the light baggage

Overview:   We then continued our last leg of our trip to the plains of Chamarajanagar. We stopped at Yelandur for our breakfast, after which we visited the Gaurishwara temple, built during the Vijayanagara period in the 16th century. One unique feature of this temple is the Bale Mantapa, which is carved out of a stone in the shape of a bangle. The structure also has several carvings and also has a big stone tablet with inscriptions.       From Yelandur, the next place we visited was Hole Alur, which has a very ancient temple built by the Gangas in the 9th century dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is ticked in the middle of an agricultural field with coconut and arekanut trees surrounding it. The temple is not huge but it is a pretty structure.   We then moved to Chamarajanagar, the district headquarters, to see the Chamarajeshwara temple. This temple was built in 1826 dedicated to Lord Shiva, and the temple is named after Sri Chamarajendra Wodeyar. ...

Overview:   A road trip to the hills and plains of Chamarajanagar district was on my wish list for a long time. We started off with Male Mahadeshwara Betta. The Mahadeshwara hill temple built at a height of 3000 feet was built by Junje Gowda dedicated to the Veerashaiva saint Mahadeshwara. This temple is popular with both pilgrims and nature lovers as the entire area is rich in flora and fauna. It is said that Saint Mahadeshwara lived here in the 15th century. The temple is located in the midst of seven hills in the Western Ghats, which are rich in flora and fauna. The hills provide a pretty sight while driving to the temple. The hills connect Karnataka to the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Within the temple premises, one can see the new Gopuras overlooking a kalyani, where both old and new tanks can be seen. On certain days like Shivaratri, the chariot is taken around the temple where thousands of devotees witness the event.             From...

Overview:   "Coffee shops" and the "Red Light district" are the places which are synonymous with Amsterdam. A walk around the area itself is an experience, if the actual experience seems too adventurous. * Take the canal cruise across the city touching major landmarks and museums in Amsterdam Explore heritage homes like Anne Frank's residence and Van Gogh museum. * Wine and Dine at some traditional restaurant and watch the summer sun setting past dinner time. * Madame Tussauds Wax museum * Bicycle through the city to experience its culture through the city centre.          

Overview: I was wonderstruck when I saw the majestic Kailasa temple at Ellora. This structure has been carved out of a single hillock using some ancient technology which is unimaginable today. Though the inscriptions reveal that the temple was used during the period of Rashtrakutas in the 8th century, the monument itself might have been initially built much earlier. The entrance to the temple leads us to two symmetric gigantic pillars, beautifully carved to precision. On the outer boundary of the temple, pillared caves are built with carved stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, each carving being atleast 10 feet high. The interior of the temples are no less fascinating, which can be reached by climbing a series of steps on to the first floor. The huge hall with intricate carvings leads to the Shiva linga, which is the main deity of the temple. Both inner and outer walls of the temples are beautifully decorated with carvings. Of all the monuments in India, this temple wo...