Mumbai Heritage: Prince's Triumphal Arch Clock Tower, Mahalaxmi.

Who doesn’t love bumping into treasures?

But it’s not always easy since when did treasures ever come with a map?!

In fact, the entire surprise element that lies woven in the treasure hunt is what exactly makes accidently bumping into them just so amazing!

As a kid, finding treasures for me, was all about embarking on my own mini (mis)adventures, which often meant digging deeper, into the known and unknown corners of the house, and discovering something entirely new.

Growing up, now, I realize, nothing much has changed, for finding treasures still remains very much about embarking on my own mini (mis)adventures, which often means digging deeper, into the known and unknown corners of the house world, and discovering something entirely new.

So, imagine my delight when I bumped into an unobserved, easily overlooked and hardly ever talked about monument staring right in my eye on one fine day as I was casually walking by!

PRINCE’S TRIUMPHAL ARCH, BHULABHAI DESAI ROAD,  MAHALAKSHMI.

I saw the ‘Prince’s Triumphal Arch’ while on my way out of the famous Mahalakshmi temple in Mahalakshmi, Mumbai on a beautiful balmy morning.

One glance at the clock tower and I'd sense - this isn’t any ordinary structure.

By the looks of it, the monument passed every test of a historic structure – pale ochre in color, the arch is supported by little ornate Corinthian pillars domed by a beautiful clock at the top.

Not only did the tower look impressive in its built and make, the design reeked of British taste in architecture.

The year – 1905 - imprinted in numerals right above the clock, stamped my speculation right in.

There was a BMC garbage van standing beneath it (which is the reason why I omitted clicking the bottom part in the picture) and people walked by casually.

From this point, the street passed in a straight line on one side to the Mahalakshmi temple and through a flight of stairs on the other side via the entrances of Shri Tulsidas Gopalji Charitable and Dhakleshwar Temple Trust, past the Shri Trayambakeshwar Mahadev Mandir, till the main access point to the Bhulabhai Desai Road.

Don't these gnarled branches look they are giving a guard of honor to this epoch beauty?
Which takes us to the next question: In whose honor or memory was the 'Prince's TriumphAl Arch' at Mahalaxmi really built?

Seen from any side of the street, the arch is identical in make. The blue windows on the sides of the clock give it a nice antique touch. There is a small verandah besides the clock with a ladder going right up used when winding the clock and cleaning the monument.

In a city about whom so much has been written and so many great buildings, iconic structures and historic towers gracing the city with its unique character since centuries documented about - it was hard to believe that here was this modest historic marvel, unknown and unnoticed, standing nearly obscured in anonymity.

A sense of delight and thrill ran down my senses, as I stood in the shadows, marveling at the sight of a remarkable treasure jumping out live from the pages of history.

AN INTERESTING TRIVIA ABOUT THE TIME ZONES IN THE BRITISH RAJ:

As I wondered of the untold story of the triumphal arch, I stumbled upon another very interesting trivia associated with the time zones followed in India during the British Era:

During the British Era, India followed two official time zones, established in 1884 – the Bombay time and the Calcutta Time.

While Bombay time was 4 hours and 51 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time or GMT (39 min behind IST), Calcutta time was 5 hours, 54  minutes in advance of GMT (24 min. ahead IST.).

There was a third one too, railway time, standardized on Madras time (MT) as MT was between Bombay and Calcutta times, and often this, rather than Bombay time, was used in Indian timetables from the late 1880s onward.

While India adopted Indian Standard Time or IST (which is GMT plus 5.30 hrs) as its official time zone in 1906 – the quintessential city that Bombay is, continued to run on its own local time as late as until 1955.

DOES THE 'PRINCE's TRIUMPAL ARCH' CLOCK TOWER SHOW BOMBAY TIME?

The clock was striking 7:52 by the show of its hands when I clicked it. Since I wasn’t carrying my mobile phone (I like it that way), I couldn't confirm the exact time at that point.

