INDIA ATI SUNDER

INDIA ATI SUNDER: KEDARNATH AND BADRINATH....HOLY PILGRIMAGE

2012-06-07T20:39:00.001-07:00

INDIA ATI SUNDER: KEDARNATH AND BADRINATH....HOLY PILGRIMAGE: It was always a wish to someday go to these one of the most important holy place nestled high up in the Himalayas,the mountain range from w...

INDIA ATI SUNDER

KEDARNATH AND BADRINATH....HOLY PILGRIMAGE

2012-06-07T05:38:00.001-07:00

It was always a wish to someday go to these one of the most important holy place nestled high up in the Himalayas,the mountain range from which the holy Ganges flows.
In Hinduism there are four holy places located in the four corners of India which a Hindu should visit in a lifetime to absolve one's sins and they are Badrinath in the north ,Rameshwaram in the south,Puri in the west and Dwarka in the west.
Kedarnath is the abode of lord Shiva the destroyer .Lord Shiva is feared as well as revered for protection.
As I had done three of the above places it was time I felt to take the fourth one Badrinath.
We started off from Delhi en route going to Rishikesh a holy town on the Ganges from where the foothills of the Himalayas starts.
May is the month that I decided to start for my spiritual journey and it happened to be the month very popular for the people to go to mountains as it gets very hot in the plains also it is an auspicious month for doing spiritual activity.Multitude of people coming from all over India mainly from the rural areas for whom it is perhaps the most important aspect of life.
It touched my heart to see these people coming from remote areas without much preparation very old husband and wife ,sons bringing their parents all the way up in this difficult terrain ,big groups of families doing the prayers together,standing for hours in the Que..

Lakhman Jhula or the hanging bridge over the Ganges

people interacting with a tourist

spiritual experience

evening prayers at the Gangs

holy prayers and a Guru or teacher

offering prayers

At the Ganges

Achild in gods lap

Evening a beautiful sight with people all coming to the river bank from

nature in all its glory

a mountain woman

local beauty

local deity

crowds thronging the start of the 14 kilometre track uphill

mules lined up to take people up the mountain to Kedarnath

an old lady carried in a palanquin

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waterfalls everywhere

people from rural India

four sturdy local people carrying people on their shoulders

size dosent matter faith matters

taking a break

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lady on amule wearing a saree

melting glaciers

the famous Kedarnath Temple nestled within snowy mountains

people praying with the priest to absolve their sins

Nandi bull who is also revered

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people waing to get inside the temple

A sadhu carrying firewood

holy men who renounce the world

a beautiful doorway

a mountain crow

Rati Temple

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and it starts to rain

people waitng to get their turn

street selling

sunrise

snow capped mountains

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mountain goats

beautiful mountain dogs

pilgrims going on and on

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treacherous roads

some are not so lucky

snow left from the winter

Badrinath Temple

the holy town Badrinath

buying momentos for the family

most of the objects sold for the temples in the homes

Aphotograph to take home

As they say faith can move mountains!

prayers

INDIA ATI SUNDER: Goverdhan Parikrama a pilgrimage

2012-05-09T06:48:00.001-07:00

INDIA ATI SUNDER: Goverdhan Parikrama a pilgrimage: Goverdhan Parikrama is a pilgrimage that one takes around a hill named Goverdhan. Aboyut sixteen kilometres from the holy city of Vrindava...

Goverdhan Parikrama a pilgrimage

2012-05-09T06:46:00.004-07:00

Goverdhan Parikrama is a pilgrimage that one takes around a hill named Goverdhan.
Aboyut sixteen kilometres from the holy city of Vrindavan is situated this town Goverdhan incidently named after the hill Goverdhan.
According to Hindu mythology Lord Krishna grew up around this area mainly covering Mathura his birthplace ,Vrindavan where he grew up and Goverdhan .
It is said that once there was non stop torrential rain which was causing flood like situation,Lord Krishna came to everyone's rescue and lifted this hill on his little finger thus saving everyone.
This belief started that when there is a problem in one's life one should go around this hill and god blesses and protects everyone.
The path around the hill is of 21kms and one goes barefoot around it to feel the holy presence of Lord Krishna.
All around it are small villages and scattered are lot of old temples and holy lakes.

