Perak Tong temple

Name : Perak Tong temple

Location : Within the huge limestone caves of Gunung Tasek, 6 km to the north of Ipoh, nestles the Perak Tong temple.

Description :

Ipoh has many limestone caves due to the surrounding karst formations. The famous of them are three namely, The Sam Po Tong, Perak Tong and Kek Lok Tong

Perak Tong temple was built in 1962 by a Buddhist priest from China. This temple houses over 40 Buddha statues, the centre piece being a 12.8m high sitting Buddha. The statue of Buddha in Perak Tong was the tallest and largest of its kind in Malaysia when first commissioned.



Beyond the main altar, a passage leads into the cave's interior. On the walls of the cave, a visitor will find himself fascinated by mystical mural paintings.

It has a steep, tall staircase in the interior of the cave rising up steep climb of 385 steps. Afterall this is a limestone cave, so you may find water dripping from the ceiling at certain points. The cave opens again to reveal a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside. Even there is a wonderfull garden up there.
Website : http://mynicegarden.blogspot.com/2009/10/hike-up-perak-cave-temple-part-3-of-3.html

Veerabhadreshwara Temple

Name : Veerabhadreshwara Temple

Location :

This is an ancient cave temple situated in the lovely picnic spot of Kalhatti falls. This temple is near Kalhattipura which is 20 km south of Tarikere in Chikmagalur District and about 10 km from Kemmannagundi. Tarikere Junction Railway Station is the nearest railhead.

Description :

This temple i am not sure if it is Hill temple, but it is constructed in a gap between rocks, this temple is said to have been built during the Vijaynagara period. The main deity is Lord Veerabhadreshwara, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The entrance of the temple is decorated with three stone carvings of three elephants. According to legends, this place has once hosted the hermitages of Sage Agastya.

The temple conducts its festival for three days every year. No animal sacrifice is made at this temple, but animal sacrifice occurs at the goddess temple a few yards before the Shiva temple.

Other Attractions :

Goddess Chowdeshwari Temple and the Kalhatti falls, situated amidst the natural surroundings, attract both tourists and pilgrims.

Website :

http://www.india9.com/i9show/Veerabhadreshwara-Temple-63045.htm

Shivagange

Name : Shivagange Hill

Location : Shiva Ganga is a hill about 50 km from Bangalore, 20 km ahead of Tumkur. It’s a pretty tall hill with two Shiva temples, one very close to the foot of the hill and another, that’s possibly around 5 km uphill!

Deity : The deities are “Gangadhareshwara”, and his consort “Swarnambha”.

Description :

This place is also called as “Dakshina Kaashi” - Kaashi/Varanasi of South India. One strange happening here in Shivagange is, if you do an ‘abhishek’ of ‘ghee’ in the temple, the same ghee turns in to ‘butter’.

The place is just fantastic, with breathtaking views from the high altitudes. Brilliant are the views of the surrounding city, the nearby `pushkarini’ or pond, from the top of the hill. The unique feature of the hill is, that it looks like a bull (Nandi) from the East, a Ganesha from the West, a Linga from the South and a cobra from the North. A flight of steep steps leads to the shrines of Gavi Gangadhareshwara Cave temple and Honnadevi temple. The spring water found here is considered to be the sacred water of the 'Ganges'.

Most of the place is rocky, with railings to hold on to as you climb, and monkeys to make sure you don’t take any offerings to the deity on top.

Inside some of the rocks and even inside the temple and the deities and sannidhis, you could find some small fountains or water bodies, that never dry up throughout the year. But the most intriguing of all was a tunnel which supposedly led into the heart of Bangalore.

Other places one can visit in the same hill -

1.Gangadhareshwara Temple

As we go up the hill, we first see the Gangadhareshwara, ancient temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It has a low roof and alight only with diyas. Pujas and abhisheka are performed here. It is believed that the Abhisheka in ghee turns into butter. There is a tunnel in the Garba Griha (inner sanctum) which is believed to be connecting to the Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple at Bangalore. Nobody has tried to enter the tunnel as it is closed from both the entrances for safety reasons.

