Travel Guide to Famous Temples

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Chhatarpur Temple Delhi Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

September 23, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 4 Comments Filed Under: Delhi Temples Tagged With: Devi Temples, Shakti Peetha

Chhatarpur Temple is located on the outskirts of the South-western Delhi, i.e. Chhatarpur. It is 4 km away from Qutub Minar. This temple is home to Goddess Durga’s both manifestations namely, Maa Gauri and Maa Katyayani.

The temple is popular among its devotees by the name of Shri Adhya Katyayani Shakti Peeth Mandir. Sant Shree Nagpal Baba founded the temple in 1974. The temple expands to the area of about 70 acres. And for a fact, it is one of the biggest temple complexes in India.

It is like a marble art coming alive and is a modern mix of both northern and southern architectures. Nevertheless, the temple’s architecture is of the Vesara genre.

The temple has a huge area. Moreover, other smaller temples too stand on the Chhatarpur temple land. Some of these shrines are Ram Mandir, Hanuman Mandir, Shiv Mandir, Nageshwar Mandir etc.

Chhatarpur temple introduction — Chhatarpur Temple is also known as Shree Adhya Katyayani Shakti Peeth.

Chhatarpur Temple – Facts

Deity	Goddess Katyayani
Temple Timings	4:00 am – 11:00 pm
Opening and Closing Dates	Open 365 days in a year
Time required for Darshan	2-3 hours
Entry fee	No fee
Festivals 2019	Navratris, Guru Purnima, Maha Shivratri, Babaji’s birthday, Babaji’s Nirvaan Divas, Krishna Janmashtmi
Best Time To Visit	During Janmashtmi, Navratri and Maha Shivratri
Nearest Airport	IGI Airport
Location	Chhatarpur, Delhi

Timings of Chhatarpur Temple

Devotees can offer prayers in the temple during the following timings-

Timing	From
Open	4:00 am
Close	11:00 pm

Poojas and Rituals in the Chhatarpur Temple

Morning Aarti is done by the Pujari of the temple at 4:00 am when its still dawn, every single day. Special Aartis of Kumbabhishek and Guru Purnima takes place during Navratri and Guru Purnima respectively.

Aarti at Chhatarpur Temple — Aarti taking place inside the Chhatarpur Temple.

Significance of Chhatarpur temple

Chhatarpur Temple has a unique architecture from being an all-in-all marble structure to its ornate designs on the temple Jalis. Apart from it, the temple hosts beautiful lawns and gardens that add to the scenic beauty of the temple complex.
Both soft and perilous manifestations of Navdurga, Gauri and Katayayani respectively sit inside the temple. Devotees can offer prayers to Goddess Gauri every day.
Furthermore, the temple also has an ancient tree, Kalpavrikasha, in its entrance. In addition to this, the threads and bangles tied by devotees cover the entire tree. It is so because of the popular belief of wish fulfillment after the tying of the thread and bangles around the tree.

Darshan of Goddess Katyayani can be done only on the Ashtami of every month or during the nine days of Navratri.

History of Chhatarpur Temple

Baba Sant Nagpal Ji supervised the construction of the temple in 1974. Beliefs say that after the death of his mother, an unknown lady took Babaji under her care. The lady, however, claimed to be the mother of the universe. Hence, Babaji developed an unknowing devotion to the Goddess.

Hence, the temple came into existence after he moved to Delhi. He purchased this land from villagers and set up the huge temple complex.

He dedicated it to Goddess Katyayani. She is the sixth incarnation of Navdurga. Religious texts state that Goddess Katyayani is the creation of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu and the savior of the Gods.

Katyayani was born to the Rishi Katyayani who used to pray to the Goddess Durga. Hence, he got the happiness of being a father to one of her incarnations. Its believed that Katyayani was extremely beautiful and hence caught the attention of the demons.

And so the demon Mahishasur had intentions to woo her. However, the Goddess insisted upon war as the only way to get her. And that is when the demon met his death in the hands of the eight-armed fierce protector of the Gods.

Chhatarpur-temple-history — Chhatarpur Temple is built by the determination and hard work of Baba Sant Nagpal Ji.

Legend of Chhatarpur Temple

Worshipped as the Sixth manifestation of Navdurga, Maa Katyayani is the “Mahishasurmardini”. For the Goddess is the one who took away the life of demon Mahishasur.

According to Shaktism, Goddess Katyayani is the creation of Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu. She is the mighty one with three eyes and eighteen arms all of which hold lethal weapons. Her beautiful black locks and awestriking beauty never fails to charm her devotees.

Legend-of-Chhatarpur-temple — Goddess Katyayani killed the buffalo demon Mahishasur and hence became popular as ‘ Mahishasurmardini’

What’s inside the Chhatarpur Temple

The temple has a very big complex. There are around 20 small and bigger temples divided into three complexes.
Apart from the main deity, there are other smaller temples too. However, two incarnations of Navdurga, namely Gauri and Katyayani have their separate temples.
There are two main shrines one is a dedication to Gauri and the other to Katyayani. Gauri temple is accessible all days of the year. However, the devotees can visit Katyayani temple only on Ashtami of every month or during all the nine days of Navratris.
Goddess Katyayani’s golden faced idol is put up in a big hall, accessible from the prayer hall. The idol is always dressed up in heavy clothes and amazing jewellery accompanied by flowers.
Near to the Aarti Complex are two rooms. One is a living room with silver furniture. And the other is the “Shayankaksh”, the bedroom consisting of silver bed and dresser. However, the rooms have glass enclosures all around and can be seen from outside only.
There is also a huge area for Langar. Also at the entrance is the huge ancient Kalpavraksha. Moreover, on this tree, people tie threads and bangles for wish fulfilment.

