescoes, a very fine example of Byzantine craftsmanship. Then there is the Boztepe Park, a small park, situated on the Boztepe hills, which offers a magnificent panoramic view of the entire city.
There are some beautiful Ottoman monuments too, such as the mosque and mausoleum of Gulbahar Hatun.

Best time to visit /climate:

Trabzon’s climate is typical Black Sea, with high rainfall all year round. Summers are warm and humid, with the average maximum temperature reaching 28 degrees C .Winters are cool and damp, the average minimum temperature touching 5°C in January. Rainfall is very heavy in autumn and spring. Between December and March, snowfall is common and often heavy, sometimes snowing for a week or two. The best time to visit is summer, when the weather is warm and rainfall not too heavy.

Location on Google maps:

View Larger Map

Driving directions from Ankara to Trabzon:

View Larger Map

How to get there:

By plane: There are flights to Trabzon from Ankara and Istanbul.

By Bus: There are buses operating between Istanbul and Trabzon regularly, many times a day. There are also buses available from bilisi and Georgia.

By Sea: There are ferries from Soch, a Russian city along the Black Sea coast, twice a week.

PLACES TO STAY (HOTELS / RESTAURANTS ALONG WITH WEBSITE / CONTACT NUMBERS):

There are many hotels available in Trabzon. If you are on a strict budget, then the hotels near the port, down the Ataturk square, are the cheapest. But sometimes they are used for prostitution, so one has to be cautious. Some the top rated hotels are given below:

1. Novotel Trabzon
Cumhuriyet Mah kasustu Beldesi | Yomra, Trabzon 61250, Turkey
2. Aksular Hotel
Toklu Mah.Sahil Cad.No:465, Trabzon, 61040,Turkey
3. Zorlu Grand Hotel
Maras Caddesi No 9, Trabzon 61100, Turkey
4. Buyuk Sumela Hotel
Macka, Trabzon 61750, Turkey

Source: Trip Advisor

There are a number of places to eat in Trabzon. Local cuisine is by far the favourite in Trabzon. “Pide” (a kind of bread) and kofte (meat balls) are a hot favourite. “Akcaabat koftesi”, meat balls made in Turkish way with garlic, bread and meat, eaten with ayran, a kind of yogurt, is another local delicacy. “Lahmacun”, a kind of pizza, with mince meat topping and thin bread, is also something one should try. Sea food is also popular. Besides these, there are many restaurants selling cuisines of other countries.
Some of the top rated restaurants are as follows:

1. NIHAT USTA
AKCAABAT, Trabzon, Turkey
2. ARI BUFE
Bolluk Sk., Trabzon, Turkey
Phone: 0090-462-230 58 08
3. Kilcik Fish Restaurant
Meydan, Trabzon, Turkey
4. YalIncak
YalIncak, Trabzon, Turkey

Source: Trip Advisor

BLOGS / SITES ABOUT ISTANBUL (WITH SMALL EXCERPTS FROM THESE BLOGS):

1. A brief history (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabzon)
The city was one of a number (about ten) of Milesian emporia, or trading colonies along the shores of the Black Sea. Others include Sinope, Abydos and Cyzicus (in the Dardanelles). Like most Greek colonies, the city was a small enclave of Greek life, and not an empire unto its own, in the later European sense of the word. Early banking (money-changing) activity is suggested occurring in the city according to a silver drachm coin from Trapezus in the British Museum, London.
Trebizond’s trade partners included the Mossynoeci. When Xenophon and the Ten Thousand mercenaries were fighting their way out of Persia, the first Greek city they reached was Trebizond (Xenophon, Anabasis, 5.5.10). The city and the local Mossynoeci had become estranged from the Mossynoecian capital, to the point of civil war. Xenophon’s force resolved this in the rebels’ favor, and so in Trebizond’s interest.

2. Things to do, sightseeing and attractions:

http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/Genel/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D31395FB1C5180B6EBD698CDA43385F0101A

• Ataturk Palace
Situated in a small pine grove in the Soguksu area, this mansion was constructed at the beginning of the 20th century and belonged to Greek banker Karayannidhis, who was forced to abandon it 20 years later. Ataturk stayed at there in 1924, 1934 and 1937 during his visits to Trabzon, and it was formally presented to him a year before his death. It was then decorated with furniture and décor from that period, filled with photographs of the leader and opened by the city’s municipality as Ataturk Museum.

• Sumela monastery

http://wikitravel.org/en/Trabzon

Sumela Monastery (Turkish: Sümela Manast?r?; Panagia Soumela, “Virgin Mary of Soumela” in Greek) is a spectacular rock-hewn monastery perched dramatically on the narrow ledge of a steep cliff in the forests south of Trabzon. It was built in the fourth century, just before the Roman Empire split into east and west, by two Athenian priests, Barnabas and Sophronius, who, according to legend, found a miraculous icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave. The monastery’s location in this geopolitically tumultuous corner of the globe naturally saw times of trouble and fell into ruin numerous times throughout its history, with its most thriving times falling under Byzantine and Ottoman rule.
The twentieth century, however, was not kind to the monastery. It was abandoned following the chaos and inter-ethnic violence at the end of World War I, and the population transfer of Trabzon’s (formerly Trebizond) Greek population back to Greece. Its remote location gave it some sanctuary, but its frescoes still attracted the occasional casually hurled rock by a bored shepherd. The beautiful frescoes today suffer from decades of heart-wrenchingly pointless vandalism by travelers—judging from the various alphabets and names scrawled across these impressive religious works of art, it appears that just about every culture in the world has taken part in the desecration. The buildings themselves have been fairly heavily restored in recent decades, as the Turkish government has stepped in to protect the monastery and to turn it into a museum.

