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Palitana
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Palitana is a famous for its Shatrunjaya Hill, which is covered
with 863 Jain temples dating from the 16th century. The temples
are made of white marble and are so thick on the top of the hill
that from a distance it looks like a gigantic white wedding cake.
The hill is devoted entirely to the Gods, and at dusk even the priests
must come down from the temples, leaving them deserted. |
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| Pushkar
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 The
idyllic township housing the sacred lake of Pushkar, lies 11 km
from Ajmer. Pushkar is separated from Ajmer, by the Nag Pahar (Snake
Mountain). This beautiful lake surrounded by bathing ghats, has
its religious significance, rooted in a myth. A lovely and gigantic
fair is held every year, on Kartik Poornima (full moon in October-November).
About 1,00,000 pilgrims gather here, to take a dip in the holy lake.
The fair is also the biggest camel market. Besides camels, horses
and bullocks are sold here. The colourfully dressed people enhance
the exuberant mood of the fair. Pushkar abounds in temples, the
special attraction being, the temple of Lord Brahma, the only temple
in India, dedicated to Brahma.
This somewhat somnolent town, reverberates with hectic activity
during the festivities. Extensive arrangements are made to cope
with the large attendance. A host of cultural programmes are staged
to enthrall the audience. The biggest draws of the events, are the
cattle auction and the camel race. Puppet shows are the other major
crowd - pullers.
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| Puri
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Is one of the four holiest places in all India, always full of pilgrims,
and the temple which draws them is the enormous Jagannath and picturesque
beaches.
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| Ranakpur |
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This famous 15th century Jain temple lies buried in a shady glen
and represents the climax of Jain architecture and sculpture. Its
spacious halls and courtyards are a brilliant juxtaposition of exquisitely
carved and sculpted pillars, vaulted ceilings and arched doorways.
The play of light and shade has been so engineered that the entire
complex seems suffused with an almost ethereal ambience.
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| Srinagar
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The city of Srinagar set in the heart of the valley may best be
described as a sort of 'Venice' in the middle of 'Switzerland'.
It retains a heady flavour of the Middle East as well as the Orient.
We shall stay on luxurious 'House Boats' on the Dal Lake. Excursions
on the vast lake are made in royal style, lying back upon comfortable
cushions in the gondolas of Kashmir. These trips present a marvellous
variety of images: the open lake ringed by green mountains, large
colonies of people residing on the water, mysterious canals through
floating lotus-gardens, hookah-smoking traders gliding swiftly
about with wares ranging from the most exquisite silk-carpets
to masses of exotic flowers.
The
bazaars of Srinagar are like a chapter from the 'Arabian Nights'.
Narrow alleys between ancient wooden houses are thronged by handsome
men and women in tent-like cloaks. Tiny shops display furs, hand-embroidered
shawls, carved woodwork, and semi-precious stones.
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| Sarnath
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| Having
achieved enlightenment at Bodhgaya, Buddha came to Sarnath to preach
his message of the middle way to final Nirvana. Later Ashoka, the
Buddhist Emperor, erected magnificent Stupas and other buildings
here.
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