People are expected to come to the temple in decent attires. Also, any kind of provocative clothing is prohibited. Moreover, devotees take out their slippers outside the temple and wash their hands before offering prayers.

Inside-chhatarpur-temple — The golden idol of Devi Katyayani inside the Chhatarpur temple accompanied by the holy tree where devotees tie threads and bangles for wish fulfilment

Festivals celebrated at Chhatarpur Temple

Navratris– Both Vasant Navratri coinciding with Ram Navmi and MahaNavratri coinciding with Durga Puja calls for a celebration here. The first one falls in the months of March/April and the later in the months of September/October. Kumbaabhishek or the holy bath of Goddess Katyayani marks the beginning of the festival. After this grand celebrations go on for almost 9 days on both times. Also on the days of Navratri, Goddess Katyayani is accessible to the devotees on all days.
Krishna Janmashtami– The festival falls on the Bhadrapad Ashtami (8th day) of the Hindu month of Bhadon (August/September). And as the clock strikes midnight, the pujaris chant Vishnu Sahasranam in the temple. Hereafter, Aarti takes place after which prasad is given to the devotees.
Guru Purnima – This calls for celebration in August every year. A procession starting around 10.00 am from Shree Shiv Shakti Mandir, Kilokari village reaches Babaji Samadhi at 2 pm in the main temple complex. After which Aartis take place.
Babaji’s Birthday– The festival falls on the full moon day in February or March. The devotees play with colours just like in Holi at the Markandeya Hall. After that lunch is served. On this day, various cultural and religious programs are held.
Babaji’s Nirvaan Divas- Babaji’s Samadhi was accomplished on 15th December 1998. The Samadhi is decorated with flowers and illuminated with lights on the day. The Tilak of Babaji’s statue is done. And the samadhi is beautified with lights and flowers. Langar is held on this day for many saints. They also receive clothing etc as gifts.

Navratri-at-Chhatarpur-Temple — Grand Navratri celebrations at the Chhatarpur Temple

How to Reach the Chhatarpur Temple?

By Air– The nearest airport is the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The temple is 12 km away from the airport.
By Train– The nearest railway station to the temple is Hazrat Nizamuddin. It’s at a distance of about 11 km from the temple.
By Road- Delhi possesses good connectivity throughout the city via Roads. There are three bus terminuses namely, Kashmere Gate and Anand Vihar. One can also take city buses to the temple from here.
By Metro– Metro trains are air-conditioned alternatives that connect every nook and corner of the state. Hence, the nearest metro station to the temple is Chhatarpur Metro station.

Metro-Station-near-Chhatarpur-Temple — Metro Station nearby Chhatarpur Temple

Metro Station is at walking distance of 800 meters from the temple. Devotees can either take a sharing auto rickshaw or walk to the religious site.

Where to stay nearby?

The temple has a Dharamshala of its own for the stay of its devotees. The Dharamshala consists of 12 halls which can accommodate 30 people each. Furthermore, there are 36 rooms which can host the stay of 6 people each.

Moreover, there are several luxurious hotels nearby the temple like-

The Ocean Pearl Retreat– Its a hotel packed with all the luxuries for its guest. And has both interior and exterior beauty one can imagine of.
Opulent Hotel by Ferns and Petals– This is another luxurious stay with all the amenities for the best of the comfort of its guests.

Where to eat?

Delhi being the city, devotees have many options open to them. One can obviously enjoy the tasty langar at the temple or choose to eat from the nearby outlets. Delhi has many options on its street food to choose from and also does have outlets like Moti Mahal etc.

Streetfood-nearby-Chhatarpur-Temple — Some tasty streetfood options available near Chhatarpur temple

Nearby Temples

Bala Hanuman temple– It’s one of the ancient Hanuman temples located at Baba Kharak Singh Marg in Connaught Place. According to the legends, the Hanuman idol here appeared on its own and has been here since then.
Gauri- Shankar temple– This temple is one of the most sacred temples of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. The 800-year-old Shivlingam here is the pride of the place.
Aurobindo Ashram– The centre is an extension of the main branch in Pondicherry. Further its the centre for yoga and meditation to seek the ultimate truth of life.
Digambara Jain temple– According to the beliefs, this is the oldest and most known Jain temple in Delhi. It was built in 1656 in Chandni Chowk where it still is. And it stands out for the fact that it has Jain Bird Hospital behind the Main Temple.

Frequently asked questions about the temple

Can I offer prayers to Goddess Katyayani everyday?

No. Goddess Katyayani’s darshan can only be availed on Ashtami of every month and on all Navratri days.

Does the temple provide any facility for a night stay?

Yes. The temple has its own Dharamshala for this purpose.