3. Photo Gallery:
1. Photos of Trabzon by a traveler: http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/trabzon
2.Huge collection of photos: http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Middle_East/Turkey/Black_Sea/Trabzon/

4. You Tube Videos:
1. THE SUMELA MONASTERY ?N TRABZON TURKEY:

2. Trabzon – Agia Sophia, Frondistirio and Karadeniz:

Rudraprayag – a religious town in North India, in the Himalayas

Traveller — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:05:05 +0000

Rudraprayag is a District in the State of Uttarakhand. It is a town and a nagar panchayat. It is one of the Panch prayagas (five confluences) of the point of confluence of rivers Alakanda and Mandakini. Around Rudraprayag, there are other divine rivers such as the Bhagirathi River, and the Ganga. Located some distance away is another holy town called Kedarnath which is 86 kms away from Rudraprayag.
Rudra means Lord Shiva and hence the name Rudraprayag. It has lakes and glaciers and immense enchanting natural beauty. It is a pilgrimage trip as well as getaway for many. It is 34kms away from Srinagar (Gharwal). There are more than 200 shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva in the district itself. The town is special with its scenic beauty and its location on the river banks of Alankanda and Mandakini. Devotees take dip in these rivers considering them very holy and sacred. The other two shrines that need to visit are Kedarnath and Badrinath that are around Rudraprayag.
On the holy confluence of river Alaknanda and Mandakini which is venerated as one of the five sacred confluences or the ‘Panch Prayag’ is this small pilgrim town. It is named after Rudra, an aspect of Lord Shiva. It is said that Lord Shiva appeared here as ‘Rudra’ to bless Narad Muni. Rudraprayag is of immense significance for the pilgrims of Char Dham Yatra, as it is the junction for visiting Badrinath and Kedarnath Dham.
Out of the five kedars, three of them lie in Rudraprayag district. Kedar means a natural rock formation or glacial moraine. This town is a District headquarters and its area is spread to about 1896 square kms.

Places to see in Rudrapayag

Koteshwar Temple: This is 3 kms from Rudraprayag. This is a cave temple of Lord Shiva located on the banks of river Alaknanda which comprises of idols which have been formed naturally. It is believed that Lord Shiva meditated here before going to Kedarnath. Many devotees visit the shrine during the months of August and September.

Places to see around Rudraprayag
Agatsyamuni (19 kms) As Agatsyamuni meditated here, so the name.
Guptkashi (39 kms) is a pilgrim place that has the ancient temples of Vishwanath and Ardhnareshwar. The Manikarnik Kund is the confluence of two streams of Ganga and Yamuna.
Okhimath (40 kms): It lies on the route to Kedarnath and is the winter residence of Lord Kedarnath, as well as the seat of the Rawal (head priest) of the Kedarnath temple.
Gaurikund (72 kms) is the trekking base for to Kedarnath and has a temple of Gauri (Parvati) and hot water springs.
SonPrayag is the confluence of river Basuki and Mandakani and lies on the main Kedarnath route, about 5 kms from Gaurikund. The devotees believe that by mere touch of the holy water of Son Prayag, one attains the “Baikunth Dham”.
Trijuginarayan is 12 kms from Son prayag and is believed to be the site of Lord Shiva and Parvati’s marriage. The eternal flame, around which the marriage was solemnized, still burns here.
Panch Kedar: In the valley between the rivers Bhagirathi and Alaknanda lay the 5 kedars. It is believed that after the battle of Mahabharta, the Pandavas came here seeking forgiveness from Lord Shiva as they were repenting for the killings. Shiva disguised himself as a bull and started to plunge underground when he was spotted by the Pandavas. No wonder, the natural rock formation that is worshipped here resembles the rump of bull. The five most sacred Shiva temples of Garhwal are called as Panch Kedar.
Kedarnath: It is situated at an altitude of 3584 metres amidst towering snowclad Himalayan peaks on the head of river Mandakini. It is 86 kms from Rudraprayag. It is an 8th centrury temple which has 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva and was built by in the medieval ages by Adi Shankaracharya. The mandapa walls are adorned with idols of the five Pandavas and Draupdi.
Shankaracharya Samadhi: Behind the Kedarnath temple, Adi Shankaracharya is said to have gone into his samadhi here at an early age of 32 years after establishing four sacred Dhams.

Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit is the summer months from March to June. The months of September and October are also pleasant to be visited. The months from June to August should be avoided due to the monsoon season.

