Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located in Agra, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal

Thiruchendur

Thiruchendur is southern tip of India, in the state of Tamil Nadu, Lord Senthil Andavar Temple.

Rajasthan

Jodhpur - The blue city - The Land of Colors

Amritsar

The Golden Temple, Amritsar, Punjab

Munnar

Munnar a heaven of peace and tranquillity in God’s own country Kerala in South India.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Palani


Palani Murugan

Arulmigu Dandayudhapani Swami, Palani


Palani Hill Temple and the Idol Lord Murugan is the deity of the Tamil Land. Palani (Thiru Avinankudi) is the third Padai Veedu. The temple at Palani is an ancient one, situated at an elevation of 1500 feet above sea level. It is a charming campus from where one can take a look at the Idumban Hill, the Kodaikanal Hills, 
the Western Ghats, the greenery of the paddy fields, rivers, tanks, Palani town and the colleges. On a lovely, clear and mist-free day, the Kurinci Andavar Temple is visible from here against the bright sun. In daytime, Palani is Hill Beautiful; at night, it is Hill Resplendent.

The deity of Palani is known as Dandayudhapani Swami, the Lord having the Staff in his Hand. The deity at the sanctum sanctorum is made out of an amalgam of nine minerals popularly calledNavabashana.The deity is in a standing position with a baton in his hand. He has the look of a person who has renounced all worldly pomp. He has just a loincloth besides the baton. He is a mute messenger of the great precept 'Renounce all to reach Me'. The icon is unique in the whole world. It was made by siddha Bhogar by combining nine poisonous substances (navabashana). Murugan signifies beauty and Lord Murugan of Kurinji land is the god of Beauty and Youth. 

 Palani has been mentioned in Tamil Sangam literature as "Podhini", which came to be called as Palani later. This temple is situated in Palani Town and a Taluk in Dindigul District. It is an ancient and very big temple getting a large income among all the temples in TamilNadu.

Height of the Hill Temple    150 M
Total no. of Steps   693


Palani Murugan Temple



Varuvaandi Tharuvaandi Malaiyaandi Song





Palani Murugan
Palani Temple Site
http://www.palanimurugantemple.org/
http://www.idumbantemple.tnhrce.in/



Thursday, July 12, 2012

Tiruchendur



Tiruchendur temple is known as Second Arupadai veedu of Lord Muruga. Lord Muruga won  the  battle  with the  Asura  Surapadma and  worshipped Lord Siva in this Sacred place. The temple is situated on the Seashore.  

The temple has a Rajagopuram with a height of 137 feet and breadth of 90 feet.
The  total  area of the temple and its surroundings is 1,26,507 Sq. feet


The seashore temple of Subrahmanyam at Tiruchendur is one of the delightful spots sanctified and venerated by every Hindu. As one of the first spiritual centres for the salvation of man, His shrine has been an attraction for Hindus for all ages. This sacred house of God is in the extreme southwest of the Indian peninsula. The rising sun bows in adoration of it each morning as he rises from the rippling expanse of the ocean, and spreads light and life over every living object. Bordered by the sea on the East and the North, the temple walls on these sides are washed by the foaming waves of the Gulf of Mannar. The date of the temple is hidden in the Puranic past. The nucleus of the structure however has been here for more than 2,000 years as the Tamil Classics inform us.


Lord Muruga's  association with Tiruchendur is highly significant. It is described in extenso in His epic, the Skanda Puranam. The young Muruga as the Devasen pati vanquishes evil in the form of Surapatuma. The Tamils have ever since been celebrating the event as an annual festival during Skanda Sashti. 
Tiruchentil means as it does, the House of Victory. It borders the sea and has all the natural charm of a hero's fortress. It is verily a haven of Peace and Bliss. The Tamils in this part of the peninsula have such an attraction for the place and its presiding Lord Arumuga Nayinar. 

An attempt is here made to give His bhaktas all over a close account of His shrine at Tiruchendur and with this additional desire of impressing that the Temple is one worthy of a pilgrimage in this life. The divine inspiration and His grace that the bhakta is sure to secure will more than recompense his labours.

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple



Thiruchendur Murugan - T.M.S.Songs




Thiruchanduril kadalorthil Padal



Thiruchendur Temple - Murugan Temple

Six Abodes of Lord Muruga Tamilnadu



Thiruchendur Murgan Temple 360 view


Tiruchendur
Tiruchendur Murgan
Chendur Murugan




Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Padmanabhaswamy Temple


Shree Padmanabhaswamy temple
The Richest Temple in India



















Shree Padmanabhaswamy temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The shrine is currently run by a trust headed by the royal family of Travancore. 
The temple is one of 108 Divya Desams.
The temple,constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture by Viswakarma sthapathis


Sree Padmanabhaswamy

The marvelous idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy is seen reclined on the mighty five hooded serpent Anantha.
The Idol is made up of a highly complex amalgam termed Katusarkarayogam and contains within it 12008
Salagramas collected from the bed of the River Gandaki in Nepal. It is believed that Salagramas represent Lord Vishnu.

Twelve Salagramas when worshipped together gain the potency of a Mahakshetram(Great Temple).
Thus the mighty Ananthasayana Moorthy here gains the greatness and sanctity of a thousand Mahakshetrams.