After reaching home, I checked in my digicam and it showed 8:06 as the time I had clicked the picture which means the clock was running approximately 14-15 minutes behind IST.

So, the clock does not exactly show Bombay time as I initially thought miscalculated it to be. But as per my find, there is some time difference for sure.

If you happen to see this monument in Mumbai or

know more about the Prince's Triumpal Arch in Mumbai,

do write in the comments section -

I'd love to hear all about it!

Morning Walk To Haji Ali Dargah.

Khuda apne valiyon se hota hai raazi

Milegi ye dar se hamein sarfaraazi

Yahaan dil se maango, yeh Haji Ali hain

Khuda ke vali hain.
~A.R. Rehman, Movie Fiza.

God is pleased with the ones who spread the same message as He speaks

From this door, we gain our dignity/respect

Ask whatever your heart desires, this is Haji Ali

He is the messenger (dedicated follower) of God.

(English Translation)

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It’s Friday morning, and this beautiful song by A.R. Rehman plays in my mind as I am on my way to Haji Ali Dargah - all by myself. The fact that I was here only after a couple of odd months back in the monsoon season, on the second day of Bakri Eid, helps in making this all by myself yatra less of a challenge. Then the skies were grey, the seawater levels considerably high and the waves crashed vociferously on the shore. Today however, it’s a bright beautiful day with the sun just beginning to make an appearance in the sky.

Morning walk to Haji Ali Dargah at Mahalaxmi, - One of the must do things in Mumbai.

Located a few minutes from the Mahalaxmi station on the western railway line, one can reach Haji Ali Dargah through a short BEST bus ride (Number 77) or kaali-peeli share-taxi ride from the Mahalaxmi station.

Before proceeding for my walk towards the Haji Ali Dargah, just next to the famous Haji Ali Juice center, I pause for a few moments… breathing in the beautiful panoramic view splashed in front of my eyes –

... on one side of me, is the relentless din of a restless Mumbai city while on the other side is a content reservoir of a sacred site insulated by a never ending sea of peace and tranquility.

The dargah and the high rise buildings of the maximum city...

Such a contrast!

And yet... everything seems to be in absolute harmony, coexisting, giving verve to one another. In the middle of the vast sea, as if out of nowhere rises the dargah, its semi circular dome pointing upwards towards the sky, the sun creating a divine halo around the pencil thin minarets. A fresh gust of breeze caresses my face and I close my eyes to this haloed sight… a sense of calm seeps within - something that I keep doing at regular intervals during my 10 minutes odd walk on the narrow pathway that goes through the sea to a tiny islet towards the dargah, around 500 m off the coast.

The dargah rainbow-washed in a divine halo!

The alleyway is as mystically placed as the aura of the dargah itself – being right in the heart of buzzing traffic in the southern part of Mumbai doesn’t help, neither does it being the alleyway to one of the most famous and recognizable iconic landmarks of the place - it’s so easy to walk past this point without even noticing it especially if you are a first time visitor to the place.

Walking to Haji Ali Dargah on a tiny islet, around 500 m of the coast.

There’s a distinctly medieval world charm you cannot not notice as you start your walk. Huddled side to side are numerous makeshift shops selling chadar (cloth), caps, religious paraphernalia, flower trays, sweets, incense sticks, prayer books – as offerings to Shah Bahadur Peer Haji Ali Bukhari Dargarh.

Would you like to buy this floral chadar for Haji Ali?

'Didi, ek chadar le lo', 'Didi bismillah kar do', 'Didi, Didi… ' prod most of the shopkeepers the moment they see me, egging me to make the first purchase of the morning from their respective shops. But little do they know about the poor me who only brings her humble self to offer in Baba's feet today.

Constructed in 1431, the Haji Ali Dargah stands as a testimony to the compassion the wealthy Muslim merchant, Sayyed Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, had for every drop in the ocean of humanity...