Location on Google Maps:

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Directions from Rishikesh to Rudraprayag:

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How to get there:
By Air: The nearest airport is Jolly Grant Airport of Dehradun situated at a distance of 159kms. There are daily flights from Delhi to Jolly Grant Airport. Taxis are available from Jolly Grant Airport to Rishikesh, Devprayag and Rudraprayag.
By Rail: The nearest railway station to Rudraprayag is Rishikesh railway station which is situated 140kms before Rudraprayag on NH58. Rishikesh is well connected by railway networks with major destinations of India. Trains to Rishikesh are frequent. Taxis and buses are available from Rishikesh to Rudraprayag.
By Road: Rudraprayag is well connected by motorable roads with major destinations of Uttarakhand and northern states of India. Buses to Rudraprayag and Rishikesh are available from ISBT Kashmiri Gate. Buses and Taxis to Rudraprayag are easily available from major destinations of Uttarakhand like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Pauri, Tehri, Uttarkashi, Srinagar etc. Rudraprayag lies on National Highway 58 from where road diverts to two major destinations Kedarnath and Badrinath.

The distance chart from major cities to Rudraprayag is as below
Delhi to Rudraprayag – 380kms
Meerut to Rudraprayag – 306kms
Rishikesh to Rudraprayag – 139kms
Haridwar to Rudraprayag – 165kms
Pauri to Rudraprayag – 64kms
Dehradun to Rudraprayag – 190kms
Mussoorie to Rudraprayag – 163kms
Devprayag to Rudraprayag – 68kms
Tehri Garhwal to Rudraprayag – 91kms
Barkot to Rudraprayag – 180kms
Uttarkashi to Rudraprayag – 165kms
Lansdowne to Rudraprayag – 142kms
Kotdwar to Rudraprayag – 166kms
Joshimath to Rudraprayag – 106kms
Chamoli to Rudraprayag – 70kms
Srinagar to Rudraprayag – 35kms
Okhimath to Rudraprayag – 37kms
Gaurikund to Rudraprayag – 66kms

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):

1. http://www.euttaranchal.com/hotels/hotels-in-rudraprayag.php (gives names of the hotels, fares of the hotel, price and directions to the hotel)
2. http://www.holidayiq.com/Popular-Rudraprayag-Hotels-Resorts-Reviews-Ratings-Tariff-Rates-621-7-yes-destination.html
3. http://www.holidayiq.com/destinations/Rudraprayag-Know.html (gives tourist info addresses and phone numbers to contact)

Blogs / Sites about Rudraprayag

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudraprayag
• http://rudraprayag.nic.in/
History: Rudraprayag District was established on 16th September1997. The district was carved out from three adjoining districts.
Firstly, whole of Augustmuni & Ukhimath block and part of Pokhri & Karnprayag block from Chamoli District and Secondly part of Jakholi and Kirtinagar block from Tehri District and thirdly part of Khirsu block from Pauri District. It is widely known as Kedarnath Temple in the North, Madmaheshwar at east, Nagrasu at southern east and Shrinagar at extreme south. The holy Mandakini originated from Kedarnath and is the main river of the district.
• http://www.holidayiq.com/destinations/Rudraprayag-Overview.html
• http://www.indiaholidaypackages.com/hill-stations-packages/rudraprayag.html
• http://www.tourisminrudraprayag.org/

Images and photos of Rudraprayag:

• http://www.google.co.in/images?q=Rudraprayag&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7GPCK_enIN389&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=u11ITOORPISdcaec_c4M&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=5&ved=0CDwQsAQwBA
• http://www.holidayiq.com/destinations/photos/Rudraprayag-Photos.html
• http://www.tourisminrudraprayag.org/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudraprayag#Photo_gallery

Videos related to Rudraprayag:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYTU8h1Zk9s
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig9NvT1HT04

Pauri Garhwal – a beautiful location in the Garhwal region, North India

Traveller — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 19:04:49 +0000

Pauri Garhwal is part of Uttaranchal, Uttarpradesh and in the region of Garhwal. It is famous for a panoramic view and is located at an altitude of 1814 meters. It is on the slopes of Kanloliya hills from where you can get a view of snowy Himalayan peaks. It is a town that is 106 kms from Kotdwara. One can see Himalayan ranges from the upper rigde starting from Chaukhamba to Nandaghunti Peaks.
Its whole area in square meters is about 5438. Its dense forests, picturesque valleys, stunning rivers make it an ideal tourist spot or holiday spot. It has a rich topography Pauri, with its diverse landscape, consists of the extensive pastures of Dhudatoli, rising upto 3000 meters and Kotdwara’s foothills. It has deodar, pine trees and apple trees around the areas.
The Himalayas and its view make it a place of artistic interest and a lovable tourist spot filled with thrill, adventure and also a spiritual tour. District Pauri Garhwal which is surrounded by the districts of Chamoli, Nanital, Bijnor, Haridwar, Dehradun, Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal. Pauri has different places to see in and around.
Around Pauri are Khirsu which is situated 19 kms from Pauri, and attracts people with its panoramic sight of the Central Himalayas. The ancient shrine of Ghandiyal Devta is a holy place to visit. People interested in having a picnic should go to Adwani, because of its natural beauty and thick forests with cool breeze and a perfect picnic spot.
In Pauri, there are place like Tara Kund, Dhudatoli are natural scenic spots with ethnic beauty. Tara Kund, is another place with scenic grandeur which is positioned 2,200 m above the sea level. This place has an old temple and a small lake. People come to this temple in order to celebrate the Teej Festival with a lot of enthusiasm. There is a memorial in the memory of freedom fighter Veer Chandra Singh. Located on River Malini’s bank, 14 kms away from Kotdwar, Kanva Rishi Ashram is a place which has both archaeological and historical importance. It is a popular myth that Sage Vishwamitra meditated at this location. Binsar, 114 kms from Pauri, is famous mainly due to the temple of Lord Shiva.
Khirsu (19 kms): The serene site at a height of 1,700 metres affords a fine view of the snow-clad mountains. Located nearby are oak and deodar forests and apple orchards. There is Jwalpa Devi Temple which is worth visiting. The others are Kandoliya (2 kms) dedicated to Kandoliya Devta, a folk deity, Chaukhamba Viewpoint (4 kms) which has a splendid view of Idwal valley and Chaukhamba Peak, Kyunkaleshwar Mahadev which is the 8th century Shiva temple and which has stunning views of the snow-clad peaks.
In the Garhwal Himalayas one can have 180 degree views of the Himalayas which are rare and splendid. Pauri is also a lovely place for trekking. The town’s climate is pleasant.

