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Showing posts from June, 2014

Madhya Pradesh Trip-3: Visit to Chitrakoot

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Watch the full video here Overview: I first heard about Chitrakoot while watching the TV series Ramayan in the 1980s. Then later read several books and heard from different people how important Chitrakoot is in Indian history. I reached Chitrakoot from Gwalior at around 4am in the morning, and I had booked the Retiring room at Chitrakoot Railway station for my accomodation. But unfortunately after reaching ChitrakootDham railway station, I found the Retiring room in a shabby conditon and in complete darkness. People were sleeping on the platform and there was nobody to guide me on the retiring room. So finally I decided to move out of the station and look for accomodation. I managed to get a single room just opposite the Railway station for Rs 800. There are several options for stay near the railway station, and since I had my next train past midnight, I preferred some place quite close so that I can just walk to the train station. I got freshened up and at around 7:30am, I ventured ou

Virupakshi: Ruins of the Vijayanagara empire

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Overview: We heard of Virupakshi in the Mulbagal tourism website and wanted to visit this. Its around 4kms from Mulbagal town and has a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva which has the architecture similar to the temple in Hampi. We reached Virupakshi in the afternoon so the temple was closed. But we got enough time to appreciate the temple architecture and design. It is believed that on certain days, the sun rays fall directly on the Shiva Linga in the Sanctum Sanctorum. This temple belongs to the Vijayanagara period and was built in the 12th century. We also saw a small shrine dedicated to Lord Venugopalaswamy inside the temple complex. There is also a tank(Kalyani) outside which is now in a sorry state.             Nearby we went to Bangaru Tirupati temple which is around 6 kms from Bethamangala. This temple is a miniature version of the Venkateshwara temple in Tirupati. There is a huge tank where people were having a dip. We have to climb a series of stairs to reach the idol of the