Visit to Junagadh, Girnar, Somnath and Dwaraka in Jan-2019

A visit to Guru Dattatreya Temple, Girnar and Somnath and Dwaraka was organized by Durg Malhar Treks and Tours from 5 Jan, 2019 to 8 Jan-19. The travel was done by railway, bus and auto-rikshaw. Sumant Kelkar, Sadhana and me extended this tour to Dwaraka from 5-Jan, 2019 to 11-Jan-19 and returned to Thane on 12-Jan-2019.

Visit to Dwaraka, Rukmani, Nagnath, Gopi and Bet Dwaraka from 09-Jan-19 to 11-Jan-19

On 09-Jan-2019, visited Dwaraka, Rukmini Temple, Nagnath Mandir, Gopi, Bhet Dwaraka. Krishna ruled from Dwaraka, spent time with Gopies at Gopi village and his residence was at Bhet Dwarka. Bhet Dwaraka is also known for the Sudama's - Krishna's childhood friend visit

.

Selfie at Dwaraka Station : The steam-engine named as "Dwaraka"

Visit to Somnath on 08-Jan-2019

Visited Somnath Temple located at Prabhas Patan near Veralval in Saurashtra believed to be the first Jyotirlinga of Shiva. The site of Somnath has been a pilgrimage site from ancient times on account of being a Triveni Sangam (the confluence of three rivers: Kapila, Hiran and Sarasvati). The present temple is built in the Chaulukya style of temple architecture or "Kailash Mahameru Prasad" style.

The temple is situated at such a place that there is no land in a straight line between Somnath seashore until Antarctica, such an inscription in Sanskrit is found on the Bāṇastambha (Sanskrit: बाणस्तम्भ, lit. arrow pillar) erected on the sea-protection wall. The Bāṇastambha mentions that it stands at a point on the Indian landmass that is the first point on land in the north to the South Pole at that particular longitude.

With Kelkar and Sadhana at Somnath Beach

Visit to Dattatreya Temple on Girnar Peak on 7 Jan-2019

A visit to Guru Dattatreya Temple, Girnar Peak was organized by Durg Malhar Treks and Tours in Jan, 2019. Girnar Mountain is older than Himalayas The temple of Guru Dattatreya is located on the top of holy mountain Girnar and takes a tough climb of 10,000 steps .On the way, the devotee passes Jain temples around 3,800 steps, Goddess Ambaji 5,000 steps and Gorakhnath around 7,000 steps. Gorakhnath is the highest peak in Gujarat. The climb is quite difficult and testing the mental and physical ability of the devotees.

Visit to Shri Swaminarayan Temple, Junagadh on 06-Jan-2019

 Shri Swaminarayan Temple, Junagadh 

A group of 60 tourist visited the temple in the evening. The climate was pleasant and with a lot of tourists around and the ambiance of the temple and surrounding was really enjoyable. in 1828, Swaminarayana himself  installed Shri Ranchhodrai and Trikamrai in the inner sanctum.

Day 01-18 Multi-state Tour from 15-Nov-2018 to 02-Dec-2018

A long drive to visit various religious and tourist places by road was in my mind for many years. At last, the wish realized in Nov-2018 with company of Sadhana, Vijumama and Shubhdamami. We traveled a distance of more than 6,200 km and touched 10 state of India by my Tavera and visited many places of religious, historical and geographical importance. 

The Group - DY, Sadhana, Raju, Mami, Vijumama- L to R

Day 18 - Visit to Chandwad, Saptashringi, Dindoshi on 02-Dec-2018

Chandwad Parashurama was asked by his father Jamadagnito kill his mother Renuka. Parashurama separated her head from body. The head landed in Chandwad while the body felled near Mahur. There is a scenic temple of Goddess Renuka on the outskirts of Chandwad.

Day 17 - Visit to Indore, Omkareshwar, Mandaleshwar on 01-Dec-2018

Khajrana Ganesh Temple  was built in 1735 by Rani Ahilya Bai Holkar. It is said that the ancient statue in the temple statue was seen in a dream of a local Pandit Mangal Bhatt. After this dream, the queen Ahilya Bai Holkar excavated and installed the idol from under the ground and installed it. From where the statue was removed, there is a well, which is right in front of the temple.

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".