Best time to visit / climate:
The climate is mostly pleasant through most of the year and remains cool except in May-June. It’s best to visit just before May to experience pleasantness of the area; since in Kotdwara and the adjoining Bhabar area it is quite hot reaching high 40s Celsius during the summer.

Location on Google Maps:

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Travel between Kotdwar and Pauri Garhwal, map on Google Maps:

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Route map between Rishikesh and Pauri Garhwal:

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How to get there:
By Air: The nearest airport for Pauri is Jolly Grant Airport at Dehradun (155 kms) and 131 kms from Rishikesh, Srinagar
By Rail: Nearest rail head is Kotdwar (108 kms).
By Road: Well connected by road with important town of the region. Buses run from and to Srinagar from all the major towns in Garhwal.

The distance to Pauri by road
• From New Delhi is 295kms and approximately 5.9hours drive
• From Meerut is 252km and about 5 hours drive.
• Pauri is also well connected to Dehradun, Hardwar, Rishikesh, Kotdwar and other cities of the area.
• some distances are:
• New Tehri-Srinagar: 69 km (4 hours)
• Rudraprayag-Srinagar: 34 km (2 hours)
• Rishikesh-Srinagar via Deoprayg: 118 km (7 hours)

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website):
1. www.indiahotelreview.com › India › Uttaranchal
2. http://pauri.nic.in/Page32.htm Has hotel names, contact nos. and rates)
3. http://www.tripadvisor.com
4. www.holidayiq.com › India › Uttaranchal
5. www.garhwaltourism.net/pouri.htm

Blogs / Sites about Pauri Garhwal (with small excerpts from these blogs):
1. History and Culture: http://www.world66.com/asia/southasia/india/uttaranchal/history
In the Mahabharata, dated to about 1000 BC, the Pandavas, are said to have ended their life on earth by ascending the slopes of a peak in western Garhwal called Swargarohini -’Ascent to Heaven’. The epic also mentions this region as the home of the Kirata, Pulinda and Tangara tribes. Succeeding the Macedonian march across the Himalayan foothills, an imperialist tradition was instituted around 330. AD, by the Gupta’s.This was followed by the Vardhanas in the fifth century AD. The ultimate downfall of the Vardhana empire during the time of the Turkish onslaught on the plains, they were subject to change in size and power as additional waves of migration took place.
2. Pauri in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauri_Garhwal
Pauri Garhwal district was a part of the Gharwal kingdom ruled by the Pal (Shah) dynasty. He was the king of Srinagar. In 1803, Gurkhas finally succeeded in capturing Garhwal by defeating the army of King Pradyumna Shah. In 1816, the British defeated the Gurkhas and were re-established from Tehri. After independence it was known as Gharwal district and further divided into Pauri Garhwal and Chamoli districts in 1960. In 1997 an additional area was made out into a district named Rudraprayag.

• Places to see: http://www.mustseeindia.com/Pauri/attractions
o www.himalaya2000.com › Uttarakhand › Pauri
o http://pauri.nic.in/

Photo / Image Gallery:
1. http://www.world66.com/asia/southasia/india/uttaranchal/srinagar_pauri_ga/lib/gallery
2. http://www.uttarakhand.ws/v/destinations/pauri-garhwal/
3. http://www.picable.com/Places/Villages/Pauri-Garhwal-4-.48815
4. http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/pauri-garhwal.html

Bali in Indonesia- “The Island of the gods” or “The Island of the thousand temples”

Traveller — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 18:23:29 +0000

If you are looking for a most enchanting travel, then “Bali” is the right place for you. With the physical beauty and variety of wonderful attractions, it is the Ultimate Island for a totally relaxing and enlightening stay. The island of Bali is stretched over an area of 5,632 square kilometers with its beautiful landscape.
Its tropical forests, rivers, lakes, beaches and fertile vegetable and fruit gardens makes it’s attractive and welcoming. It’s a botanical forest with huge banyan, tamarind, acacia, flame, bamboo, and coconut and mangrove trees and with wide variety of flowers like hibiscus, bougainvillea, jasmine, and water lilies, magnolia, frangipani, and a variety of orchids. Bali spreads the fragrance and aroma of this flora around leaving you in enchantment.
Bali, also famous for its temples which are filled with music and its highlight – Gunung Agung, a holy mountain, is special in being one of the 8 chakra points of the world. It looks splendid in mornings with its head amidst the clouds. It has 20,000 temples and palaces and hence also known as “Island of gods”.
The Main locations to see are White-Sandy beaches, rice terraces, Besakih Temple, Lake Batur, Ubud, Legian, Kuta, Nusa Dua, and the temples of Tanah Lot and Ulu Watu. Bali is magical in being a great combination of exotic, spiritual, environmental and enchanting travel.