2.Olakala Teertha

Further up on the hillock we come across the spring water, Olakala Teertha. One has to step down the narrow stairs between the rocks to find the spring. It is said that one who is pious and good can touch or feel the water.

3.Nandi Statue

At the top of the hill is the Nandi Statue, is a monolith placed on a huge rock .The view around the area atop the hill is mesmerizing. This is the peak of Shivagange. After this is the visit to Patala Gange.



4.Patala Gange

Patala Gange is a temple built in the mountain. Here has underground spring seeping at entrance of the temple. Sometimes the water level is up to the knee length and very cold. Passing this we arrive at the Garba Griha where in we can crawl into a tunnel to make the Pradakshina to the Lord. They say the water flows here is connected at Antargange.

5.Shantala drop

Queen Shantala, wife of Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana committed suicide here. The drop is more than 500 ft.

It takes about 2-2.5 hours to go up and around 2 hrs to get down the hill. There is a lot of crowd on Sundays and on Maha Shivarathri. Overall, it appears to be a great place for a quick weekend trip.

Traveling Tips

* You need to carry plenty of water and a food packet as the hill is a good 2 km(approx) trek.
* Beware of menace of monkeys. Please do not take carry bags and do not litter.
* Wear a cap or umbrella to avoid the scorching sun.
* There are not many hotels or eat-out, so pack your lunch if you plan to stay longer.
* You start early from Bangalore and cover Shivagange, Namada Chilume and Devarayana Durga in one day. There is a Kamat Outlet and many more hotels on Tumkur road for food and refreshments.

Website : I have used the material from http://www.karnataka.com/tourism/bangalore/shivagange.html for this post. All the credit for this post goes to them.

Toong Wah Tong

Name : Toong Wah Tong cave

Location : Toong Wah Tong is located about 500m away from Lost World of Tambun on the way to Tanjong Rambutan in Kinta district, Perak, Malaysia.


Description :

The 130 over years old cave temple which is located about 60 steps high or 100 feet above ground. Visitors will be fascinated by the beautiful cave temple.

Once you are at the temple, you can get a good view of the surrounding greenery including the lime stone hills. Founded by a famous tin miner Leong Sin Nam, the temple opens daily to the public from 9am to 5.30pm. Many tourists from around the world have come to visit this temple. Some came to offer prayers and some came to take a good view from the temple.



Local people will normally come to pray and at the same time climb the hill to keep themselves healthy. Visitors will be welcome by the writings on the wall that read: "If you can climb up the hill, it is fated and when you descend, its your good fortune".

Website : http://eat-n-sleep.blogspot.com/2009/09/toong-wah-tong-cave-temple.html

Doi Tung temple

Name : Doi Tung Temple

Location : Doi Tung (Flag Mountain) located in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand

Description : At the top of the mountain Doi Tung is the thousand years old temple of Wat Phrathat Doi Tung. It is a Buddhist temple since 911 AD and it is assumed that the left collar bone of Buddha is found in two pagodas. On the way to the top, enjoy the view and then on a visit to the Lahu and Akha hill tribe village known for its hand woven textiles and silver jewelry.

The temple is an important pilgrimage spot for Buddhists from many countries. Thais will also make a pilgrimage of sorts to the royal villa of the Princess Mother, the mother of the current king, who passed away in 1995. The villa has been preserved as it was when the Princess Mother lived there, and turned into a museum.

Other attractions : A long drive the boat propeller in the Mekong River, the natural rock formations and caves with spectacular formations, such as the Big Cave, Fish Cave. Visit www.homestaytravelchiangrai.com for more photos and information.

Website : http://thailandforvisitors.com/north/chiangrai/doitung.html

Phnom Chngouk Temple

Name : Phnom Chngouk Temple

Location : Tropeang Pring, Cambodia

Description : Just eight kilometres east of quiet Kampot town lies Phnom Chngouk, one of Kampot's oldest known cave temples.

The winding dirt road to the temple snakes past scenic views of the Cambodian countryside, lush with rice paddies, small farms and dramatic limestone formations, covered in dense vegetation.

There is brick temple within the cave that dates back to 7th century during the Funan period. It has over the course of millions of year, grown into an almost prefect linga.