Belonging to Bukhara, in present-day Uzbekistan, the saint was a traveler himself who travelled all over the world in the early to mid 15th century. During the course of his travels, he once chanced upon a poor woman holding an empty vessel, crying bitterly. On inquiring, it dawned on him that the poor woman had slipped accidentally, spilling the oil and was now in dire distress thinking about the ensuing wrath of her husband.

Filled with empathy, the saint thrust a finger in the soil and out poured oil with which the woman gleefully filled her vessel back up and returned home.

Gradually, Sayyed Pir Haji Ali started getting nightmares that he had harmed the earth by jabbing his thumb in the soil in such a forceful manner. Disturbed, he travelled to Mumbai with the permission of his mother and as his health improved, he decided to stay on and from his new home somewhere near the Worli sea shore; and he decided to spread the message of Islam and indulge in social work for the benefit of humanity.

Haji Ali passed away while on a pilgrimage to Mecca and as per his will, his shroud / kafan was lowered in the sea such that it should be buried by the people at the place where it was found.

Miraculously, the casket floated back to the shore, back to Bombay, resting peacefully by the stones in the Arabian Sea in Worli, to the place from where he had started his pilgrim journey, his home. The dargah was built later, housing his tomb, where he resides eternally, planting a promise of solace and refuge in hearts stuck in grief and pain.

Time moved on... taking in its folds the people and the city, centuries came and went, constantly flowing like water. But the dargah remained – the path where the fakir once walked, where the oil flowed, where the mortals cried and the heaven danced – it’s all present, lingering in the winds that blow and waves that lap, reminding us all of a magnanimous heart who showed that peace was as real as any precious material commodity and very much tangible in THIS very moment.

A few more steps and the big wide sea opens up on both sides of the alleyway. The chadar shops now give way to shops selling purses, ittars, toys, caps and other such knick knacks.

Tiny shops delight the devouts on the causeway.

Boats stand still in the sea as if bewitched by the impending calm while migratory birds flutter around them. Looming out of the sea beyond are neatly packed buildings and skyscrapers of all sizes and shapes forming the much illustrious Worli seaface protected by tetrapods. Ascending from somewhere behind the buildings is the brilliant morning sun, scattering pearls and diamonds in the placid waters of the sea. The waters lap gently, a distinct contrast to what one sees in the monsoons, as if bowing at His feet.

Boats stand still in the Arabian sea.

My gaze follows the stretch of the sea until it locks, at the place where the sea meets the horizon... That place which is blue, which is pallid, which is like an open window closing in the music I seek.

..is that the place where the earth and the heavens meet?

.. where the ends go above and beyond,

as seen from my mortal seat ?

to a place that, threaded by faith,
resonates in the melody of an unseen, unknown beat…

A short walk of 5-10 minutes and I am at the Dargah...

A medieval archway leads to an open verandah that faces the tomb of Sayyed Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, or more fondly Haji Ali. Just past the gateway; on the right is a food stall. People here can be seen squatting on the floor and in the seating spaces beneath the coconut trees having vada pavs, bhajiyas, biryani, etc.

Stark white dome of Haji Ali Dargah as against a clear blue sky, with the occasional bird flying - is striking!

In the heart of this peaceful space, the modest whitewashed dome of Haji Ali’s mausoleum rises rapturously towards the heavens. There are separate entrances for men and women to seek the blessings of the saint. Before entering the dargah premises, you have to remove your shoes and traditionally cover your head.

Haji Ali dargah with its pencil thin minarets is a brilliant work of Indo Islamic architecture.

Roofed by the giant vaulted dome, inside the dargah chamber, is a golden canopy (chattri or umbrella) embellished in glittering chips of mirror speckled with the ninety nine names of Allah calligraphed in Arabic. Encircling the walls of the canopy are inscriptions with verses from the Holy Quran while a dazzling golden chandelier hangs in the center.

On the walls are ninety nine names of Allah in Arabic.

Verses from the Holy Quran above the tomb of Haji Ali.