Best time to visit / climate:
The best time to visit Bali is from April to September as during this season the climate is good enough for travel, being sunny with moderate humidity.

Location on Google Maps:

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How to get there:
Bali is listed as “Denpasar” in airlines, which is the capital of the island. It takes few minutes (say 15mins) from Ngurah Rai Airport. Domestic flights in Indonesia are readily available. If taken sea route Cruises at stop offs work out from Java and Lombok and by car and bus from Java. For around, Air Bali helps getting helicopters on rent for joyrides and charters.

Places to stay (hotels / restaurants along with website / contact numbers):
1. You can find best deals and hotels in this website
2. www.Balivillas.com : Gives info on villas in Bali and conveyance around. For helicopter tours and private charters (3 to 6 passengers) please contact the Balivillas.com Service Center at 703-060 as soon as you arrive. Most full day tours by car (about 8 to 10 hours, min 2 persons) cost about US$45 to US$50 per person, half day tours US$30 to US$35. These prices include a multi-lingual guide and transport in an air-conditioned private car, all entrance fees, but no meals.
3. http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/asia/indonesia/bali/restaurants.htm : website for the best of the restaurants at Bali.

Blogs / Sites about Easter Island (with small excerpts from these blogs):

1. Bali on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bali )
Bali is an island in Indonesia lying between Java and Lombok. It has 33 provinces with Denpasa at its capital. It adheres to Balinese Hinduism, but remaining follows mostly Islam. It is famous for its arts and music and temples.

2. History of Bali: http://www.asianartmall.com/balihistory.htm
People in Bali emigrated from China in 2500BC. This culture had a different and effective form of irrigation and agriculture of rice. Though emigrated from china, there were many Hindu artifacts found and hence there was a tie in it of the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism.

3. Maps and A description along with photos www.bali.com

Photo / Image Gallery:
1. Google Images
2. Shows you albums of exotic locations in Bali and culture of Bali.
3. More photos of Bali

Trip to Egypt – Visit to various places in Cairo such as Saladin’s Citadel and the Khan el Khalili bazaar – Part 3

Traveller — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:32:46 +0000

In part 2 of this travel post (Visit to Coptic parts of Cairo), I described the Coptic area of Cairo, which includes some famous churches, as well as a Jewish synagogue. Unfortunately, I was not able to show many photos of the inside, since most of these monuments did not allow photography inside, so the camera remained inside its case. Soon after the visit to the Coptic areas, we set out for the next major monument inside Cairo, called Saladin’s Citadel, a majestic site on a hill. It is in the nature of a fortification that also contains 2 beautiful mosques, called Muhammad Ali mosque, and the Mosque of Nasir. Saladin Citadel is a structure that bears great importance to the history of Cairo. During the time of the Crusades, Fustat (now a part of Cairo) was the capital of Egypt, and Saladin wanted to ensure that his rule was safe from the Crusaders and other enemies. So, Saladin’s concept was to build a massive structure as well as a huge wall.

Location of Saladin’s Citadel on Google Maps:

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Saladin built the Citadel beneath the Muqattam Hills, and got his wish about making a place that was difficult to attack, although the wall was never built during his reign. Saladin rules Egypt from the Citadel, and from that time onwards till the 1860′s, the Citadel remained the seat of the Egyptian center of power. However, the importance of the Citadel as a place of power declined during the rule of the Ottoman Empire, since for them, Turkey was the center and Egypt was a province. Over a period of time, the structure that Saladin had built was expanded, with the rulers after him adding water well enhancements, mosques, other offices, and more buildings, including defense walls. Right now, the Citadel, contains 3 mosques, a Palace (Al-Gawhara Palace), and 2 museums (National Military Museum and the Police Museum).

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – view of the walls and the domes of the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Closer view of the domes

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Landscaping done to get the name of Allah on the plant

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – view of defensive tower in the structure

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Grand arched Entrance to the Nasir mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Grand corridors, pillars, and lamps in the Nasir mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – enclosure with carvings in the Nasir mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Hypostyle corridor in the Nasir mosque with wonderful pillars

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Tourists in the passageway inside the complex with an incline

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – View from the outside of the Police Museum inside the complex

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – View of the narrow passageway, as seen from the height of the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – view of the metal lattice of a window along with a lamp

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – Map of the inside of the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – the center point of the open courtyard of the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – a corridor inside the courtyard of the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – the well inside the courtyard of the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – the wonderful view inside the Mohammed Ali Mosque with 365 lamps

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – the 365 lamps hanging from the ceiling in the Mohammed Ali Mosque

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – the altar inside the Mohammed Ali Mosque used for prayer

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – the open space behind the Mohammed Ali Mosque, also a mini shopping area