Behind the trees is the Goverdhan hill,not very high and about 7kms long.

on the way there is a lot of greenery with water bodies around

the sunset behind the hill

undertaking the walk

places to rest on the way

local shopkeepers whoi sell drinks and food

walking and walking

some beautiful monuments

there is a side walk and a road parallel to the route

this family is doing the round by continuously lying down and not walking

the lady here has a stone that she places after lying down and continues from that point again it takes about 24hrs to complete it like this.

lot of water bodies around the way

my dear sisters

half way is the point where Krishna lifted the hill

some old temples

temples along the way

religious festivity

hindu gods and godesses

old monuments

temple

very old ruins

this picture shows Lord Krishna lifting the mountain on his little finger.

going on at night

yes we did it ...finished the walk ..a lot of satisfaction and sense of achievment.

Along with my sisters and an aunt I went for this pilgrimage barefoot and finished it in 5hrs nonstop.We started at 4.30 pm and finished the walk at 9.30pm.Along the way we saw so many people from all walks of life undertaking this walk ,some also doing it by lying down in continuty all the way... As they say faith can move mountains!

INDIA ATI SUNDER: PUSHKAR the holy city

2012-02-14T23:15:00.000-08:00

INDIA ATI SUNDER: PUSHKAR the holy city: Steps leading to the Brahma Temple pilgrims A Temple Bazaar women selling vegetables handmade footwear m...

PUSHKAR the holy city

2012-02-14T05:32:00.000-08:00

Steps leading to the Brahma Temple

pilgrims

A Temple

Bazaar

women selling vegetables

handmade footwear made of leather

steps to the holy lake

shop selling stuff used in holy ceremonies

The white city Pushkar

Aravali hills surrounding the city

people taking a dip in the lake

pigeons all around as its considered a good karma or deed to feed birds

priests performing rituals

Aritual for the wellbeing of the family and also for the dead

rose petals floating...they are used for the rituals

spiritual discussions!

Bazaar

pilgrims

steps going down to the lake

age old buildings telling a story of the past

tourists enjoying lunch

colours used for festival of holi

fresh meals

Pushkar is situated in Rajasthan,a holy city situated around a lake.This is the only city which has the temple of lord Brahma who is the creator of this universe according to the Hindu mythology.It witnesses one of the most colourful congregation of people who come here to take a holy dip in the lake, on Kartic Poornima ,a full moon day in the month of november usually ,according to the lunar calender.During the time of this religious festival people come from far and wide and camp here with their livestock or cattle thus starting one of the best cattle fairs of the country.

PINK CITY JAIPUR

2012-01-12T10:05:00.000-08:00

One of the most colourful cities of India is Jaipur the capital of Rajasthan. It is also famous as the Pink City because the old city is painted pink or in terracota colour
.This bustling city's architecture with its jharokas or windows and the running verandas in the city centre are amazing ,the shops that are lined up with shopkeepers selling everything traditional as well as modern and the people wearing colourful clothes going about their shopping or selling goods which also are so colourful .

City centre in Jaipur the terrace of the shop is lined up with traditional headgear or turbans worn by menfolk in weddings or on festive occasions.

beautiful entry to the old city

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everybody has a right to be on the road

one of the exit gates

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Women selling fresh vegetables on the footpath in the winter sun.

The entrance to the city palace where the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur lives.

The palace of winds or the Hawa Mahal ,the small windows in front of the building for women folk to watch the religious processions in olden days.

The beautiful windows attract the tourists from the world.

The Albert Musium has some amazing artifacts of historical value.

The turban or the head gear is traditionallyworn by men all over Rajasthan,the style of tying the turban is different in different area of the state suiting to their community and the region .The turban is also a symbol of honour for men and is respected.The rows of turbans above are mainly ceremonial worn in weddings by the men who take part in the wedding procession behind the groom.This is a modern concept to get a readymade turban as many people in the cities do not know the technique to tie it......it is usually nine yards.