Beneath the canopy is the semi circle tomb, Baba Haji Ali's final resting place, covered in red, green, yellow zari bordered chaddars and supported by a shimmering silver frame. A jaali separates, both men and women, from touching the tomb but one can feel the striking energy of Baba’s resting place.

Whether you are a first time visitor, or a regular one, whether you yearn for a stronger bonding of love with the Divine or to see Haji Ali’s resting place, standing under the dome housing the tomb is a blessing which holds a gentle assurance for every believing heart… for every faithful, who offers his dua, the prayers, presses his forehead against the jaali and bows in an unreserved humility.

The ornate interiors pulsate with ethereal beauty and though it’s not at all crowded, the air is filled with the incoherent din of the faithfuls. Yet, in the cacophony, is an instant sense of calm that envelops one and all - simply.

I stand there too… with my forehead pressed, my back bent, my lips kissing the altar… while the priest blesses me gently with a peacock feather fan.

Just outside the mausoleum, is a seating area where women can always be seen sitting, busy reading the Quran, muttering their prayers or simply meditating in silence.

Before tracing my steps back through the causeway, I amble through the courtyard, along the circumambulatory path of the dargah… there is a meditation hall on one side. I peep through the  window and the sight of a lone man praying inside the hall in solitude moves my heart.

The soft music from the waves kissing the shore at the backside moves my feet....

There's music in the waves kissing the shore.

Amid both, a riot of red jumps out at me... bold, bright and deep, adding an element of character to the erstwhile beauty in white. I roll my hands over the knotted red colored strings and a sea of consciousness comes alive.

Foreigners, tourists, the curious and the inquisitive, people from all walks of life, from different castes and creeds – they all come here, to the Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai in search for various things – deliverance from grief, strength to bear their circumstances, hope for a bright new day… 

What binds - them, me - us all?

The sea, the sky, the earth and... these threads – not just threads but silent words that carry the sweet resonance of faith for our beloved, Haji Ali, for the all pervading light that the saint inspired everyone to see, reminding us of the urgency of empathy, acceptance and interdependence of all religions and beings in the common colors of strength, of determination, of… love –  binding us all in one single interwoven fabric of humanity, worn by the spirit, and cherished by life.

What is the best way to reach Haji Ali Dargah?

If you’re in Mumbai, catch a local train and alight at the “Mahalaxmi” station on western line in Mumbai.

Make sure to catch a SLOW train as fast trains don’t stop at this station.

From the Mahalaxmi station, you can find many share taxis towards the dargah. Buses play too at regular intervals, I took bus number 77.

After getting down from the bus, there’s a huge crossing one has to maneuver to get to the other side of the road, and get into the Haji Ali alleyway that takes you towards the mosque. Once you alight from the bus or the taxi, cross towards the side of the sea and use the pedestrian subway (to be on the safer side) to get to the alleyway.

By foot, Haji Ali Dargah is around 25-30 minutes from Mahalaxmi station. I would suggest you take the bus / taxi instead.

For travelers outside Mumbai, the city is well connected to most of the other cities by flights and trains. To avoid any hassles, plan in advance and book yourself a train via IRCTC or keep an eye out on a good online deal for cheap flights!

Haji Ali Dargah Timings:

The dargah is open to all from 6 in the Morning to 10 at night.

Tips for travelers after reaching the Haji Ali Dargah:

- CHECK for high tide timings before planning to visit Haji Ali Dargah especially in the Monsoon season, as the causeway leading to the dargah is closed during those hours.

- There is a shoe keeper near the entrance; you can keep the shoes with him. There is no charge but he will ask you for a willing donation. I paid him Rs. 4 for my lone pair.

- For women, to cover your head, a duppata or scarf is mandatory. But in case you don’t have one, you can easily borrow one provided by the dargah just before stepping into the shrine.

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Life Reflections From My 9 Year Old Travel Blogging Affair!

