Konark Sun Temple, Orissa

The Konark temple is a famous tourist attraction in Orissa as well as in India for its architectural grandeur, intricacy and profusion of sculptural work. The temple is dedicated to the sun God or Surya. It is situated in Konark, in the state of Orissa near the sacred city of Puri. It is a masterpiece of Orissa’s medieval architecture and also known as “Black Pagoda”

Information of Konark Sun Temple
The temple city of Konark is situated in the eastern state of Orissa at a distance of around 65 km from Bhubaneswar and 35 km from Puri. The whole temple has been conceived as a chariot of the God Surya with 24 wheels, each wheels are near about 10 feet in a diameter with a set of spokes and elaborate carvings. Seven horses drag the temple. Two lions guard at the entrance of the temple, crushing elephants. A flight of steps leads to the main entrance. The temple is a brilliant chronicle in stone, with thousands of images including deities, the Surasundaris, heavenly damsels, and human musicians, lovers, dancers, and different scenes from courtly life.
Konark was once a bustling port of Kalinga. It had good maritime trade relations with Southeast Asia. King Narashimhadev I (AD 1238-64) of the Ganga dynasty built the present Sun Temple to celebrate his victory over the Muslims. An envoy of the Mughal emperor Jahangir desecrated it in the early 17th century. After that, it fell into disuse. However, Legend has it that the temple was constructed by Samba, the son of Lord Krishna. It is said that Samba was afflicted by leprosy, brought about by his father’s curse on him. After 12 years of penance, Surya, the Sun God cured him. In honour Surya, he built this temple.

Legend behind the Temple :-
One Legend on This Sun temple says that, The Samba who was the son of Krishna and Jambavati entered in the bathing chamber of Krishna’s wife, and was cursed by Krishna with leprosy. It was decreed that he (Samba) would be relieved of the curse by worshipping the Sun God on the seacoast north east of Puri. Accordingly, Samba reached Konaditya Kshetra (Sun area) and discovered an image of Surya seated on the lotus, worshipped him and was relieved of his curse. It is said that the temple was not completed as conceived because the foundation was not strong enough to bear the weight of the heavy dome. Local has religious faith that it was constructed in entirety; however its magnetic dome caused ships to crash near the seashore, and that the dome had to removed and destroyed and that the images of the sun God was taken to Puri.

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Main enterance gate of Temple

Konark sun temple, Orissa

Konark Sun temple wallpaper

Konark sun temple, Orissa

Konark Sun temple Photo

Konark Sun temple images

Konark Sun temple

Festival in Konark temple

Wheel of Konark Sun Temple

dance festival in Konark sun temple

Humayun Tomb - New Delhi

Humayun was the eldest son of Babur succeeded his father and became the second emperor of the Mughal Empire. Humayun’s Tomb is a complex of building which was built by the orders of Hamida Banu Begum, Humayun’s senior widow, Bega Begum, popularly known as Haji Begum, built the magnificent Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, in 1565. It was the first garden-tomb on the made in India and it is situated in Nizamuddin East, Delhi, India.

Gateway of Purana Qila :-
Visitors can see beautiful images of Humayun’s Tomb from the Humayun Darwaza, a gateway in the Purana Qula or Old Fort in Delhi. The architect of the edifice was reportedly Sayyed Muhammad bin Mirak Ghiyasuddin and his father Mirak Ghiyasuddin who was brought in from Herat. Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, the architect of Humayun’s Tomb, designed it in a Persian ‘charbagh’, or square four-garden style enclosed by high walls on three sides, and the River Yamuna on the other. The Father of Humayun and the first Mughal emperor Babur had introduced this style in India. It reached its zenith over the years of Mughal rule, culminating in the magnificence of the Taj Mahal in Agra. According to the historian Laura Sykes, Humayuns tomb is perhaps the Taj’s masculine equivalent, both literally and to some extent architecturally, as the epitome of solid imperial style. The carvings, the inlaid work on the marble of the walls and the trelliswork in red sandstone, are the other special Mughal features of Humayun’s tomb.

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Visitors at Humayun Tomb

Side view of Humayun Tomb

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Humayun Tomb, New delhi, India

Humayu Tomb photo

Front view Of Humayun Tomb.

Enterance to Humayun Tomb

Beautiful image of Humayun Tomb

Humayun Tomb, delhi, India

Humayun Tomb pictures

Humayun Tomb Picture

Humayun Tomb Photo

Humayun Tomb Images

Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur, Karnataka

Gol Gumbaz means round dome. It is the mausoleum of Mohammed Adil Shah, the 7th ruler of the Adil Shahi dynasty of Indian sultans, who ruled the Sultanate of Bijapur from 1490 to 1686. Gol Gumbaz is situated in Bijapur district, in the state of Karnataka, India. The construction of the Gol Gumbaz was completed in 1659, by the famous architect, Yaqut of Dabul. The Dome is the second largest one in the world which is unsupported by any pillars.

Architectures of Gol Gumbaz :

Muhammad Adil shah II (1622-1657), who succeeded Ibrahim II, designed a tomb for him self, that was very different from any tomb in the past. He selected a large tract of land on the east side of the fort far away from the street and designed a square garden inside the gate. Here he built a tomb having a diameter of 44m. On the four corners, a seven storeyed minaret built and a dome 36m in diameter of 44m. On the four corners, a seven storeyed minaret built and a dome 36m in diameter was perched on top. There is no buttress taking the pressure of this the largest dome in India. It just stands on the four sturdy walls. The height of the ceiling is 50m. The space inside has no pillars and is devoid of decorations. At the base of the dome are balconies from where important personalities could look into the tomb.