Saladin Citadel in Cairo – view of many parts of Cairo from the Mohammed Ali Mosque

When we reached the place, the vehicle stayed in the parking, and it is around a 15 minute walk from there to the top of the structure, where you can get a grand view of Cairo, after passing through a narrow passage (with the Wash Rooms being located in this passage – be prepared to shell out 1 Egyptian pound per tourist using the Wash Room to the attendant), and then you cross the mosques one by one, cross the museums (climbing a bit as you move), until you reach the Mohammed Ali Mosque and then the view.
You should allocate around 3-4 hours for this, admire the mosques (they are indeed beautiful), admire the view, and admire the overall structure (including a huge clock that was given as a gift by a European king, but which never worked); and then there is a well.
From here, we moved back to our vehicle, and then to the Khan el Khalili in the middle of town. The market is located in the middle of the city, and is located next to the Al Azhar University (the most famous place of Islamic learning in Egypt and in the Arab world). The market dates back to the 14th century, and has seen a huge part of the history of Cairo. Twice in the recent past decade, there have been terrorist attacks that have killed tourists (one killed a total of 21 people, and the last one happened only last year), so there is a large police presence clearly. Further, vehicles are not allowed to be parked there, but pick and drop from just next to the market is allowed. In front of the market, there are many eating places. Inside the market, expect to do an incredible amount of bargaining (but quality can be a concern in many cases), and expect to find narrow alleyways. It seems a bit strange, but is supposed to be very safe for tourists now. We spent around 2-3 hours in the two parallel paths inside the market, and did a bit of spending.

Khan el Khalili market in cairo – View of the front part

Khan el Khalili market in Cairo – starting to move inside

Khan el Khalili market in Cairo – shopping stuff hanging from both sides

Edfu Temple – The Temple of Horus; a spectacular temple in Egypt with a well preserved structure

Traveller — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:59:48 +0000

Of all the temples of ancient Egypt, the one at Edfu is the most complete and best preserved. The reason is that the temple had been totally submerged under the desert sand (so it got saved from the earthquakes and other natural events that caused damage to the other temples) except for the very top of the pylon entrance. A small amount of stone had been removed from the exposed part, but when excavated it was found to be in near perfect condition. The temple was built by the Greek pharaohs.

Location of Edfu temple

Edfu is located 60Km to the north of Aswan. The town of Edfu is located on the west back of the Nile River, some sixty miles south of Luxor, with Aswan further south. Edfu is located about halfway between Luxor (115km away) and Aswan (105km) and 65km north of Kom Ombo. It was the 2nd Nome of Upper Egypt and the centre of the cult of a triad of Gods, which consisted of Horus of Behdet, Hathor, and their son, Hor-Sama-Tawy.

How to get there

The temple is often included on Nile cruise itineraries but can also be reached from Aswan or Luxor, by train or road. The railway station is on the east bank and coaches often only stop on this side too. A taxi from Luxor takes around two hours and one and a half hours from Aswan. As of 2009 visitors no longer need to travel as part of the police convoy.

Location of Edfu temple on Google Maps:

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History of Edfu temple

- Dedicated to Horus, the falcon headed god. It was built during the reigns of six Ptolemies.
- In 332 BC, Alexander the Great conquered Egypt. After his death in 323, his successors ruled Egypt under the Ptolemaic Dynasty.
- The Temple of Horus at Edfu was built during the Ptolemiac era on top of an earlier temple to Horus.
- This is not only the best preserved ancient temple in Egypt, but the second largest after Karnak.
- The modern Arabic name of Edfu is derived from the ancient Egyptian name Djeba, or Etbo in Coptic. Djeba meant “Retribution Town”, since the enemies of the god were brought to justice therein.
- The Temple of Edfu is nearly intact and a very good example of an ancient Egyptian temple.
- The Temple of Edfu’s archaeological significance and high state of preservation has made it a center for tourism in Egypt.
- The falcon-headed Horus was originally the sky god, whose eyes were the sun and moon.
- He was later assimilated into the popular myth of Isis and Osiris as the divine couple’s child. Raised by Isis and Hathor after Osiris’ murder by his brother Seth, Horus avenged his father’s death in a great battle at Edfu. Seth was exiled and Horus took the throne, Osiris reigning through him from the underworld. Thus all pharoahs claimed to be the incarnation of Horus, the “living king.”
- The town of Edfu is today an important centre for sugar production and pottery-making.

Attractions at Edfu Temple

Pylon : The front shows illustrations of Horus and Hathor, and captives offered in sacrifice to the gods. The four niches held
flagstaffs when the temple was in use. This is the Great Pylon.

Edfu temple in Egypt – the first pylon along with tourists

The Temple of Edfu was actually not the first one here. It was built on top of a temple built for Thutmosis III by the famous architect Imhotep, who later was proclaimed a god himself because of his great works. You find him pictured in that role at the temple of Kom Ombo.
GOD Horus : Guarding the entrance of the temple are two statues of the god Horus. His importance was such that he was equalled with the king. The pharaoh was seen as a human manifestation of the god Horus.

