Mahabalipuram Tourism

 

Destination Mahabalipuram

 

The spectacular beautyof the city of Mahabalipuram has fascinated the tourists. It is situated in the southern India. It is one of the popular tourist destinations. The city was previously entitled Mamallapuram, later it came to be known as Mahabalipuram or ‘The land of Bali’. People from different parts of the world come down to visit the city of Mahabalipuram. It can be the ideal holiday heaven if the vacationer is in quest of solitude.

Mahabalipuram is situated at a distance of 55 kilometers from the metropolitan city of Chennai. Tourism in Mahabalipuram is aided by the shore temple, Arjuna’s Penance, the largest bas relief and the beautiful mandapas are worth watching indeed. Arjuna’s Penance is a piece of work on a vertical rock and is indeed the major tourist attractions.

Shore Temple and the five rathas are the major tourist attractions of Mahabalipuram. These reflect the Dravidian style of architecture that had evolved later. The city is dotted with a number of rock temples or mandapas. The Mahishamardhani and the Adivaraha are the eminent among the rest. The Mahishamardhani is depicted on walls facing each other. Rocks have been skillfully scooped out to create the cave temples and the rock-cut shrines. This is one of the unique features of the mandapas. Rock surfaces are filled with bas-reliefs and panels that are crowded with a procession of gods, men and animals. The figures and the movements are superbly realistic.

Varaha Cave Temple is an example of Indian rock-cut architecture. The cave temple dates back to the late 7th century. The village had been a busy port in the 7th and 8th century when the place was ruled by Pallava dynasty. It is also the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Kanheri Caves, Badami Cave Temples and Indian rock-cut architecture are the other major attractions.

Arjuna’s Penance is the open air bas-relief monolith. It dates back to the 7th century. The height is about 96 feet long by 43 feet high. The bas-relief is also regarded as The Descent of Ganga. The bas-relief has been entitled with two names since there is not full agreement about which of the stories is depicted by the mural.

Tourists venture for the trip to Southern India during The Dance Festival of Mahabalipuram. The festival is hosted by the Department of Tourism of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The classical music and dance performances like Kuchipudi, Bharathanatyam, Odissi, Kathakali and folk dances by some of the best professionals. The festival is held during the 25th of December. It is conducted on all Saturdays and Government holidays till the first week of February. In the natural landscape near the sea side watching the festival will be an unforgettable experience. The sea beach can be the mesmerizing focal point of the tourists. The location of Mahabalipuram is on the coastal region of Bay of Bengal. In fact, Mahabalipuram earns a lot of revenue from travel and tourism industry.

The city with its beaches and mandapas will allure the visitors to take another golden triangle tour in the next vacation.

Bhubaneswar Tour, Bhubaneswar Vacation

Destination Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar is the capital of Orissa. It has been graced with the name of “Temple City of India”. There are about 5000 well-decorated temples in Bhubaneswar. The three temple towns of Orissa are Puri, Bhubaneswar and Konark which merge together to reflect the true essence of golden temple triangle of the eastern part of the country.

Bhubaneswar is the hub of the Hindu pilgrimage. It is a perfect blend of the traditional yesteryears and modern present. The temples of Bhubaneswar dates back to the 25 centuries. Bhubaneswar has immense historical heritage. The major temples that are among the tourist’s itinerary are the Parashurameshwara Temple, Vital Deul, Mukteswar Temple, Lingaraja Temple and a lot more. The other sightseeing attractions apart from the temples are Orissa State Museum, Handicrafts Museum, Tribal Museum and a lot more.

Parashurameshwara Temple was established in the year 650 AD. The carvings and sculptures have beautified it. Vital Deul dates back to 800 AD. It exhibits the Buddhist cave architecture which is pretty impressive. The temple is dedicated to the Chamunda, who is the incarnation of Goddess Kali.

Mukteswar Temple was established in between 7-8 th century. It is also known as the “miniature gem of Orissan architecture. It reflects the ideas of the Kalinga School of architecture. It is a fusion of the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain architecture. The arched gateway can be the mesmerizing focal point of the tourists.

Lingaraja Temple was established during the 10th or 11th century. The Great Lingaraja temple is also described as ‘time quintessence of Orissan architecture’. It will render a perfect insight into the Orissan temple architecture. The tower of the Lingaraja is of the height of over 180 feet (55 meters). The shape is curved.

The natamandira (hall of dance), jagmohana (porch) and the bhoga-mandapa (hall of offering) are some of the other structures of the temple that gives an idea about the wide range of activities conducted at the temple. There are about 150 other shrines near the temple. However, non-Hindus are restricted from visiting the religious site.

The beautiful sculptures incorporate elegant female figures, peacocks, monkeys and a wide array of lovely decorative details that will leave a lasting impression on the visitors.

Orissa State Museum is a storehouse of sculptures, lithic and bronze-age tools, stone inscriptions, palm-leaf manuscripts, rare copper plates, anthropological specimens, paintings and musical instruments. The Handicrafts Museum will give an insight into the horn toys, folk paintings, brass castings and sculptures. Tribal Museum is the ideal venue for those who are keen to know about the tribal life and culture of Orissa.

Durga Puja, Janmashtami and Kali Puja are some of the major festivals conducted in Bhubaneswar. During Ashokashtami which is held in the month of March, the image of Lingaraja and other deities are carried in a chariot during the procession to Rameshwara Temple from Lingaraja Temple. The devotees participate in pulling the chariot. The deities are kept in Rameshwara Temple for four days. Adivasi Mela, is yet another major festival celebrated in the region.

The Tour to Bhubaneswar will render the opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of the place.