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Gol Gumbaz images

Gol Gumbaz , Bijapur

Gol Gumbaj photo

Front view of Gol Gumbaz

Visitors at Gol Gumbaz

Gol Gumbaz photo

Gol Gumbaz Picture

Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur, Karnataka

Gol Gumbaz Wallpaper

Gol Gumbaz View

Welcome to the Elephanta Caves

The Elephanta Caves are the great tourist attraction in the Arabian Sea near Mumbai, in the state of Maharastra, India. It is the site of the magnificent natural elephanta caves, containing beautiful carvings sculptures, and a temple to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva. It takes an hour by boat, just 10km away from Gateway of India, Mumbai to reach Elephanta. As one goes towards Elephanta, one passes the Mumbai harbour and the naval barges. The island of Elephanta has been a commercial, military and religions centre for centuries. The sculptures were created beginning in the period of Gupta Empire or after that period. This Elephanta island was designed a UNESCO world Heritage site in 1987 to preserve the artwork.

Island Elephanta :-
The island was the capital of the powerful coastal kingdom. Later the Portuguese took possession of the island. There they found the monolith of an elephant. The island was named Elephanta. As the worship of the figure of the Buddha began to be encouraged with rise of the Mahayana sect of Buddhism, a shrine was introduced to house Buddha’s image, replacing the cells at the centre of the back wall. The Monasteries of Ajanta lead us directly to Elephanta. It appears that the families of crafts men and sculptors, who worked on the Kailasa temple of Ellora and adjoining Buddhist caves at Ellora, were also employed at Elephanta.

After the Portuguese constructed a fort there, they hoisted their flag there towards off pirates. They hoisted their flag there towards off pirates. They used this fort and the sculpture for target practice and training, thereby damaging many sculptures. The British captured the island from the Portuguese. After that they tried to find out who built these caves, but failed. The British planned to take the monolith elephant to England but they could not lift it. It is now kept in the Bombay Museum. Hewn out of solid rock the caves attract more visitors each year than the entire city of Mumbai. No wonder, this place resonates with the spiritual energy of India. The cave complex is a collection of shrines, courtyards, inner cells, grand halls and porticos arranged in the splendid symmetry of Indian rock-cut architecture. While they ruled the island the Portuguese used the carvings of the Hindu gods for target practice this damaging them. However, nothing has disturbed the sublime beauty of this place for centuries.

The Origination :-
At the entrance to the caves is the famous Trimurti, the celebrated trinity of Elephanta: Lord Brahma the creator, Lord Vishnu the Preserver and lord Shiva the Destroyer. In fact, the cave was the creation of an unknown genius, a master architect. Having thoroughly absorbed and assimilated the magnificent contribution of his predecessors in the dual traditions of the independent freestanding sculpture and rock-cut architecture. He produced a monument introducing a completely new world of form quite distinct from any previous achievement.

Hindu Mythology
Elephanta is the place where the main events in the mythology of lord Shiva, are depicted. At Ellora though other gods appear on the panel with Shiva, at Elephanta there is nothing but Shiva in various forms. That is Hindu Mythology. Three gods govern their world: Brahma- the creator, Vishnu - the Preserver and Maheshwara - the Destroyer. Here we find lord Shiva practicing yoga, meditating with snakes coiled around his wife, Parvati. Panel sixth of the caves represents the wedding of Shiva with Parvati. Panel sixth of the caves represents the wedding of Shiva with Parvati with the rites being performed by Brahma and scores of other Gods attending the grand ceremony. The coming of Ganga from heaven to Earth is described in panel fifth of the caves. As the great force of Ganga might have destroyed the Earth, She lands in the hair locks of Shiva who then gently release her. The wise and righteous Lord before whom the forces of evil and ignorance flee and are terrified into submission is carved on the seventh panel. On the western end is the sanctuary of Lingam denoting the essence of creative power. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as the lord of fertility and procreation.

Information for Tourist :-
Elephanta caves are the great tourist attraction in Mumbai. It is situated in Arbian Sea, just 10km away from Gateway of India. It is visited by many domestic as well as foreign visitors. The timing of this island is 9 A. M. to 5 P.M. and closed weekday is Monday. Enterence fee for the SAARC visitors is Rs. 10/- per head and for other $ 5 means Rs. 250/- per head. No fees charged to the children below than 15 years.

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Elephanta Caves Photo

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Elephanta Caves view

The Linga shrine in Elephanta Caves

Outside the cave

Ouside view of Elephanta Caves

Main deity of the Elephanta Caves

Elephanta Caves, Mumbai, India

Dilwara Jain Temples

Dilwara Temple is one of the famous Jain temples in India as well as all over world for its extraordinary architecture and marvelous marble stone carvings. Many experts consider it architecturally superior to the Taj Mahal. The Dilwara temple is situated about 2½ kilometers from Mount Abu, in the state of Rajasthan. This temple was built by Chalukya in 11th and 13th AD. Dilwara temples were built during the age of Jain supremacy and are one of the finest Jain temples of India has to offer.

The Jains built many temples in Rajsthan and other places but they are not so famous like Dilwara temple. The ornamental detail spread over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars and panels is simply marvellous and has to be seen to be believed. The dilwara temple is open only 3 hours, from 12 afternoons to 3 afternoons for visitors. The entry is free in temple but no photography or Camera is allowed inside the temple campus.

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Deity of Dilwara Jain temple

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