Is the temple open during the afternoon?

Yes, the temple can be visited at all times from 4 am to 11 pm.

Are facilities provided for the handicapped like wheelchair?

Yes, wheelchair facilities are provided by the temple staff.

Is there a parking facility near the temple?

Yes, The temple provides free parking for all transports.

Do the temple provide child Mundan facilities?

Yes, One can get their child’s Mundan done here.

Photography is allowed in the temple?

Yes, Photography is allowed here.

How can I reach the temple from Chhatarpur Metro Station?

The temple is 800 metres from the temple so you can either walk or take an Auto Rickshaw.

Which is the best time to visit the temple?

The best time to visit the temple is during Navratris as the devotees can easily offer prayers to Goddess Katyayani.

Is there a theft report counter in the temple?

Yes, one can complain to the security staff and get things checked in the CCTV footage.

Kheer Bhawani Temple Srinagar Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

August 29, 2019, Sasidhar Darla 4 Comments Filed Under: Jammu and Kashmir Temples Tagged With: Devi Temples

Kheer Bhawani Temple in Srinagar is one of the most picturesque and popular temples in the northern state of Jammu & Kashmir. It has been dedicated to the locally prevalent Goddess Kheer Bhawani (originally she was revered as just Bhawani).

The temple has been constructed on a sacred spring and this is one of the major attractions of the temple. The Kashmiri Hindus universally worship Goddess Kheer Bhawani and she is among the most respected Goddesses in the community.

The famous temple is located about 14 miles in the east of the Srinagar city and is near the village Tul Mul. It is protected by the Indian Army and the soldiers ensure the name of the temple is derived from the word kheer meaning rice pudding that is a popular prasadam offered.

Many people believe that there was a mulberry tree near the holy spot of the temple and in the local language, it is called tulmul. Hence, the place derived its name. The goddess has many names as it is a custom with most Hindu deities. She is called Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Bhagwati, Ragnya Devi and Rajni.

Kheer Bhawani History

According to stories, the Goddess Maharagya was extremely pleased with the devotion of the demon Ravana and she appeared before him. Ravana then got the image of the Goddess that he saw, installed in Sri Lanka. But the Goddess became displeased with the brutal and wicked life of Ravana and as a result, she was no more pleased to stay in Sri Lanka. Therefore, according to a popular legend, she instructed Lord Hanuman to get her image from there and this was installed here at the holy spot of Tul Mul.

Ragniya is one of the Rupa or incarnations of Goddess Durga and the one at Tul Mul is a Vaishnav Rupa. In the Kashmir, Ragniya is known as Tripura. In Sri Lanka, the Mother Goddess was popular as Shayama. Goddess Sita (the consort of Lord Rama) is also believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Ragniya. According to Ragniya Mahatmya, those who meditate on the PanchDashi Mantra during Navreh (New Year in Kashmir), the Mother Goddess Ragniya grants all their wishes.

Another legend states that the temple is the spot where Lord Rama had worshiped Ragnya Devi while he was in his exile. Lord Rama asked his devotee Lord Hanuman to shift the Goddess form, Lanka, after the exile period was over. Hence, Lord Hanuman brought the seat of the Goddess to Shadipora first and later she was shifted to the current site.

According to popular mythology, the night during which the Mother Goddess was brought from Sri Lanka to Kashmir has been termed as Ragniya Ratriand. This is a major festival among the Kashmiri Pandits. Many shrines have been dedicated to the goddess in Kashmir at Tiker, Manzgam (Noor-abad) Bheda, Bhuvaneshvar, Lo-qraer-pur, Rai-than, Mani-gam and Baed-pur but the one at Tul-Mul has been the most famous one and so this shrine is a focus of the pilgrims. 360 springs (nagas) are believed to have gathered at this spot.

The Ragniya form of the Goddess is Sattavie form which means the form of bliss and tranquility. Kheer Bhawani has been mentioned elaborately in the Kalhana’s Rajtarangini. The texts mention that the sacred spring of the Tula Mula region is situated in a marshy ground. This spring has been named as the Mata Ragini Kund (pond). The Brahmins of the Kashmir region worship this spring and the pilgrims from all comers of the country visit here to have the pious darshan of this place and of Maharagini as the form of Goddess Durga Bhagvati.

According to the text of Rajtarangini, Tula Mula, and the Maharagya spring both have been considered extremely sacred and the region’s Brahmins of Tula Mula are considered to have immense spiritual prowess. As stated by legends, during the Samvat 4041 of the Hindu lunar calendar, when the sacred Spring of Tula Mula in Kashmir was inundated under the sway of the floods, the holy place couldn’t be seen anywhere and couldn’t be traced. It was then that Yogi Krishna Pandit of Kashmir had a dream and the Goddess appeared to him to direct that she will be swimming in the form of a snake at some proper place and asked him to demarcate the holy spot with large poles in the marsh land. The holy spot was subsequently discovered at the same spot as directed by the Goddess.

The place had also uncovered the ruins of an old temple and shrine slabs that were engraved with figures were discovered and many images were found. In the 1920s, Maharaja Pratap Singh, an ardent disciple of Goddess got the marble temple made in the middle of a spring that shines similar to a pearl in the midst of a shell.

