wheels_khanabadosh

28/01/2020

Once upon a time in Bourges!!

15/01/2020

A short trip to 64 yoginis temple, it’s only 20 kms from Bhubaneswar!! Yet so far, I have started wondering what we don’t have in our state!! Mountains, waterfalls, national parks, forest, temples, sea beach, back water, migratory birds!! Aisi kaunsi cheez hai jo nahi hai !! Guys, please Explore Odisha!!

So a short drive of 20 kms and we arrive at this small temple in Hirapur!! According to Wikipedia there are 7 yogini temples across India but the pandit at the temple said there are only 4, two in Odisha, one at Hirapur and the other one in Bolangir!! Other temples are in MP, Jabalpur!!

Temple is Kali temple, and as in Hindi they say Prachand, or prataksh Devi !! And it has 64 yoginis murti places in a circular manner on the inner wall of the temple, these statues are carved out of black stone or black muguni stone. Each of these statues is distinct with different pose, different hairstyle, and with beautiful intricate carving of Jewellery!! Even the expression of each murti is different!!

In the middle of these yoginis is the statue of Kali, the temple has small platform in the middle which is like a chabutara and has statues placed on the its wall!! Very interesting fact is the temple is not covered, there is no roof!! From outside it looks like a mini colosseum!! Visiting these place makes me feel, there is so much to read and gather information, hope I will be able to do it!!

So much of history in such a small temple, 9th centuary temple!! Thank you to my dear friend Niralee Nirlipta to be such a sport and visit all these places with me !!

10/01/2020

08/01/2020

Ratnagiri!! Odisha!!

Little ahead of Udayagiri is Ratnagiri, a small site on the hill top, rather more compact than Udayagiri!! Both the places are on the landmass enclosed by Brahmini and Birupq river!!

These sites are older than the temple structure as Buddhism is more ancient than Hinduism, at both the sites you find temples as well!! Ratnagiri is more crisscrossed by Stupas and Samadhis!! I was wondering if we excavate the Samadhis will we find something underneath those structures!! Again the main temple is surrounded by the Monk Prayer rooms, central courtyard , how neatly the stones were cut and laid, how neat the structures were built, how symmetrical and identical the bricks were and how strong is the structures that it still exists!! I have always been wondering how the life was when we were not around!! The structures are dated around 2nd century BC!!
How much time would have taken for these structures to rise and shine!! The neat carving of stones and gods, you find carving on the gates, temple premises, everywhere!!
All I can say is it was very satisfying to see these places, was running out of time so couldn’t visit Lalitgiri!! I wish to do something nice and good for these places !!

07/01/2020

Finally made it to Ratnagiri and Udayagiri!!
Udayagiri just 70 kms
Ratnagiri 10 kms ahead !!

Lovely roads and excellent drive, untouched Odisha !! An impromptu visit to these Buddhist sites, so close to Bhubaneswar yet so far!! Had heard about it but never ventured out earlier, Udayagiri, Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri together they constitute the Pushpagiri University!! The excavations started in 1985 !! To a recent of last excavation in 2001 to 2004!! And what jewel found here!!

Udayagiri has the main temple and then little far is the monastery complex with symmetrical design, very geometrical!! The centre of the complex has the temple with equal number of prayer rooms and a central courtyard with excellent drainage system!! It constitutes the Monastery 1 site and the monastery 2 has similar structure but double storied complex and little far is numerous pagodas, basically considered as Samadhis!!

There is also a step well !! How did they manage to find this place and stay !! The entire place is in depression of valley of the mountains!! What history, I wish to visit more often and find more about it soon !!

24/12/2019

Azerbaijan!! One of most beautiful countries!! Caspian Sea and Caucasus Mountains makes it more beautiful !! Explore with XPD - The land of fire!! With these travellers !! Priya Rajpal Meenakshi Sai!!

18/12/2019

Bliss

12/11/2019

11/11/2019

Bubble !!