November 21, 2009:

Birthdays are a good reminder that this was the day when you came into existence one fine day. That the moment you were born, you’d started collaborating with the Universe to create something so beautiful, magical and worthwhile. That no matter where you are in your journey, or what you think – YOU, the real you is always a star. And so are the others… dabbling in their own source of power waiting, wanting, to share their own spark with you. That the Universe adores you for every breath that you take, for every word that you write – for that precious tiny voice, that still echoes in the deepest recesses of your heart.

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On some days, I just want to zone out of all the noises all around and retreat into a safe zone that’s silent, calm and tranquil.

That zone, that allows me to pause, slow down, unplug and just be – as I really am - in my own little world.

That’s when I turn here, my very own temple, a sacred space, a home that accepts me as I am, for who I am and actually celebrates me for it.

9 years ago, I created my blog with no expectations – neither from the space itself nor from my own self.

At that time, I was an absolute amateur, raw and unversed, unskilled for either writing or expressing. What helped was the blogging world was somewhat raw and new too, just like me, still untouched by the incessant digitization of the industry. In simply doing my best and sharing whatever I had honestly, there was peace.

There still is.

We'll never find peace of mind until we listen to our heart. - George Michael.

Little did I know back then that this inner peace is the real asset very few people talk about and it is all that you need to put some of your other valuable assets into motion.

Wonderful creative people joined in, and amongst us all, we shared moments that felt like play – and I felt like we – both me and my little diary - were encircled in a bubble of naïve innocent love.

And, we actually were – it’s only today I realize how, over the years, that love has metamorphosed into something that is more real and special, the kind of a bond that is old, weathered and polished, hard-earned with efforts and time.

You are worth finding. Worth knowing. Worth loving.

You + all your one million layers. Always hold that close. - Danielle Doby.

Bubbling in joy and riding in the untamed thrill of the unknown, I’d nosedived into her world of words without putting up any walls or any sort of resistances.

I allowed the ensuing experiences to move my body, heart and mind as they wanted to, plunging deep into those spaces within where I had never dared to venture before. From being tossed high into ecstasy, or pushed deep into dejection – I must say she has been the fearless one, holding me close – making me fall in love with her deeply than ever before.

Adventure is not outside man, it is within. – George Eliot.

Along the course, I learned about going with the flow which threw open a whole new can of emotions in front of me: the joy of creating something new, the thrill of new connections being made, the fear of being seen as I was and the probability of being judged for it and the resulting fatigue of failing to act on things spontaneously.

Just go with the flow. Better still, be the flow. ~ Unknown.

But do you know what about us mesmerizes me the most?

That no matter where in the narrative we are - every time, I am welcomed in the house with a loud grating roar, encouraged to open my heart as she opens her own. There are many times I am pushed to the edge. It’s uncomforting to decide whether to leap forward or keep walking the shore. That is, until I meet her again - powerful and dynamic – she thrives on adventures, is ever changing and ever ready to start afresh. Yes, she is wild and raging, always giving me a higher perspective and urging me to take the bull by its horns and embrace the wild.

And then sometimes, just sometimes,

the colors of our Universes collide with each other never to be the same no more.

We reserve the right to have crappy ideas ~ Laura Simms.

It is in this collision, this chaos, this conflict that we find our peace. How strange!

I sit down hours with her, gazing afar, into nothingness, trying to rearrange a few fragile thoughts of mine in her waters of clarity. The horizon, though far in the distance, is our meeting, melting space – there’s a strange sense of content, comfort and security in surrendering to the magical mystical light, something that is broader and brighter than my own tiny self. Sometimes, the thoughts drift away, getting smaller and smaller until they finally drop over the horizon and out of my sight.

Give up the notion that you must be sure of what you are doing.

Instead, surrender to what is real within you, for that alone is sure. — Baruch Spinoza.

I wouldn’t call this a paradise, no. It is a bitter-sweet communion, with its fair share of both - the ebbs and the flows. The journey is not easy, not all the days are happy; there are days when I question my decisions, days when I feel sappy, self-doubting and weak. Each year is threaded in a garland of many ups and downs, laughter and tears: Yes, this is life and I am learning to enjoy both, enjoy till they last.

