Day 16 - Visit to Sanchi, Tropic of Cancer, Ujjain, Saraf Galli on 30-Nov-2018

Sanchi  is a Buddhist complex, famous for its Great Stupa. The Great Stupa at Sanchi is one of the oldest stone structures in India, and an important monument of Indian Architecture.[1] It was originally commissioned by the emperor Ashoka in the 2nd century BCE.  In the 1st century BCE, four elaborately carved toranas (ornamental gateways) and a balustrade encircling the entire structure were added. The complex has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Day 15 - Visit to Bheda Ghat, Raisen as on 29-Nov-2018

Bheda Ghat  Major attraction is a waterfall known as Dhuandhar, which looks like smoke coming out of the river and therefore it got its name as "Dhuan(smoke)-dhar(flow of water)". Another major attraction is 'Bandar Kodini', when one travels in between the marble rocks in a boat, the mountains at both the sides at one point come so close that the monkeys are able to jump across them, hence the name "Bandar Kodini". 

Day 14 - Visit to Maihar Devi on 28-Nov-2018

Sharda Devi Maihar  is known for the Maa Sharda devi temple(around of 502 A.D.), set at the highest of Trikoota. There are 1063 steps to reach the top of the hill. But one can take vehicle and circle up the hill. View from the view is very scenic and one can see Maihar City and ranges of Satpura. The name Maihar is created from the conjunction of 2 words 'Mai'(Mother)+ 'Har'(Necklace).  It is also one of the 51 Shakti Peeths of goddess Parvati.

It takes about 2 hours to see this place and spend say about an hour in the temple. Very religious place and came as additional bonus as we had not planned to visit this but could take call last moment and visited this place afater visiting Bheda Ghat and our way towards Sanchi-Ujjain-Indore.

Day 13 - Visit to Varanasi and travel to Rewa on 27-Nov-2019

Sararam to Varanasi road was jam due to traffic of heavy vehicles and Varanasi roads were jammed with heavy vehicles making driving tricky.

Had fresh and delicious and breakfast (Sattu Paratha, Aluparatha, Mixed Pakoda) at LBS Food Plaza in the out skirts of Sasaram which was just opened by an MBA student Aminesh after spending a few years in Pune and then moving to the home town to start his own business near his hometown i.e. Sasaram. 

Kashi Vishwanath Temple is one of the most famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva on the western bank of the holy river Ganga, and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. It was destroyed and re-constructed a number of times in history. The last structure was demolished by Aurangzeb, the sixth Mughal emperor who constructed the Gyanvapi Mosque on its site. The current structure was built on an adjacent site by the Maratha ruler, Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore in 1780.

View of famous and historical Ganga Ghat

Day 12 - Travel from Konark to Sasaram on 26-Nov-2018

Highway Hotel Keonjar to Sasaram via Chakradharpur, Ranchi, Chhatra, Aurangabad. Very fortunate to get a highway-side hotel in Keojar after 1100 pm.

Very long tiring journey of 842 kms. with one halt on the highway hotel. The road after Ranchi was through the forest and the travel involved some worry in case of vehicle break down in the remote area and we all were travelling for the first time in these state i.e. Odisha, Jharkhand and Bihar.

Fortunate to get accommodation in front of Sasaram railway station after 11.30 pm.

Day 11- Visit to Konark, Pipli, Bhubaneshwar Dhauli Stupa, Simhachal on 24-Nov-2018

Reached Beach, Konark at Sunrise and surprised to see a few thousand tourists at the beach before 5 am to see the sunrise. The day was memorable because of the twilight of Moon, bath in the sea and observing the sunrise, offering prayers to the rising Sun. 

The beach in the twilight of the Moon just before Sunrise

Day 10- Visit to Puri and Konark as on 23-Nov-2019

Jagannath Temple Puri is one of four pithas (important place for Hindus) along with Dwaraka, Rameshwaram and Badrinath.  Spent about 3 hours in the premises of the Jaganath Temple and also had delicious prasadam in an earthen pot. The market is good but could spent about 30-45 minutes. Need to visit this place once again and move around in this holy city.

Day 09 -Visit to Pithapuram as on 22-Nov-2018

Srikshetra Pithapuram Sripada Srivallabha′s  the first and Foremost Incarnation (Avatar). Incarnation took place in 1320 AD at Srikshetra Pithapuram. We could spend about half day in the temple area and attended the pooja on Poornima day and a few hundreds of devotees had joined the pooja. Most of the devotees were from Maharashtra. Was hoping to visit this temple for last many years and the dream came true. We all were very satisfied and peaceful time was spent in the temple.

Day 08 - Travel from Srisailam to Pithauram as on 22-Nov-2018

Srisailam to Pithauram was full day travelling and a distance of 482 km was covered to reach Pithapuram. We started around 10 am from Srisailam after taking darshan of Hanuman temple at Patalganga and reached Pithapur aound 11 pm. via Dornala, Guntur, Vijaywada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Samarlakota, Jalluru. 