Phnom Chngouk itself is a hulking limestone karst, which contains many hidden chambers, rocky outcrops and stalactites, formed by calcium carbonate deposits in water. The largest cave contains an ancient red brick Hindu temple resting under a massive rock formation resembling an eagle.

Now the temple is tended to by the elderly Loak Ta Neak Sohl, or "Grandfather White Dragon". He came to this area 12 years ago to devote himself to the Buddhist dharma and meditate. At that time not many people knew about this temple; there were no steps up to the cavern, only forest and rocks. With his encouragement, the villagers pooled their money to build stone steps up to the temple.

The slight, wiry patriarch explained that many electronic devices such as cell phones and watches cease to work in the cave, and that even airplanes and helicopters never fly over the site, as it interferes with their controls.

Next to the main chamber is a passageway that leads to the interior of the cave. The path is slippery and dark, and littered with large boulders, a stalactite resembling the head of a cow, and a cool, subterranean pond filled with tiny black fish.

The journey through the cave and out to the rice fields below and behind the mountain is easily negotiated by the young boys who hop effortlessly through the obstacles with only a flashlight. But it is not an easy trip for first-time visitors.

Tourists don't often explore this cavern, as they are too scared. Only visitors under 80 or 90 kilogrammes are advised to go here as some of the passageways are too tight for larger visitors.

Website : http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2009061826534/Life-Style/Kampot-s-cave-temples-make-for-a-magical-trip.html

Wat Kirisan

Name : Wat Kirisan

Location : located in Kampong Trach, 29 kilometres from Kep, Cambodia

Description : Wat Kirisan is a modern temple built at the base of a large karst formation with numerous caves and passages on the inside. The main pagoda is located outside the karst, and from there you can take an underground passage to go to the shrines and caves on the inside. There is also a large reclining Buddha inside the karst formation too. The cave network is explorable with a proper light source, but a guide is recommended for serious exploration..

Armed with a flashlight, the guide leads visitors down the temple steps and under the mountain into a channel carved out by a now-defunct river.

"During the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge used the soil in this cave for the rice paddies nearby because it was full of minerals," he said. "Later, Vietnamese soldiers hid in the caves, but the Khmer Rouge found them and killed them. Some Vietnamese officials returned to collect the bones, but many of their bones still remain in hidden recesses."

Around the perimeter of the rock walls are grottoes, carved by ancient streams, which contain multiple Buddhist and animist shrines. Some of the grottoes lead to vast underground caverns with lunar-like landscapes and echo with the eerie sound of water softly dripping into the underground pools. People come here to pray to the forest spirit for health, wealth and better life.

Website : http://www.geckogo.com/Attraction/Cambodia/Kampong-Trach/Wat-Kirisan/

Leshan Giant Buddha

Name : Leshan literally meaning "happy mountain"

Location : Leshan Grand Buddha sits at the confluence of the Mingjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers, in the Sichuan province of the People's Republic of China. Leshan is on the southwestern fringe of the Red Basin in southern Sichuan, about 120 km from Chengdu.

Description : Leshan Grand Buddha (Da Fo), sitting 71 meters high, is the largest Buddha sculpture of Maitreya in the world. The building project was begun in 713, engineered by a monk called Haitong and was completed in the 19th year of Tang Dezhong (803 AD). The statue has undergone a large amount of weathering over the years, and has had many "face lifts" and repairs added, including a water drainage system hidden on the inside. Nevertheless, there is still a great deal of erosion, and officials are worried about possible collapse.

It is a UN-claimed world cultural and natural heritage. State-protected site of cultural relics, State-ranked scenic spot, and one of the "Best Forty" tourist places of China.

Leshan Grand Buddha has beautiful surroundings of green hills and vast waters. Around it are numerous cultural and scenic spots. There are Mahao Cave Tombs of the Han Dynasty, Lingbao Pagoda of the Tang Dynasty, Lingyun Temple, Dongpo Tower Study, Yijing Annotation Cave, Moruo Memorial Hall, Wuyou Temple, and the Heavenly-Buddhist Kingdom. All there present us with a great painting of the nature. Visitors, no matter in boats or on the hill paths, will all enjoy it, I am sure.''