The beautiful Birla Mandir made in white marble with the old Fort Moti Dungri as backdrop is eyecatching

Moti Dungri Fort the residence of late Maharaja Man Singh II of Jaipur

A cycle rikshaw carrying trunks which are popularly used by people to store clothes in

Old residences above the market place

shops selling handicrafts

The beautiful gate to enter the residential areas behind the bazaar

Johari bazar

The Amer Fort of Jaipur in all its grandeur

The Aravali hills surrounding the Amer Fort

Amer Fort lush green in the monsoon

Abeautiful backdrop of the famous Amer Fort

Tourists enjoying the elephant rides to the fort and back

Amer Fort

on a clear day Amer Fort

JUNAGARH FORT BIKANER

2012-01-06T23:03:00.000-08:00

One of the most majestic forts in India is the Junagarh Fort .It was built by the Rathore rulers who founded the city of Bikaner.The sprawling fort boasts of art and culture from this desert area ,the stone carvings and paintings on the walls are spellbounding.Maharaja Ganga Singh was one of the most powerful ruler of this city who brought glory and fame to this city.

Junagarh Fort

Hand crafted stone windows

Coloured glass used tobring in colour and light from outside

Gold leaf work a trditional art form from Bikaner

A beautiful window

Amonsoon scene depicted beautifully inside one of the palace rooms

Statue of a Hindu diety

Terrace

View of the city which surrounds the fort

All around art works on the walls

A tourist from Australia capturing the beauty around

Sprawling fort premises

Winter sun filtering in from the beautiful window

Museum inside the fort showcasing arms and ammunition from the bygone era

Stone carving

Wooden ceiling handcrafted

A protecting deity or the monkey god Hanuman

Maharaja Ganga Singh

Rural life in India

2011-12-16T01:57:00.000-08:00

A large chunk of Rajasthan is covered by Thar desert.Agriculture is largely dependent on rain water which is scanty ,but the desert blooms even if there's little rain .The farmers sow their seeds and four to five months they stay mostly on their farms doing the tilling ,protecting their crop and harvesting it.The women folk wear very colourful clothes and make a beautiful sight with the desert as the backdrop.Cattle rearing is also a source of livelihood so one sees a lot of sheep goat cows camels donkeys.and buffaloes.The highways are a good window to se the rural life.

Khejariis the name of the tree which one finds all over the desert area,it is a very usefull tree as the lleaves are used as cattle feed the beans that grow on the tree are used as vegetable by the locals,the dried beans called Sangri can be dried and stored for years and can be boiled and cookedas a delicasy.As the tree grows vertical with leaves upward it does not hamper the growth of the crops,it is also worshipped as it a major source of utility.

Asingle hut on the farm is mostly used during monsoon when a farmer grows his crops otherwise the farmers stay in the village

in rural india mostly women carry a lot of stuff on their head.

women carrying firewood

After the rains a villager stcking up firewood.

Camel carts are the popular transport for the villagers specially to go to their farms.

Acamel crossing the highway also one can see antelopes like chinkara and blackbucks,sometimes wild boar and blue bulls also.

The drive to Bikaner from Jaipur is very interesting with bthe sand dunes all around

Nagarhole National Park

2011-12-03T06:06:00.000-08:00

This park is situated in the state of Karnataka,some 80km from Mysore ,a beautiful city which has one of the most beautiful Mysore palace and other historical monuments and buildings.This national park boasts of Tiger,leopard,Indian bison,antelope,wild elephant and wild boar etc.The setting is beautiful with the Kabini river flowing and the huge reservoir checking the river water.The boatrides on the reservoir to see the wildlife is amazing as there are a lot of chances to see the animals from close quarter.

Camels and the Highway

2011-11-14T23:10:00.002-08:00

INDIA ATI SUNDER: Camels and the Highway: Add caption Indian Highway and going alongside is the ancient mode of transportation which is still very much used in the villages.Thes...

KERALA

2011-11-10T03:31:00.000-08:00

Gods own land as they say ..the picturesque scenes that one sees all around

are breathtaking .Very well equipped for tourists and so much to see ...a must see for everyone!

GUJRAT

2011-10-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

Gujrat is a state on the western part of India.This state is a piligrims delight ,as one travels in the sate one see the holy saffron colour all around .This picture here is of Kalpvriksh or a wishing tree,people come here to hoping that their wishes will be fulfilled .They say that there are only two such trees in I ndia,one is this one in Gujrat and another one in Bihar.This tree flowers once a year in monsoon time.

Worshipping Nature

Narayan Sarovar Holy Place

Koteshwara a Shiva Temple

Migratry Flamingos

2011-10-05T04:02:00.001-07:00