Edfu Temple in Egypt – the statue of Horus

Birth House : The first structure we come to, at the south-west corner before the great temple pylon, is a rectangular colonnaded building peculiar to Graeco-Roman temples, known as a mammisi or birth-house, built to celebrate the divine birth of Horus. The Roman mammisi at Dendera was modelled on this structure.
Court of Offerings : Beyond the Pylon is the spacious Court of Offerings, where people could enter to make offerings to the image of Horus. The court is surrounded by columns on three sides and is decorated with festival reliefs. depict the Festival of the Beautiful Meeting, during which Hathor’s image sailed from Dendera to spend some intimate time with Horus in the sanctuary of the Temple of Edfu before sailing back.

Hypostyle Hall : The rectangular Hypostyle Hall was built under Ptolemy VII (145-116 BC) and has two rows of six pillars supporting an intact roof. The ceiling has astronomical paintings symbolizing the sky. This is the outer hypostyle hall or pronaos, with 18 tall carved columns to support a ceiling decorated with astronomical figures representing the sky. The usual offering scenes decorate the walls but there are also well-preserved reliefs from the temple foundation ceremony.

Edfu temple in Egypt – the grand Hypostyle Hall with astronomical paintings on the ceiling

Festival Hall : It marks the beginning of the oldest part of the temple, built 237-212 BC under Ptolemy III and IV. During festivals, this hall was decorated with faience, flowers and herbs and scented with incense and myrrh.

Hall of offerings : A small doorway, decorated with splendid reliefs of the sacred barques of Horus and Hathor, leads from the Festival Hall into the Hall of Offerings. During the New Year Festival, the image of Horus was carried up the ascending stairway on the left to be revitalized by the sun, then carried back down the descending stairway.

Sanctuary Of Horus : The Sanctuary of Horus, with ritual barque (barge) granite shrine in back is the holiest part of the temple. The sanctuary centers on a black-granite shrine that was dedicated by Nectanebo II, making it the oldest relic in the temple. This once contained the gilded wooden cult image of Horus. Next to the shrine is an offering table and the ceremonial barque (barge) on which Horus was carried during festivals.

Edfu temple in Egypt – Sanctuary Of Horus, the holiest part of the temple

Nilometer : One of the most remarkable elements of the Temple is the existence of a Nilometer, as well as a chapel, which was dedicated to the Goddess Nut.

Edfu temple in Egypt – Nilometer, for measuring the height of the Nile

Edfu temple in Egypt – taking a horse carriage from the cruise to the temple

Edfu temple in Egypt – view of the temple from a distance

Edfu temple in Egypt – tourist taking a photo of some of the pillars

Edfu temple in Egypt – the huge carving in the first pylon

Edfu temple in Egypt – the large carving in the first pylon

Martand Sun Temple, Kashmir – Ruins of a beautiful temple dedicated to the Sun God

Traveller — Mon, 24 May 2010 11:13:11 +0000

Martand, located atop a plateau, close to the township of Anantnag, has a temple dedicated to Surya, the “Sun God”. Built by king Laitaditya Muktapida (7th to 8th century AD), it is a medieval temple with a colonnaded courtyard and the shrine in its centre. The king appeared to be a worshiper of Sun, treating the Sun as an all pervading phenomenon. The Martand temple consists of a courtyard with main temple in the middle and colonnaded peristyle, which is 220 feet long and 142 feet broad. The temple complex has 84 columns and offers a commanding view of the valley of Kashmir. The style of the construction of the temple and the skill of the makers are rare in the history of the world. Apart from the exquisite architecture, another attraction of the Martand temple is its picturesque surroundings. It was constructed on the highest part of a plateau.
It is an example of not only some great Kashmiri architectural skill from the years past, but it also has pride of having been set up at a fine spot which is prettier than quite a few of the the spots where other historical buildings in India and outside have been built. The ruins of the huge temple stand in a square field with snow capped mountains of the smiling valley as the background. This temple has been built with strong and square limestones. The pillars of the temple are of Greek pattern.

Location of Anantnag (Martand Sun Temple located close by) on Google Maps:

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Mattan is derived from the name Macch(Fish)-Bhawan. This place is also called Martand, because an antient Temple named Martand is situated just 2 Kms from it. In Mattan there is a famous temple of Sun God, which is worshipped as of Konark. There are two springs named Vimal & Kamal Kunds.
Martand Temple is located at about 5 miles from the town of Anantnag, Anantnag District. By road, Martand Temple can be approached easily from Anantnag, Mattan and Achabal. The nearest airport is at Srinagar. Anantnag is situated at 33.44 latitude and 75.12 longitude, at an elevation of 5400 feet above sea level, at a distance of 33 miles from the main state-headquarters Srinagar.

A good description of Martand midway through the page on this link.
Some photos of Martand (link)
Many many photos of Martand from the Indira Gandhi National Center of Arts (link)
Older photograph of the ruins of the Surya Temple in Martand (link)
More photos of the ruins of the Sun Temple at Martand (link)

Harihareshwar, a small holy town on the Konkan coast in Maharashtra, India, with a beautiful coastline

Traveller — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:30:48 +0000

State : Maharashtra
Distance : 219 kms South of Mumbai.
Journey time : 5 hrs by road.
Route : NH17 to Lonera Phatta via Mangaon and Goregaon ; SH97 to Shrivardhan via Mhasla ;
SH98 to Harihareshwar.
Location : The holy town of Harihareshwar is set on a lowcliff on the Konkan coast where the Savitri river flows into the Arabian sea, surrounded by the four hills of Harihareshwar, Harshinachal, Bramhadri and Pushpadri in southern Raigad district. Going by car is the best option.