In the wake of such moments,

there is a chance to be born again, many such opportunities galore.

One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star. - Friedrich Nietzsche.

It’s often between us that I am shown who I really am. Clearly. Without any deceptions. Like a spotless mirror. Revealing the true features. Making me aware of the perfectly imperfect beauty of my own self.

Here I see, lists and awards and numbers for what they are - feathers and recognitions, not permanent stamps to base your worth to. What’s truly worth is the work that we do through our given set of challenges and conflicts - the yearning to discover and create, the longing for authentic self expression, the connections that we make, the satisfaction that we feel and the happiness that we harbour in our own hearts  – this work is success, the greatest achievements that make a blogging journey so worth it, so much more than worth it.

Seek company of clear waters, for in them,

you’ll see your own self, your own worth and your own powers.

You were not born to use this life to refine or improve yourself. 

You were born to use this life as a canvas to paint yourself across. - Teal Swan.

Friends, well wishers, kindred souls have sat with me as passengers – all kind and eager to share their riches, encourage my uniqueness and motivate this bond of mine. In the give and take of divine love, joy spilling from our hearts – fulfilled, many have left blogging, some drifted away, continued to walk their own paths. I keep them all in my heart, thanking them for their warmth and friendship in my blogging yatra.

Some people arrive and make such a beautiful impact on your life,

you can barely remember what life was like without them. - Anna Taylor.

To be with My Yatra Diary… has blessed me with a strange calming sense of security and content that I am yet to find anywhere else. And for this bond of mine, I have only YOU to thank for. Thank you for lending me your hands in building this little home of mine, a long forgotten one, from where I embark on voyages and explore with the simple intent of creating something of my own in the world – the most wonderful among them being the voyage into the true nature of my own self.

Thank you God for all the blessings you have given me yesterday,

today and for all of my tomorrows.

So here we are, 9 years and counting, and this is all we have, right here and right now, and I do believe she’s beautiful which is why it’s close to a decade now, and I am still absolutely enamored and passionately committed to her, inspired to keep writing, keep discovering, keep expressing and keep sharing.

Just in case, you may wonder – "who really is this she, this yatra blogger keeps referring to? Can I see her?"

No, is the answer, no you can’t and neither can I.

Because, we ourselves carry our voices, the words resonating within our own hearts, like these waves, they move in us, through the vastness of our blogs – through you and me.

This lady, this crazy gypsy woman, this she, she resides in me.

SAIL AWAY BY RABINDRANATH TAGORE.

Early in the day it was whispered that we should sail in a boat,

only thou and I, and never a soul in the world would know of this our

pilgrimage to no country and to no end.

In that shoreless ocean,

at thy silently listening smile my songs would swell in melodies,

free as waves, free from all bondage of words.

Is the time not come yet?

Are there works still to do?

Lo, the evening has come down upon the shore

and in the fading light the seabirds come flying to their nests.

Who knows when the chains will be off,

and the boat, like the last glimmer of sunset,

vanish into the night?

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Previous Years Anniversary Posts:

Celebrating 2 Years of Togetherness with a Heartfelt Thank You...

Turning 3 - Our Yatra Continues...

4 Years, 4 Thank You’s, 4th Blogging Anniversary!

Celebrating 5 Years Anniversary of 'My Yatra Diary'

6 Insights from My 6 years of Travel Blogging!

... And Therefore I Blog: 7th Blogging Anniversary of My Yatra Diary...

8 Years of Goodness And THAT Blog Named 'My Yatra Diary...'

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Sunset At Old Bhadkeshwar Shiva Temple, Dwarka.

Every parting is a form of death,

as every reunion is a type of heaven.

— Tryod Edwards.

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Sunsets are special, just like sunrises. I have been blessed to witness both in my yatras and each time, the feeling has been beyond ordinary comprehension. Even accentuated significantly… especially if the same were to occur near a water body.