Another mention of the temple is in the book Ain-i-Akbari where Abu’l-Fazl ibn Mubarak had mentioned the area of the Tula Mula extending over a hundred bighas (units of land area) that used to sink in marshy lands during summers. The holy place was also visited by Swami Rama Tirtha and Swami Vivekananda. When Swami Vivekananda visited the temple, during his stay, he ritually worshiped Kheer Bhavani and he communicated with the Goddess.

The sacred spring situated here is uniquely septagonal and has been dedicated to Goddess Kheer Bhawani. The spring flows from the west direction to the east. This holy spring mysteriously changes its color in various hues including red, pink, orange, and green, blue, white and this was noted by both Abul Fazal and Swami Vivekananda. The spring located at a distance of 27 kms from Srinagar, in Jammu & Kashmir of India, and is considered to be a form of the Goddess Mata Ragnya Devi.

Significance of the Kheer Bhawani Temple

Kheer Bhawani temple is highly important among the followers of the historical Vedic Religion in the Kashmir region and the followers are called Kashmiri Pandits. The area around the temple is covered with smooth and beautiful stones and large and old chinar trees that grow near the temple which is a popular place for the pilgrims to sit or sleep on the soft mats of grass. A major significance of the temple is due to the occasional change in the color of the spring water which when black or darkish is believed to indicate inauspicious times for the Kashmir region. This popular belief was reinforced at the time of the visit of Walter Lawrence, the-then British settlement commissioner for land in 1886. He visited the spring and reported the water of the spring having a violet tinge. A darkish or murky tinge was observed by the locals in the spring water just before the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and during the infamous 1989 insurgency in the valley.

Kheer Bhawani Temple Timings

Kheer Bhawani Temple is open from morning 6AM to 8PM every day.

Festivals Celebrated At the Kheer Bhawani Temple

The annual festival held at the temple is the Mela Kheer Bhawani which is the time when the devotees of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani gather here and fast on the eighth day of the full moon. The festival is held during the month of May/ June. The annual festival is a public holiday in the state of Kashmir. This is the time when, according to a popular belief, the Goddess changes the color of the water of the spring and this is due to the mysterious manifestations of the Goddess Mata Kheer Bhawani.

This time of the festival on the eighth day of the full moon holds high significance for the devotees of the temple’s presiding deity Ragnya Devi. The temple serves as the main venue for the annual celebrations on the occasion of Jesht Ashtami. A large number of Hindus gather at the temple and seek the blessings of the goddess. The temple also gains special visitors during the occasion of Shukla Paksh Ashtami. Many havans/yagys are performed by the holy men during the festival to please the goddess.

Poojas and Rituals at Kheer Bhawani Temple

The Kashmiri Pandits hold special reverence towards the temple and thus they perform many rituals at the temple to please the Goddess and to keep their region safe from any external danger. It is believed that there were 360 springs surrounding the main temple earlier that disappeared and the land became marshy and so the Kashmiri Brahmins for whom the Kheer Bhawani is the presiding deity perform special yagys here to protect the temple. A lot of people also visit here for a pilgrimage and chant mantras for their Goddess.

How to Reach By Road, Rail & Air

Kheer Bhawani Temple is located in the village Tul Mul at a distance of 1 hour, 14 miles in the east of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. The temple is guarded by soldiers from all around and from a distance as many devotees visit here so while visiting the devotees first need to register near the entrance gate. Srinagar can be reached from all parts of the country through rail, road as well as airways.

By Air: There are regular flights from all the major cities of the country to Srinagar and the Srinagar Airport is the major airport.

By Train: Srinagar does not have its own railway station but the nearest railway station is the Udhampur station. It is situated 130 kms away from Srinagar and the Ram Nagar station is located 138 kms away from the city

By Bus: Regular buses can be caught from Srinagar to all other major cities of the country and back. The major bus stand is at Srinagar.

Hotels in Srinagar

Srinagar has many 3-Star, 4-Star, 5-Star hotels as well as many luxurious resorts like Hotel Akbar, The Lalit Grand Palace and Vivanta Dal View by Taj. It is also house to many houseboats and many inns, cottages and private residences.

Nearby Temples and Attractions

Srinagar is a wonderful city poised with natural beauty and nestled among mountains. The city is situated on the banks of the Jhelum and has many diverse temples of great architectural grandeur. The city has beautiful gardens and lakes. Some of the major tourist attractions of Srinagar are the Dal Lake, Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bag and Jami Masjid.

Following are some major temples in Srinagar:

Shankaracharya Temple, Srinagar: Adi Shankaracharya had visited this temple and hence it derived its name. The Temple is a soaring imposing structure and highly visited.
Sharika Devi Temple, Hari Parbat: This is a temple laced with many mystical theories from the ancient Hindu mythology. The temple’s presiding deity is Sharika Devi who is also the major deity of the Srinagar city.
Martand Sun Temple, Anantnag: The Anantnag temple is popular among the devotees who visit the Amarnath temple and the temple is a work of genius architectural labor. This temple was built by the King Lalitaditya of the Surya (Solar) dynasty.
Pandrethan Temple, Srinagar: An old stone structure, the Pandrethan temple is a major temple that is associated with Emperor Ashoka and is one of the major attractions of the city.
Bhuteshwara Temple, Srinagar: The temple was constructed in the 12^th century and is blessed with great architecture and as a result holds great importance among the locals.
Jwala Mukhi Temple, Khru: The picturesquely placed temple is atop a hillock and is a popular draw for the tourists.
Rameshwaram Shiva Temple, Jawahar Nagar, Srinagar: The popular Shiva temple has religious significance and has associations with Hinduism, but also Sikhism.
Mamal Shiva Temple, Pahalgam: The popular Shiva temple is one that has exceptional popularity amongst the faithful devotees and the devotees throng the temple in spite of its ruined condition.