Srisailam Ghat towards Dornala

Day 07 - Visit to Mahanandi, Srisailya as on 21-Nov-2019

Mahanandi Temple, is located Nallamala Hills near Nandyal one of the Nava Nandis. The main temple is surrounded by three pools: two small pools at the entrance and one big pool inside the temple itself. Could spend 2 hours and it was a quick darshan before proceeding to Srisailya.

Mahanandi Temple

Day 06 - Visit to Kuravpur, Mantralaya as on 20-Nov-2018

SHRIKSHETRA KURAVPUR island is surrounded by holy waters of rivers Krishna. Temple is built as per Hemad Pandit Style. Old Banyan Tree, Audumbar, Gaytri Suryodasana and Cave where his holyness Sripad Srivallabh has done Dhyna. Now the cave has been refurnished and Nirgun Paduka (Foot Print) are kept for Darshan.

The place is not easily accessible and one has to go to Atkur from Raichur either by own vehicle or buses. Buses are very limited in the day and need to plan the visit as per the timetable of the buses.  Click here for the Map of Atkur and Agrahar to reach the temple by walk. 

Click here for Kuravpur History and its Importance ( Mahatmya).

Day 05 - Visit to Humpi, Raichur as on 19-Nov-2019

Humpi-capital of Vijayanager empire is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  It became the centre of the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire capital in the 14th century. Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city on the banks of Tungabhadra River, with temples, farms and trading markets.  The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated and destroyed by a coalition of Muslim sultanates of Bijapur, Golconda, Ahemednagar, Bidar in 1565. 

Read about prosperity Vijaynagar Empire and its destruction of Humpi in school and could visit this historical place. Realized both aspects of prosperity and massive destruction by the sultanates.

Day 04 - Visit to Kudal, Aihole, Pattakadal, Banshankari, Hospete as on 18-Nov-2018

Day 04 proved to be very busy right from early morning to the late evening we were busy in visiting Kuadl, Aihole Pattakadal and Banshanakri. Actually, Aihole and Pattakadal requires more time to watch the monuments. But could spent very limited time these location. Thinking of visiting these places once again to get into the details.

Kudal Sangam  as the holy pilgrim and trenowned for temple of Sangameshwara  on the river bank, at the confluence (Triveni Sangam) of the Krishna, Ghatprabha and the Malaprabha rivers. The temple is build in Chalukya style. The tample campus is clean and maintained by Kudalsangama Development Board

Sangamanatha temple at Kudalasangama

Day 03- Visit on Ganagapur, Vijayapura, Almatti on 17-Nov-2019

Day 03 was marked by visiting Ganagapur, Vijaypura and Almatti. Visiting Vijayapura was in my mind for last many years. Although, it was very convinient to make a day visit from Solapur where I have been numerous number of time, but could not make it. I had been to Holy Ganagapur for three times earlier. Although, the importance of the place is immense, the overall management and administration has turned more than commercial and taking darshana has become difficult and embarrassing.

Apart from the main temple and the Sangam (confluence of Bhima and Amaraja), one can visit  Audumbar Tree at Sangam, Ash Hill (Bhasma Dongar) Shree Kalleshwar Mandir and other places.

Please click this link for Places to visit in Ganagapur .

Day 02 - Visit to Mhasvad, Velapur, Aran, Akkalkot on 16-Nov-2019

The day 02 started with visit to Siddhanath Temple,  Mhaswad. It was my second visit to the temple. Mhaswad is a historical town in Satara District. The place was ruled by Mane under Deccan Sultanates and Aurangzeb. We took a quick darshan and moved for the next place i.e. Velapur.

Sidhhanath and Jogeshwari

Day 01 - Visit to Mahad, Narayani, Shikhar Shinganapur, Gondawale

The journey for the long tour started on 15-Nov-2018 from Dombivili around 09.00 am and we reached Gondawale after visiting Mahad, Narayani Temple, Lonawala and Shikhar Shinganapur. We all were excited to travel about 6000 km and we halted at Gondawale at Guru's Samadhi Mandir.

Gondawale Maharaj Samadhi Mandir at Gondawale

Visit to Yadgirgutta ,Kesargutta and Chikur "Visa" Balaji on 06-Nov-2018

One full day tour was with relatives done in Diwali Days in Nov-2019 by Toyota Innova. It was good day out. We visited Yadgirgutta ,Kesargutta and Chikur "Visa" Balaji. The story of 'Visa Balaji' was interesting where in devotees.

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Yadgirgutta The temple is an abode of Narasimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu situated on hilock in Yadgirgutta.

Kulkarnis, Joshis, Bhoskar and Pathaks

Visit to Golconda Fort as on 04-Nov-2018

Visited Golkonda Fort  second time after 1987 during the 2018 Diwali stay in Hyderabad. The four hours of round in the fort area with relatives was a good time spending and re-calling that a hand clap at a certain point below the dome at the entrance reverberates and can be heard clearly at the 'Bala Hisar' pavilion, the highest point almost a kilometer away. 

Cheerful Bhoskars, Kulkarnis, Joshis and Pathaks