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Bodh Gaya is associated with the enlightenment of Lord Buddha (566-486 B.C.). The sacred Bodhi tree under which he is believed to have attained enlightenment. The place is highly venerated by the Buddhists. Emperor Asoka visited Bodh Gaya around 260 B.C. and constructed a small temple near the Bodhi tree. An inscription datable to 1st – 2nd century A.D. mentions that the temple of Asoka was replaced by a new one.  Fahien first makes reference to the main temple and the Bodhi tree in 404-05 A.D. Hieun Tsang, who visited the site in 637 A.D. mentions the presence of walls surrounding the Bodhi tree, within which stood the Mahabodhi temple nearly 160 feet tall and a large fine sanctuary. Several additions and alterations took place and the present temple may be datable to the 6th century A.D. The temple fell into disuse in the 13th century A.D. after the co...

  Sun Temple, Konarak (1984), Orissa Built in the thirteenth century, it was conceived as a gigantic solar chariot with twelve pairs of exquisitely-ornamented wheels dragged by seven rearing horses. The temple comprised a sanctum with a lofty (presumably over 68 m. high) sikhara, a jagamohana (30. m. square and 30. m. high) and a detached nata-mandira (hall of dance) in the same axis, besides numerous subsidiary shrines. The sanctum and the nata-mandira have lost their roof. The nata-mandira exhibits a more balanced architectural design than that of other Orissan temples. The sanctum displays superb images of the Sun-god in the three projections which are treated as miniature shrines. The sanctum and the jagamohana together stand on a common platform studded with an intricate wealth of decorative ornaments and sculptures, often of a highly erotic t...

Kumbh Mela   is a mass   Hindu pilgrimage   in which Hindus gather at the   Sangam, meeting place, of the rivers   Ganges,Yamuna   and mythical   Sarasvati, at   Prayag   where bathing for purification from sin is considered especially auspicious. The festival is billed as the "biggest gathering on Earth"; in 2001 more than 40 million gathered on the busiest of its 55 days. The   Ardh   (half) Kumbh Mela is celebrated every six years at   Haridwar   and Allahabad, the Purna   (complete) Kumbh takes place every twelve years,   at four places Allahabad,Haridwar,   Ujjain, and   Nashik.The Mela alternates between Nasik, Allahabad, Ujjain and Haridwar every three years . According to the Mela Administration's estimates, around 70 million people participated in the 45-day Ardh Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, in 2007.The last "Kumbh Mela " held in 2010 in Haridwar estimated by the authorities to attract betwe...

Khajuraho, the ancient Kharjjura-vahaka represent today a distinct pattern of art and temple architecture of its own reminding one of the rich and creative period it witnessed during the Chandella rule. It was the principal seat of authority of the Chandella rulers who adorned it with numerous tanks, scores of lofty temples of sculptural grace and architectural splendour. The local tradition lists eighty-five temples but now only twenty-five are standing examples in various stages of preservation. But for Chausath-Yogini, Brahma and Mahadeva which are of granite, all the other temples are of fine grained sandstone, buff, pink or pale yellow in colour. Website Yasovarman (AD 954) built the temple of Vishnu, now famous as Lakshmana temple is an ornate and evolved example of its time proclaiming the prestige of the Chandellas.                                             ...

Sanchi, variously known as Kakanaya, Kakanava, Kakanadabota and Bota-Sriparvata in ancient times, has a singular distinction of having remarkable specimen of Buddhist art and architecture right from the early Mauryan period (c. third century BC to twelfth century AD). Sanchi is famous in the world for stupas, monolithic Asokan pillar, temples, monasteries and sculptural wealth. It was Emperor Asoka who laid the foundations of a religious centre at Sanchi fascinated probably by the location of the hill or because of his Queen Devi, who was the daughter of a merchant of Vidisha. He erected the Great Stupa (Stupa 1) here after redistribution of mortal remains of Lord Buddha for erecting several stupas all over the country in order to spread Buddhism. This stupa was originally a low structure of brick, half the diameter of the present edifice hemispherical in shape with raised terraces at the base. It was enclosed by a wooden railing and a stone umbrella at the top. This Great Stupa s...

Akshardham   is a   Hindu temple   complex in   Delhi,   India.Also referred to as   Delhi Akshardham or   Swaminarayan Akshardham , the complex displays millennia of traditional   Hindu and   Indian culture, spirituality, and architecture. The building was inspired and developed by   Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of the   Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, whose 3,000 volunteers helped 7,000   artisans   construct Akshardham. The Temple, which attracts approximately 70 percent of all tourists who visit Delhi,was officially opened on 6 November 2005.   It sits near the banks of the   Yamuna   adjacent to the   2010 Commonwealth Games village in eastern New Delhi.   The temple, at the center of the complex, was built according to the   Vastu Shastra   and   Pancharatra Shastra. In addition to the large central temple crafted entirely of stone,...

Kanha National Park in India is home to many species of animals and birds, including the Royal tiger and various species of deer, the most common of which is the Chital, or spotted, deer. Kanha National Park is also home to a heady mix of I ndian wild dogs, Indian wolves, sloth bears, pangolins, hyenas, otters, and leopards. There are also several species of colorful local birds, with peacocks, spotted owls, white-breasted kingfishers, and golden orioles all in abundance. Web