The Kheer Bhawani Temple of Srinagar has been a temple of special importance among the Kashmiri Brahmins and so does the city of Srinagar that is visited by many tourists. A temple is a place with immense natural beauty and thus is worth a visit.

Jakhoo Temple Guide – Timings, Poojas, and History

July 27, 2019, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Himachal Pradesh Temples Tagged With: Hanuman Temples

Jakhoo Temple is an ancient temple situated in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. This temple is dedicated to Hindu God, Lord Hanuman. Jakhoo Temple is situated on the Jhakoo Hill in Shimla at a height of 2,455 m (8,000 feet) above sea level.

Shimla’s highest peak offers a panoramic view of the Shivalik Ranges and the town of Sanjauli. An ancient “Lord Hanuman” temple is there and every year a big festival is held on Dushera. You can go to the temple on foot from Ridge or can hire a pony/horse. Taxis are available too.

Jakhoo Temple has an interesting legend behind it. It is said that a deadly arrow injured Lord Rama’s brother Lakshmana when he was fighting the battle with the demon king Ravana. A priest diagnosed Lakshmana and said that he needed a particular Sanjeevani herb from the Himalayas to cure Lakshmana. Hanuman was sent to get that herb from the lofty mountains. Upon reaching the Himalayas, Hanuman couldn’t make out as to which herb was the Sanjeevani. So he dug up the entire mountain and flew back to where Lakshmana was lying injured.

After Lakshmana was cured, Hanuman went back to place the mountain in its original site. He rested on top of the Jakhu hill for some time. It is said that the top of the hill got flattened due to Hanuman’s weight. The temple has been built around the place that is supposed to have the footprints of Hanuman. It is a highly revered religious place of Shimla and devotees throng in huge numbers to pray. The shrine is a hotspot for monkeys who flock here in great numbers and generously accept eatables that are given to them by devotees and tourists.

History of Jakhoo Temple

There is a story that Lord Hanuman stopped here to take rest while he was searching for Sanjivni Booti to bring back Lakshman to life in the epic Ramayana.
On arrival at the temple signs advise visitors to secure all personal belongings and beware of the monkeys, which are everywhere. This is appropriate as the temple is in honour of the Monkey Lord. Visitors must remove shoes before entering the temple.
There are several eateries at the Jhaku Temple site. Local visitors ring the bell for good luck before making the descent back into Shimla.
Just on the outskirts of this erstwhile summer capital of the British raj, a giant 108-feet-high idol of Hanuman (the Monkey God) was unveiled at Jakhoo Hanuman temple in 2010, overlooking the entire city.
Given its titanic size, it would not be out of place to say that monkeys will be omnipresent in this famous tourist destination which already has a large monkey population.
At 108 feet at the highest altitude of over 8100 feet and constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crores, it surpasses the statue of ‘Christ the Redeemer’, which measures at 98 feet and stands at an altitude of 2296 feet in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The moment Hanuman landed on the hill, the hill could not bear his weight. As a result, the line runs hilly ground. More than half the land went into the original mountain.
The name of the hill ‘Jakhu’ is. It Jakhu ‘was named after a sage named James. Hanuman bowed to the sage and received detailed information about the lifesaving herb sage promised to bring lifesaving time will surely come to the hermitage of sage.
Hanuman in the way ‘Kalnemi called’ war on the way stop by the monster and beat him. The bustle and Smayabav the hermitage of sage Hanuman could not. James did not want to offend sage Hanuman because vanish suddenly appeared and were making their Deity.
The Hanuman temple built in memory of James Wiseman. Hanuman temple where he had put his foot that steps have been made from marble. Hanuman, the monkey god blessed sage until it is mountainous, worshiped by the people will.