Gold Treasure Found in Temple

More than crores of treasure which included antique gold ornaments, diamonds and other precious stones, golden crown, golden bow, golden vessels, and other precious stones were found in the secret chambers of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. 

The seven member panel appointed by the Supreme Court of India who were drawing up a list of assets of the ancient Lord Vishnu Temple were mesmerized by the sight of the huge treasure grove in front of them. 

The Sree Ananda Padmanabhaswamy Temple Trivandrum will be much more than Rs 200000 crores when calculating the price including the antiquity of the treasure found. Some of the list of gold inventory found in the temple include golden crowns, 17 kg of gold coins dating back to the East India Company period, gold in the shape of rice trinkets weighing one tonne, 18 ft long golden necklace weighing 2.5 kg, gold ropes, sack full of diamonds, thousands of pieces of antique jewellery studded with diamonds and emeralds, and golden vessels.

Chamber B yet to be Opened and Valued....

Wonders of India - Sri Padmanabhswamy Temple

 

 Program on Thiruvananthapuram Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple Story by Doordarshan

 

 History of Sree Padmanabha Swami temple Treasure-part1


MAHADEVA TEMPLE, KAZHAKOOTTAM Thiruvananthapuram Siva Temple
Sree Mahadeva Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed to be dated back to the 14th century.






Tiruvannamalai






Tiruvannamalai is a pilgrimage Temple town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Thiruvannamalai is one of the Pancha Bootha Sthalangal representing the fire element along with Chidambaram, Sri Kalahasti, Thiruvanaikoil and Kanchipuram representing space, wind, water and earth respectively.

Every full moon night, tens of thousands of pilgrims worship Shiva by circumambulating the Annamalai hill barefoot.
The circumambulation covers a distance of about 14 km.

Annamalaiyar Temple

The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built between the 9th and the 10th centuries by the Chola kings of the Tamil empire. The temple is famous for its Massive Gopurams. This has been determined from an inscription in the structure that was made during the reign of Chola kings who ruled in the ninth century A.D

The 11 tiered East Rajagopuram towers to a height of 217 feet, while the fortified walls pierced with 4 gopura entrances offer a formidable look to this vast temple complex . The Pei Gopuram, Tirumanjana Gopuram and Ammanaiammal gopuram are the other three. 

The 1000 pillared hall and the temple tank were built by Krishna Deva Rayarar of Vijayanagar.
Each of the prakarams(outer courtyard) has a huge Nandi and several towers.



Tiruvannamalai Temple Documentary


Links



Sunday, July 1, 2012

Western Ghats




The World Heritage Committee inscribed today Western Ghats on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.



Western Ghats: Older than the Himalaya mountains, the mountain chain of the Western Ghats represents geomorphic features of immense importance with unique biophysical and ecological processes. The site’s high montane forest ecosystems influence the Indian monsoon weather pattern. Moderating the tropical climate of the region, it presents one of the best examples of the monsoon system in the planet.

The site also has an exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism. It is recognized as one of the world’s eight “hottest hotspots” of biological diversity. The forests of the site include some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen forests anywhere and are home to at least 325 globally threatened flora, fauna, bird, amphibian, reptile and fish species.

The major attraction of the Western Ghats is the Ana Mudi ( 2,695 metres (8,842ft) is) which is the highest peak in India.



















Western Ghats - Rain forests of India



The Silent Valley National Park in Kerala is considered by many to be the last tracts of virgin tropical evergreen forest in India.

Some best Songs Shot in Western Ghats



Senthazham Poovil ... Mullum Malarum Music - Illayaraja Singer - K J Jesudas



Olichirikkan Valli....Aranyakam Music - Reghunath Seth Singer - Chithra KS



Kaiya Pudi Song ... Mynaa Singers - Naresh Iyer, Sadhana Sargam Music - D.Imman


NDTV Show 7 Wonders Of India- Western Ghats

Silent Valley National Park


Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary


Periyar Tiger Reserve


Munnar


Forest Links


Western Ghats Locations

Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
Kulathupuzha Range
Palode Range
Periyar Tiger Reserve
Ranni Forest Division
Konni Forest Division
Achankovil Forest Division
Srivilliputtur Wildlife Sanctuary
Tirunelveli North Forest
Eravikulam National Park
Grass Hills National Park
Karian Shola National Park
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
Mankulam Range
Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
Mannavan Shola
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
Silent Valley National Park
Pampadum Shola National Park
Mathikettan Shola National Park
Anamudi Shola National Park
New Amarambalam Reserved Forest
Mukurti National Park
Kalikavu Range
Attapadi Reserved Forest
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
Padinalknad Reserved Forest
Kerti Reserved Forest
Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
Kudremukh National Park
Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary
Someshwara Reserved Forest
Agumbe Reserved Forest
Balahalli Reserved Forest
Kas Plateau
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary
Chandoli National Park
Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary
Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary & National Park
The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park
The Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary
The Mukurthi National Park
Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
Anshi National Park
Bandipur National Park
Bannerghatta National Park
Kudremukha National Park
Nagarahole National Park
Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary
BRT Wildlife Sanctuary
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary
Mollem National Park
Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary
Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary
Madei Wildlife Sanctuary
Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary
Gir National Park
Wild Ass Sanctuary
Gir Wild Life Sanctuary
Narayan Sarovar Santcuary
Ratanmahal Sanctuary
Shoolpaneshwar Sanctuary
Alaram Ambaji Sanctuary