Best time to go : June to August is a good time to visit, where you can pay your respects to God while witnessing the holy fury of the rains. November to Feburary is also a good time to visit.
Gentle winds, soft sands and inviting waters make Shriwardhan Bay irresistible to beach lovers. And if one relishes sea-food, there is no dearth of delicacies to sample here. Adventurers can even take a small boat to the north side of the bay and explore a land where the Peshwas or prime ministers of the Maratha kingdom, originally resided. The Peshwa Smarak is of interest to most people who visit Shriwardhan. The town of Harihareshwar is known for its tranquil and picturesque beach and is also famous for the temple of Harihareshwar.

Location of Harihareshwar on Google Maps:

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A small town located around 200 km from Mumbai and just 175 Kms. from Pune. Harihareshwar had long been popular as an important pilgrimage town. It was only a few years ago that it gained the reputation of a quiet weekend getaway from Mumbai. The 16th century temple at Harihareshwar is located right on the beach. And it is these beaches which has made it popular with city-wallahs looking for an escape. Long, shallow and wide, these pristine beaches are ideal for swimming. The backdrop of the Konkan coastline adds its own charm to this scene.

Places to visit in Harihareshwar

- Bagmandala
Bagmandala is a lovely small village a few miles away from the holy city of Harihareshwar. This is the place where the Peshwa (Prime Minister) of the Maratha Kingdom lived for many years. Bagmandala carries the legacy of Peshawa in a Peshwa Smarak as well as in an ancient fort named as Bankot fort.
The prime attraction of the Bagmandala is the jungle jetty (sea harbor in the forest). This small port ferries the local people across the Bagmandala creek. Those who like for a ferry travel can cross over Bankot fort and enter the nearby Ratnagiri fort

- Ganesh Gully
It is a culvert which is very narrow of about 3 feet wide in between two hard Rocky Mountains. It is believed that at the end of the culvert, there is a holy niche, a place where Lord Ganesh Idol is placed. The niche is about 30 feet under water and it is assumed that during the tidal periods one can observe the Ganesh idol placed perfectly at the niche.
Many tourists visit this place to have a glimpse of the Ganesh Idol. The place Ganesh gully itself is in the backdrop of natural beauty and calm smoothening winds.

- Harihareshwar Beach
It is the main attraction in Harihareshwar. The beach is extremely good for an elegant stay enjoying the natural beauty in a happy vacation holidays. Soft clean sands and soothe breeze make this beach in the lap of Arabian Sea a much sought place in Harihareshwar. The beach is unpolluted and mostly unspoiled. The Harihar hill on the sea shore add to the attraction of the beach. Solitude seeking tourists can make the visit to Harihareshwar beach a unique experience. The enthusiastic tourists can have a water journey by small boats available in the beach.

- Kalbhairav Temple
It is one of the ancient renowned temples in Maharashtra. The main deity enshrines the temple is Lord Shiva. Kalabhairava, a lord of all manthrasastras, is also placed as one of the idols. Legends associated with the temple say that Lord Shiva created Kalabhairava and blessed him with all manthras. The architectural style of the temple is attractive. Temple Yogeshwari known as Dakshin Kashi is located in the premises. In most of the special occasions like Mahashivarathri, one can view long queues for Darshan. Cool breeze from the Harihareshwar beach makes the temple premises a nice place to relax as well

List of other sight-seeing places in and around Harihareshwar:

• Harihareshwar Temple – 8 km (Gayatri Tirth, Sita Sansar, Vishnu pad, Pandav Tirth, 101 Kaurav Astitva)
• Gram devata Somajadevi (10 km)
• Jeevaneshwar Temple – Swayambhu Shivpind (12 km)
• Jeevnabander – Fish Port (12 km)
• Pure gold-cast Ganpati idol – Diveagar (21 km)
• Devkhot – Pandav era caves
• Shrivardhan sea shore (10 kms)
• Aaravi, Shekhadi and Walvti – most beautiful sea shores (13-21 km)
• Shrivardhan town
• Laxmi Narayan temple
• Dive Agar sea beach (21 km)
• Rupnarayan temple, Dive Agar (22 km)
• Dighi Bandar and Janjira Fort (36 km)
• Savitri river at Bankot creek (4 km)
• Bankot Fort (5kms)
• Rotha Supari of Shrivardhan
• Bhairvnath, Kusumadevi, Rameshwar and Bharadhkol Vitthal Temple
• Bhimachi Kawad (trekking point)
• Tambadi (trekking point) Table land
• Samsher Baba Peer Darga (Trekking, “S” Waterline Point)

Where to stay in Harihareshwar

- MTDC Holiday Resort near temple
Address
Harihareshwar, Raigarh
Maharashtra – 402110
India.
- Resort Harihareshwar Hilltop
At Nivale, Post Saigaon
Maharashtra.

NOTE : One important thing to keep in mind is that cell phones do not work at Harihareshwar. There are some STD booths near the temple, and you may have to ask if they work. So rest assured, your holidays are going to be mobile-free.