Significance of Jakhoo Temple

9 Jakhoo Hill is a play set in a home in 1950’s Jakhoo Hill, directed by Sunit Tandon.
World’s tallest statue of Lord Hanuman was unveiled to the public by Abhishek Bachchan on November 5th, 2010.
Jakhu Temple is situated at Jakhu hill which is at the height of 8048feet above sea level.
The snowy peaks, valleys offers a panoramic view of Shimla. The religious center dedicated to Lord Hanuman ‘ridge’ is located near to it.
From here visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the sunrise and sunset. According to legend Manyata Ram and Ravana during the war between Lord Rama’s brother Lakshman Meghnad arrows were injured and unconscious.
All the time due to abortive treatment Vadyraj Susan said that one solution is left. Laxman saved the lives of Himalayan herbs can be lifesaving. I said Lord Hanuman devotee this crisis will bring lifesaving. Hanuman Himalayan and flew down the hill on the way, he ‘Jas’ walked down the hill, they saw the sage.
Jakhu Temple is now fitted with a giant statue of Hanuman, whose height is 108 feet. The statue was installed in 2010. Previously only 135 feet in Andhra Pradesh is a statue. Hanuman you appear anywhere in Shimla. To avoid monkeys at the gate of the temple also get stick. But if there is no tampering with the monkeys is good. It is said that the crews are Jakhu temple monkeys centuries.
Various trekking and mountain climbing mountaineering activities by the state government are held. Trekking path is surrounded by picturesque pine forests. Jakhu temple visitor to reach the ‘pony can also be hired. Jakhu hill by many shops in the area, which offer up to Trackers to help provide walking sticks etc.

Jakhoo Temple Timings

Jakhoo Temple is open for darshan all the seven days of the week. The darshan timings are from 7 am to 8 pm. It hardly takes 1 to 2 hours for darshan. There is no entry fee in the Temple.

Place to eat in Shimla

Jakhoo Temple provides food to its devotees. They are free of cost and all the expenses incurred are borne by the Trustees. Once the daily Puja is over, devotees are allowed to move for food. These food are made in a very hygienic condition maintaining the dignity of the Temple. The food includes three main courses and is given in plenty. All the expenses incurred are borne by the temple trust. Apart from the prasad provided in the temple, one can also have food from hotels outside the campus. These hotels provide clean and hygienic food. There are various other places to eat food. There are many hotels and cafes which provide food keeping the taste and needs of the devotees. They cost very nominal keeping the needs and budget of the tourists.

There are a lot of dishes which are given to the devotees. There are one-time free prasads served to the devotees. There are many other dishes that are served to the devotees for which they need to spend money. The food is prepared in a very hygienic conditions. All the eatables are taken good care while preparing food. Foods are prepared in a very hygienic atmosphere.

Apart from the food we get in the temple, there are many other hotels and places where one can have food. In Delhi, we can find food stalls everywhere. There are hotels and cafes like Cafe Coffee Day, Pind Balluchi, The First Floor Restaurant and many more. There are many other hotels which have nominal charges keeping the taste of the consumer in mind. They prepare food in a very clean and hygienic environment.

Places to stay

There are various dharamshala facility provided fo the devotees. The Temple Trust has themselves made dharamshalas for the devotees as well as tourists. Apart from dharamashalas, there are many hotels as well as private organizations that provide dwelling facilities to the people. The hotels have nominal charge keeping the need and budget of the devotees and the tourists. The hotels provide clean and hygiene environment to the tourists as well has good and hygienic food. Many hotels provide wifi facilities to the tourists so that they keep themselves connected to the whole world.

How to Reach – Road, Air and Rail

Air- The nearest airport to Jakhoo Temple is simla airport , shimla which is 10 km away from Jakhoo Temple.
Rail– The nearest railway station to jakhoo temple is Shimla Train Station which is 2 km away from Jakhoo Temple.

Places to visit near Jakhoo Temple

Kali Temple- The trek up to the Kali Temple is an amazing experience as one comes across rare species of various animals, which also makes for some interesting photography. Situated at the Jakhoo Hills, the temple is believed to be about 150 years old and houses idols of three goddesses, namely Kali, Shyamala and Chandi. Kali Devi, however, remains the prime deity of importance here and sees devotees come to offer their respects from near and far. The place is surrounded by breathtaking views of the Shivalik Range. Situated atop a grassy knoll kept judiciously manicured by the local bovine population, the temple presents two manifestations of Kali to humble and inspire you. It’s also a great spot for a picnic.
State Library- As you walk down the charming street of the ridge in Shimla, you can see a small colonial-style building, standing as a lone structure right behind the Christ Church. It is the State Library in Shimla that was built back in the 1860s. Today it’s an important structure in the city from a cultural point of view and has preserved numerous rare and age-old books that await keen readers. It is a quaint building built in stone and timber with a sloping roof and wide wood-paneled windows adding to the splendor of the structure. Try taking out some time from your schedule and visit this lovely place to find some timeless books that you have always wanted to read.
The Ridge- A wide-open street in Shimla lying next to the Mall Road adjoining the Scandal Point is the Ridge. A hub of all activities, this place also offers a panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains around Shimla. The age-old Christ church is also located on the ridge which is yet another reason for the tourists to swarm the place during the peak season. Moreover, just like the Mall road, no vehicles are allowed on the ridge. This place is also where festivals like Summer Festival, New year’s Eve and Christmas are celebrated with much fervor and joy.
The Mall- Once you are at the Mall in Shimla, you will witness the myriad of activities happening all around the street. Tourists roaming around scrutinizing the place, locals busy with their daily activities, enthusiastic groups enjoying street food, others actively bargaining at the roadside stalls and many such scenes are a regular part of a normal day at the Mall. Vehicular movement is restricted inside the Mall Road to maintain a pristine environment as well as for the shoppers’ and tourists’ convenience. It is the most important place of the city with the presence of places like the Viceregal Lodge and the Cultural complex. Spend some quality time at the mall road on your visit to Shimla. Be it shopping or eating at your favorite food joints, Mall road will offer you with some memorable moments here.