It is possible to walk from top to bottom (and back up again) along a staircase carved in the wall overlooking the Buddha. A popular activity near the head is for people to have their photo taken "touching" the nose or sticking their finger in the ear of the buddha, supposedly for good luck.

Website : http://www.thesalmons.org/lynn/leshan/

Ratu Boko Temple in Boko Palace

Name : Ratu Boko Palace

Location : about three kilometres south of Lara Jonggrang Prambanan temple complex in Yogyakarta Indonesia

History :

Not many people know that this palace is witness of the initial triumph in Sumatera land. Balaputradewa once fled to this palace before leaving for Sumatra when he was struck by Rakai Pikatan. Balaputradewa rebelled because he felt to be second person in the reign of Old Mataram Kingdom because of Rakai Pikatan's marriage to Pramudhawardani (Balaputradewa's sister). After his defeat and escape to Sumatra, he became the king of Sriwijaya Kingdom.

Description : It was a well defended palace-fort, some kind of citadel. Situated up on the hill, the Ratu Boko complex consist of:  Series of Gates.

Protective wall,  Roofless temple for cremation ceremony, Some walled structure of living space (pendopo). The body and roof is made from decayed material like wood or clay roof, but the base of building (palace) remains.

Small miniature of temple for religious ceremony within living space (serve like home temple)

Bathplace (pemandian), series of pools encirceled with walls and series of gates.More foundations and floor of buildings, also walled enclosure with gates.

Aeschetic small cave for meditation At the northern part from pendopo, isolated from the rest of the site, lies two caves that were formed of sediment stones. The upper cave is called Gua Lanang (Male Cave) and the lower cave is called Gua Wadon (Female Cave). In front of Gua Lanang, there is a pond and three effigies. Based on the research, the effigy is known as Aksobya, one of Buddha Pantheons. The cave probably functioned as a meditation place.

This site is located 196 m above the sea level, on the highest point in the site, there is a small pavilion from which one will be able to see a panoramic view of Prambanan temple with Mount Merapi as the background.

 King Boko Palace was a glorious building that was constructed during the reign of Rakai Panangkaran, descendant of Sailendra dynasty. The palace that initially was named Abhayagiri Vihara (that means a monastery on a peaceful hill) was built for seclusion purpose and to focus on spiritual life. From this palace, you will feel peace and will be able to see Yogyakarta city and Prambanan temple with Merapi Mountain as the background.

This palace is located 196 meters above the sea level. The area of the palace as wide as 250,000 m2 is divided into four, namely center, west, southeast, and east parts. The center part consists of the main gateway, square, Combustion Temple (cremation place), pond, square terrace and assembly hall. Meanwhile, the southeast part includes hall, platform, three temples, pond, and a complex for princess. The caves, Buddha effigy, and a pond are in east part while the west part consists of hills only.

If you enter from the palace gateway, you will directly be guided to the center part. Two high gates will welcome you. The first gate has three entrances while the second one has five. If you look it in detail, you will read 'Panabwara' writing on the first gate. Based on Wanua Tengah III inscription, the word was written by Rakai Panabwara (the descendant of Rakai Panangkaran) who took over the palace. The intention of carving his name on the gate was to legitimate his authority, to give 'power' to the gate in order to look more glorious and to give sign that the building was the main building.

About 45 meters away from the second gate, you will see a temple made of white stones so that it was named Candi Batu Putih or Temple of White Stones.

Close to the place, you will also find Combustion Temple. The temple is of square form (measuring 26 meter x 26 meter) with two terraces. The function of the temple is to burn dead body as the name suggests. Around 10 meters away from the Combustion Temple, there are sacred terrace and a pond.

A mysterious well will be seen if you walk southeastward of the Combustion Temple. As the legend tells, the well was named Amerta Mantana that means sacred water treated with charms. At present time, the water of Amerta well is still used. The legend tells that the water brings luck for anyone who uses it. Hindu people use it in Tawur Agung ceremony, one day before the Nyepi day. Using water in the ceremony is believed to support the achievement of the objective, namely to self purify and to return the earth and its content to its initial harmony. IndonesiaTravelVisit.com suggests that you visit Prambanan temple one day before Nyepi day to see the ceremony process.