My visit to the old Bhadkeshwar temple in Dwarka, situated on the coast of the Arabian Sea, during the magical sunset hour was one such experience - from where I returned soaked in the splendor of nature’s most precious gift – a beautiful sunset swirled in the lapping of waves and the divinity of a holy place...

Come Along With Me... To The Bhadkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Dwarka!

In the wake of the otherwise huge Dwarkadhish temple overlooking the town, Bhadkeshwar temple dedicated to Lord Shiva (or Lord Mahadev) feels tiny. It’s a wonderfully scenic place to catch a sunrise / sunset after a tiring day of exploring the town of Dwarka and Bet Dwarka. Hence, it is also sometimes referred to as the sunset point.

Old Shiva Temple in Dwarka.

When I reach the place, there is still some time for the sunset, leaving me enough time to observe the area and pay my respects to Lord Shiva in the temple. The path to the temple is lined with a number of souvenir hawkers and food vendors. So there is a chana jor garam wala, the nariyal paani wala and the bhutta wala adding their respective flavors to the chirpy atmosphere. Oh wait! There sits a gorgeous camel too, gaily decked up in colorful dress and traditional ornaments, waiting for someone that can be taken on a ride.

Anyone wants a ride?

All this can be seen, on a rocky outcrop, crowded with pilgrims, filled with incessant murmuring and chatter, looking out to the sea. The outcrop extends into the temple area which can be accessed by a narrow bridge and a few steps opening into a circular jagged rock island, standing a few meters above the sea level. In the center of it, is the stone temple housing a small Shiva lingam known by the name of Chandra-Mouliswar. The Shivlingam is believed to around 5000 years old, found at the confluence of Gomati, Ganga and Arabian Sea by Acharya Jagatguru Shankaracharya himself. Though the lingam might be old, the temple itself looks pretty modern in built with tiles printed in religious symbols like Aum and other colorful motifs.

A red flag above the temple flutters raucously in the sea breeze complemented naturally by the orange in the sky that has now deepened, giving the evening a lovely flavor. I find for myself a spot, a little away from the crowds to experience the magic of this beautiful hour.

The sea is blissfully boisterous, swirling, dancing to the tunes of the wind. A boat crosses my line of vision even as the sun keeps spraying confetti glitter all over the sea. On the left side, far in the distance, is the towering circuit / light house which is now inaccessible to those who wish to see. Somewhere behind is the Gita Mandir (not seen in the picture) and in the front is the sun – which otherwise mighty and strong for the entire day – is now ready to surrender itself to the unseen realms of the infinite.

The circuit house towards the left ... and,

...the Bhadkeshwar Temple towards the right side -
as seen from the rocky outcrop.

There are people - families and friends, young and old - clicking pictures, taking selfies with the setting sun, with each other and with their own self. While some others stand and stare in quiet contemplation.

Even as the light of the sun grows weaker and weaker in the horizon, one can feel warmth all over the place. The warmth is calming.

So calming...

that standing at this threshold,

the ending of light and the beginning of dark...

feels nothing short of a miracle.

The miracle that lies hidden in every moment of life –

whether it be birth or death, endings or beginnings, whether it be acknowledged or not -

it is still full of riches and bounties...

bounties that can never be touched but only be felt with the heart.

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TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS:

- The temple gets submerged during high tides while it's open to devotees during the low tides. Hence, I would suggest you to check the high tide / low tide timings before going to the temple.

- The temple is near Circuit House, Sunset Point, Dwarka.

P.S. I thought of doing this post as the country celebrated Chatth Puja (a centuries old tradition observed over a period of four days, today being the main day), a day when people, mainly from Bihar, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Nepal offer their prayers and salutations to the Sun God for providing and sustaining life on earth.

Personally, I don’t observe the tradition, so to speak, but I’m always fascinated by the Sunset and the illuminating power of the Sun God Himself. Hence… reminding myself, and you - of the significance and beauty of all the various sunsets in our lives.