Which network is best for Char Dham Yatra? – Kedarnath, Badrinath Mobile Coverage

January 21, 2020, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Char Dham Yatra

BSNL is the best mobile network for Char Dham Yatra. It is available in all the four Dhams including Kedarnath and Badrinath. Airtel sim also works well. However, there are chances of not getting a connection everywhere. Apart from these two, you can also opt for Idea and Vodafone. It is recommended not to use Jio and other similar networks.

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It is best to carry a BSNL sim as the other networks don’t work properly in the Char Dhams and the major cities.

https://youtu.be/l8EazMZCd5E

As the Char Dhams of this Yatra are located in the Himalayan terrain, you will lose network at many places. However, these networks work the best among all.

The more you travel and go towards the elevation, the chances of losing the network connectivity increases. As you move towards the city like Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi etc, you will get back the network connection.

Frequently asked questions about Char Dham Yatra

Sooriyanar Kovil

August 29, 2019, Sasidhar Darla Leave a Comment Filed Under: Tamil Nadu Temples Tagged With: Navagraha Temples, Shiva Temples

Sooriyanar Kovil is the first of the 9 Navagraha Temples in Tamil Nadu, about 1 km from Tirumangalakkudi. The presiding deity is Suriyanar, the Sun and his consorts Usha Devi and Pradyusha Devi. Sooriyanar Kovil Temple also has separate shrines for the other eight planetary deities.

Sooriyanar Kovil is one of the few historic temples in honor to Sun god and is also the only temple in Tamil Nadu which has shrines for all the planetary deities.

What is the history of Sooriyanar Kovil?

According to history Kulothunga Chola I built Sooriyanar Kovil Temple in 1100 AD. It features a huge tower with three tiers and five domes at the top. The sanctum and the ardhamandapam consist of stone. This is the only Navagraha temple where all the nine grahas are in separate Sanctums.

Once upon a time a great sage called Kaalava rishi was living in Himalayas region. He realized he will get a deadly disease of leprosy in the future and he worried about it. His fellow sages advised him to worship all the navagrahas (nine gods for each planet).

Kaalava rishi also did a very dedicated penance towards the navagrahas and they appeared as he wished. He told his concerns about leprosy and he prayed that the navagrahas should help him to get out of the deadly disease. The navagrahas granted the boon the rishi won’t get the disease.

Later the God of creator, Brahma came to know this and called upon all the nine devas (navagrahas). He told them, the human beings have to face all the happy and sad incidents in their life and nobody can change it. As navagrahas awarded the kaalava rishi navagrahas will get the disease on behalf of him and they should do a twelve weeks penance at south part of India.

Based on this curse all the navagrahas arrived to south India and did a penance to get rid of Brahma’s curse. Then, as god of Sun (Sooriyan) was heading this penance he was at the center in this temple and the other eight planet gods were surrounded by him at this temple.

What is the significance of the Sooriyanar Kovil?

Here’s the significance of the Sooriyanar Kovil:

Those who suffer the ill effects of Kalathara Dosham, Vivaha Paribandha Dosham, Puthra Dosham, Puthra Paribandha Dosham, Vidhya Paribandha Dosham, Udyoga Padhibandha Dosham, Surya dasai, Surya bukthi would benefit from worshipping at this temple. Also, Father, Athma, physical strength, right eye, governmental largesse are the beneficial aspects of this planet.

Devotees also believe that if one bathes in the nine ghats in this place continuously for 12 Sundays, they will be has a peaceful and prosperous life.

There are shrines of Kasi Vishwanath, Visalakshi and Brihaspati(Guru) within the sanctum while shrines for the other celestial bodies are outside. The Kol Theertha Vinayakar shrine is very important. Malefic effects due to Dasa bukthi and gochara will be nullified by worshipping here.

The peculiarity of this temple is that the eight other planets here, faces towards the Surya god. The Vahanam (vehicle) of Lord Suryanar is horse, which is called by the name “Saptha”, which refers to number “seven” in Sanskrit. Several horses draw the chariot of Lord Suryanar.

Sree Surya Puranam is the first Puranam when the world came into existence, the first sound that reverberated was ‘Ohm’. Surya was born from this ‘Omkhara naadham’. Sree Markandeya Puranam has explained this factor. Suryan was the son of Sage Kashyapa and was the grandson of Sage Maarisi. Surya married Soorvarsala, the daughter of Vishwakarma. Vaivasvatha Manu and Yamadharmaraja were his sons and Yamuna, his daughter.

What are the timings of Sooriyanar Kovil Temple?

Here are the timings of Sooriyanar Kovil Temple:

Timings	From	To
Morning Darshan	6:00 AM	12:30 PM
Evening Darshan	4:00 PM	8:00 PM

What are the festivals celebrated at the Sooriyanar Kovil?