Moving to the eastern part of the palace, you will see two caves, big pond measuring 20 meters x 50 meters and Buddha effigy that sits quietly. Those two caves were formed of sediment stones. The upper cave is called Gua Lanang (Male Cave) and the lower cave is called Gua Wadon (Female Cave). Right in front of Gua Lanang, there is a pond and three effigies. Based on the research, the effigy is known as Aksobya, one of Buddha Pantheons.

Even though it was built by a Buddhist, there are Hindu elements in it. This can be seen from the presence of Lingga and Yoni, Ganesha statue, and golden plate with the writing "Om Rudra ya namah swaha" on it as form of worship to Rudra as the other name of Shiva. The Hindu elements proved religious tolerance that is reflected in architectural works. In fact, Rakai Panangkaran who embraced Buddhism lived side by side with Hindu people.

Websites :

http://indonesiatravelvisit.blogspot.in/2016/03/king-boko-palace-glory-on-peaceful-hill.html 

Baba Budan Giri

Name : BABA BUDAN

Location : North Of Chikmagalur, Karnataka

Highest Point : Mullaiyanagari

Altitude : 1926 m Above Sea Level

Description : To the north of Chikmaglur town is the Baba Budan Range or Chandra Drona Parvatha as it was known in the ancient times, which has one of the highest mountain peaks between the Himalayas and the Nilgiris.

The loftiest point of the range is Mullaiyanagari, which is 1926 m above sea level. A beacon lighted here during Deepavali can be seen at Chikmagalur.

The peak takes its name from the Muslim saint, Baba Budan, who resided here more than 150 years ago and reared coffee from the seeds he had secured from Yemen.
Bababudangiri mountain boasts of the Dattatreya peeta (a Hindu temple) and a Muslim dargah in the same premises. They are present side-by-side in the same underground cave.

Caves : Three large caves here said to have been sanctified by 3 siddhas contain their icons and gaddiges (tomb) and an annual 'jatra' is held here in their honour.

The enthralling scenery around makes this a much frequented pilgrim centre. Seethala contains a 'matha' and the dual shrine temple of 'Seethala-Mallikarjuna'.

Waterfalls : A short distance from here are the three waterfalls with epic associations, namely Gada Theertha, Nallikayi Theertha and Kamana Theertha.

Gada Theertha, according to a myth was created by the pandava prince, Bheema with his 'gada', the club, to quench the thirst of his mother during their exile.

The Ritual : Pilgrims who bathe here in the Nellikayi Theertha formed by Manikya Dhara waterfall, leave behind one item of their clothing as per a local belief.

Kedareshwar Cave

Name : Kedareshwar Cave

Location : Harishchandragad, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra

Legend : It seems that the Shivalinga had Four pillars around it. One pillar was entirely damaged and cannot seen now. Two pillars have their remains stuck to the cave roof. Only one pillar is fully seen. Local legend holds that when the fourth pillar breaks, the world will come to an end.

Description : Going rightwards of Harishchandreshwar temple, we come across a huge cave. This is the cave of Kedareshwar, in which there is a big Shivlinga, which is totally surrounded by water. The total height from its base is five feet, and the water is waist-deep.

It is quite difficult to reach the Shivlinga, as the water is ice-cold. There are sculptures carved out here. In monsoon it is not possible to reach this cave, as a huge stream flows across the way.

Website : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harishchandragad

Harishchandreshwar

Name : Harishchandreshwar

Location : Harishchandragad is a hill fort in the Ahmednagar region of Maharashtra.

