My Yatra Diary...

Planning the Char Dham Yatra - Accomodation, Travel Route Map and Itinerary

Arti February 26, 2011

All our planning to the Char Dham was last minute. All the 4 temples usually open on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya (May) and remain so only for a specific period of time every year. This year the Gangotri temple and the Badrinath temple were to close on 6th November and 18th November respectively. Keeping in mind the Temple closure dates, mother’s persist…

In the Lap of the Heavenly Himalayas... The CHAR DHAM Yatra

Arti February 21, 2011

I have long left the mountains and the rivers… I am actually writing this almost 4 months later… but how I still long for the Himalayas… For many years now, my Dad has had a strong desire to do a Char Dham Yatra. But, due to some unavoidable circumstances, it got cancelled every time leaving him disappointed… It was sometime at the end of October 2010 … Festive s…

Travelling with a Purpose - To Experience the Magh Mela in Allahabad

Arti February 07, 2011

The Vedic literature states that whoever bathes in the Triveni Sangam at the auspicious time of the Magh Mela is guaranteed liberation from birth and death. That is specifically the reason why the Magh Mela (the annual festival of Allahabad held during the months of Jan-Feb), also known as the Mini Kumbh Mela , has always attracted millions of sages and pilg…

Photographs from Here, There and Everywhere in Nashik-Shirdi...

Arti February 03, 2011

A shop selling a large variety of brass and bronze statues of various Gods and Goddesses, temple bells, wind-chimes etc. outside the Kalaram Temple in Nashik . Trimbakeshwar , being the land of Lord Shiva Rudraksh beads are sold in plenty here. Spot them in the extreme right and left hand sides of this photograph taken near the Trimbakeshwar Temple . Characteri…