Some of the festivals celebrated at the Sooriyanar Kovil are:

Ratha Saptami: Ratha Saptami is dedicated to Lord Surya, the Hindu Sun God. As per the tradition in Hinduism, Lord Surya rides a chariot driven by seven horses – devotees worship this form during Rathasaptami puja and festival.
Vijaya Dashami: It is celebrated in the lunar month of Ashwin (usually in September or October). Vijayadashami is the victory of Lord Rama over Demon Ravana and also triumph of Goddess Durga over the buffalo Demon Mahishasura. In the southern part of India Vijaya Dashami is includes the worship of Chamundeshwari or Durga.
Brahmotsavam festival: The Brahmothsavam is performed in the month of Asweeja (according to the hindu calendar) when the Sun is in the Kanya Rashi. The festival commences with ceremony- the Dhwajarohanam or the hoisting of the flag. Further, in the center of the outer court of the temple stands a huge stone-pillar called the flag-stand (Dhwajasthamba).

What are the Poojas and Rituals of Sooriyanar Kovil?

Poojas and rituals of Sooriyanar Kovil are:

To offer worship at Sooriyanar Temple, one has to reach the Rajagopuram (Main Entrance) and more towards North where Pushkarani of temple is present.

One can take bath in the tank or sprinkle holy water in the head as purification. Next after the bath one has to offer prayers at the RajaGopuram before entering the temple. After entering the temple, one has to turn towards Southeren side where Koltheertha Vinayagar is there.

One also has to do the Sankalpam and Archana as Hindus find Vinayagar as turnover of all obstacles. After worshipping Vinayagar, one has to climb steps to reach ‘Narthana Mandapam’ at Northern Side. And then more towards ‘Sabanayakar Mandapam’ where one can offer prayers to ‘Urchava Moorthi’.

After Sabanayakar Mandapam one can reach ‘Main Mandapam’ and offer prayers to SriKasivisvanathar and Smt. Visalakshi. Also, next to Main Mandapam, there is Maha Mandapam where Sannathi to Sun-God, there is Guru Bhavan(lord Jupitee) stands there.

People do the Archana for Guru and offer prayers to lord Sun. One has to move South wards to come out of Sanctum to reach the lord Saturn (Sani). Lord Kuja, lord Mars are present separately then more northwards to offer prayers to lord Moon and Kethu.

Next movement would be towards west where lord Sukra and Raghu are present. Finally one has to offer prayers to Sandikeswarar. After finishing prayers at Sandikeswarar, one has to come clockwise to reach the vinayakar to give final prayers.

How to Reach Sooriyanar Kovil?

Here’s how to reach Sooriyanar Kovil:

Air: The nearest airport is Trichy airport, 58km from Thanjavur.
Rail: The nearest railway station is the Aduthurai Railway Station.
Road: Suryanar Koil is about 21 km from Swamimalai and 15 km from Kumbakonam. It is about 20 km from Mayiladuthurai on the Kumbakonam – Aduthurai – Mayiladuthurai Road.

Where to stay near near Sooriyanar Kovil temple?

Some of the places where one can stay near Sooriyanar Kovil Temple are:

Sivamurugan Hotels Contact: 60 Feet Main Road | Near New Bus Stand,, Kumbakonam 612001
Mantra Veppathur Resort Contact: 536/537A,No.1, Bagavathapuram Main Road Extension, | Srii Sailapathipuram Village, Veppathur,, Kumbakonam 612103
Hotel Le Garden Contact: Thiruvidaimaruthur Road, Kumbakonam 612001
DSR Madhanam Inn Contact: 75/3 Asoor By Pass Nh 45c | near Karuppur By Pass,Kumbakonam 612002
Hotel Riverside Resort & Spa Contact: 32 College Road, Kumbakonam 612001
Quality Inn VIHA Contact: #2, New Railway Road | Kumbakonam, Tanjore Dist,Kumbakonam 612001

Where to eat near Sooriyanar Kovil temple?

Some of the places where one can eat near Sooriyanar Kovil Temple are:

Thanmayi Restaurant Contact: New Railway Road, Kumbakonam, India
Raya’s Restaurant Contact: 18,19 Head Post Office Rd, Kumbakonam 612001
Habibi RestaurantContact: 29/921 Sarangapani East Street, Kumbakonam
Dosa Plaza Kumbakonam Contact: 332 Nageshwaran North Street Kurinchi Metro Bazzar

What are some temples near Sooriyanar Kovil Temple?

Some of the temples near Sooriyanar kovil temple are:

Brihadeeswara Temple: The Brihadeeswara Temple or the Peruvudaiyar Kovil is a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Moreover, Raja Raja Chola I had this temple constructed in 1010 AD. Also, the presiding deity is Shiva in the form of a Lingam, Peruvudaiya, Rasjarajeshwaramudvya.

Neelamega Perumal Temple: Thiru Thanjaimaamani temple or Sri Neelamega Perumal Temple is situated in Vennathankarai village of Thanjavur district in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and also one of the 108 Divya Desam Temples. Further, the Lord in this temple appears in sitting posture as Veera SingaPerumal and Narashimar. Sri Yoga Narasimha is also in the front Mandap.

Sarangapani Temple: This is an important divya desam of Vishnu and is also known as Tiru Kudanthai. This is also one of the Pancha Ranga Khestras. Moreover, Sarangapani temple is the biggest Vishnu temple in Kumbakonam and it belongs to 13th century. The temple sanctum also has design like a chariot with wheels which horses and elephants pull.

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