Description : This temple is marvelous example of the fine art of carving sculptures out of stones that prevailed in ancient India. It is about 16 m high from its base. Around this temple there a few caves & ancient water tanks. The river Mangal Ganga is said to originate from one of the tanks located close to the temple. The top of the temple resembles construction with the north-Indian temples. Harishchandragad is necessarily a two day trek , one can do the overnight stay in the caves, which are clean and well maintained

A similar temple is situated in Buddha-Gaya. Here we can see many tombs, in which a typical construction is seen. These are built by well-finished arranging stones one on top of the other. There are three main caves near the temple. The cisterns near the temple provide drinking water. A short distance away, another temple called Kashitirtha is located. The fascinating thing about this temple is that it has been carved out from a single huge rock. There are entrances from all four sides. On the main entrance there are sculptures of faces. These are faces of guards of the temple. On the left side of the entrance is a Devnagri inscription, which is about saint Changdev.

The various Puranas (ancient scriptures) like Matsyapurana, Agnipurana and Skandapurana include many references about Harishchandragad.

Fascinating Spots :
Saptatirtha Pushkarni : To the east of the temple is a well-built lake called “Saptatirtha”. On its bank are temple-like constructions in which there are idols of Lord Vishnu. Recently these idols have been shifted in the caves near the temple of Harishchandreshwar. These days many trekkers have been responsible for the sad plight of this beautiful place, as they throw plastic wastes and other things in the pond. 7 years back the water was potable, and now it isn’t suitable even to swim.



Kedareshwar Cave : Going rightwards of Harishchandreshwar temple, we come across a huge cave. This is the cave of Kedareshwar, in which there is a big Shivlinga, which is totally surrounded by water. The total height from its base is five feet, and the water is waist-deep. It is quite difficult to reach the Shivlinga, as the water is ice-cold. There are sculptures carved out here. In monsoon it is not possible to reach this cave, as a huge stream flows across the way.

Taramati peak : This is the topmost point on the fort. It is the second highest peak in Maharashtra after Kalsubai. Leopards are seen in the forests beyond this peak. From here we can have a glimpse of the whole range of Naneghat and the forts near Murbad.

Caves on Harishchandragad : These caves are situated all over the fort. Many of these are situated at the foot of Taramati peak & are the place of accommodation. A few are near the temple, whereas some are near the citadel and some far away in the forests. A 30 feet deep natural cave is on the northwestern side of the fort, to the right of Kokan Kada. Many other caves are still said to remain undiscovered.

Nageshwar temple near Khireshwar : This is a great antique construction, and diverse artistic works are seen on this. On the ceiling of the temple are beautiful carvings.

Konkan Kada :

The major attraction of Harishchandragad is Kokan Kada . Its beyond description, one should actually see it to experience the nature's architecture. Konkan kada should be visited in the evening as well as morning. In evening one is enchanted by the sunset where as in the morning one can experience the divine feeling of being in the heavens. Taramati and Rohidas , the two peaks atop Harishchandragad, are also worth visiting as they offer beautiful views of the sahyadri ranges. The ancient temple of Lord Shiva atop Harishchandragad is also good sight for observing. An ancient temple and the caves present at the base village Khireshwar are also worth seeing.



Please follow the link to download the map of Harishchandragad. This map has been provided by courtesy of Mr. Mahesh Chengalva.

Website : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harishchandragad


http://deepabhi.tripod.com/harishchandragad.html

Paro Taktsang - Bhutan

Name : Paro Taktsang (or) Tiger's Nest

Location : The temple hangs on a cliff at 3,120 metres (10,200 feet), some 700 meters (2,300 feet) above the bottom of Paro valley, some 10 km from the district town of Paro (Bhutan).

Legend : The name Taktsang (stag tshang) means "Tiger's lair", the legend being that Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) flew there on the back of a tiger.

In the 8th Century CE Guru Rinpoche visited Bhutan and blessed it as the second Kailash. At that time malignant spirits abounded and, in order to subdue them, he assumed the terrifying form of Guru Dorje Dröllo one of the Eight Manifistations of Guru Rinpoche (gu ru mtshan brgyad) and consecrated Paro Taksang as a sacred site to protect the Dharma and subdue harmful forces.

Description : It is one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries in Bhutan. It was built around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated in the 8th Century. Completed in 1692, today it is the most well known as thirteen taktsang or "tiger lair" caves.

Famous visitors include Milarepa, Machig Labdrön, Thang Tong Gyalpo, and in the 17th century Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal.

The monastery includes seven temples which can all be visited. The monastery suffered several blazes and is a recent restoration. It has survived four catastrophic fires and an earthquake. Visitors ascend the slope to the monastery on foot or on mule-back.

Hiking Adventure : Start the day with a short drive to Sartsam Chorten. From here you hike (1 ½ hours) to the viewpoint of the monastery. The trail climbs through beautiful pine forest, many of the trees festooned with Spanish moss, and an occasional grove of fluttering prayer flags. Stop for a rest and light refreshments at the Taktsang Jakhang (cafeteria) and then walk a short distance until you can see, clearly and seemingly within reach, the Taktsang monastery.

Pilgrimage to Paro Taktsang : Those who wish to go on pilgrimage to Paro Taktsang and nearby sacred sites, should obtain a special permit from the Department of Culture, Ministry of Home & Cultural Affairs, Thimphu. In order to maintain the sanctity of the place, ordinary tourists without a permit may not be allowed to go beyond Tsogyal Pangchung (meadow of Yeshe Tsogyal) before the Shelkarchu waterfall. At that place there is however an excellent view of Taktsang and a place to offer butterlamps.

The complete pilgrimage to Taktsang consists of an outer (), middle () and inner() pilgrimage ( explained clearly in the website : http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/Paro_Taktsang

Batu Caves - Murugan Temple

Name : Batu Caves - Murugan Temple

Location : Batu caves is a limestone hill, which has a series of caves and cave temples, located in Gombak district, 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill. Batu Caves is also the name of the nearby village.

Description : The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to Lord Murugan. Batu Caves was promoted as a place of worship by K. Thamboosamy Pillai, an Indian trader. He was inspired by the 'vel'-shaped entrance of the main cave and was inspired to dedicate a temple to Lord Muruga within the caves.

Wooden steps up to the Temple Cave were built in 1920 and have since been replaced by 272 concrete steps. Of the various cave temples that comprise the site, the largest and best known is the Temple or Cathedral Cave, so named because it houses several Hindu shrines beneath its 100 m vaulted ceiling.

Rising almost 100 m above the ground, Batu Caves temple complex consists of three main caves and a few smaller ones. The biggest, referred to as Cathedral Cave or Temple Cave, has a 100 m-high ceiling, and features ornate Hindu shrines. To reach it, visitors have to climb a steep flight of 272 steps.

At the base of the hill are two more cave temples, Art Gallery Cave and Museum Cave, both of which are full of Hindu statues and paintings. This complex was renovated and opened as the Cave Villa in 2008. Many of the shrines relate the story of Lord Murugan's victory over demon Soorapadam. An audio tour is available to visitors.

The Ramayana Cave is situated to the extreme left as one faces the sheer wall of the hill. On the way to the Ramayana Cave, there is a 50-foot (15 m) tall murti of Hanuman and a temple dedicated to Hanuman, the noble monkey devotee and aide of Lord Rama.

A 42.7m (130 feet high) high statue of Lord Muruga was unveiled in January 2006, having taken 3 years to construct. It is the tallest Lord Muruga statue in the world.

Festivals : It is the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia which attracts over 1.5 million pilgrims yearly, making it one of the largest annual gatherings anywhere in the world.

Baba Balak Nath Temple - Deosidh

Name : Baba Balak Nath Temple

Location : Baba Balak Nath Temple is situated 70km from Bilaspur and 30km from Hamirpur. This place called Deothsidh in the Dhaulagiri Hills of Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh. It is one of the most significant temples of north India, placed atop an outstanding hill.

Legend : Baba Balak Nath Sidhpeeth is one of the most famous pilgrims in Himachal Pradesh, also known as the God`s own land. The ancient Cave and temple architecture relates to the Deot Sidh era in Hamirpur District. Lakhs of devotees from India and abroad visit this temple to reinforce their firm faith in the "Siddha Tradition". There are a number of myths and legends surrounding the Baba Balaknath Temple in Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh. The history of this temple states that Baba Balaknath was born in three ages in different forms and in every birth he was a devotee of Lord Shiva. Baba Balaknath worshipped Lord Shiva and even helped out people in distress. Till today pilgrims convey a number of their desires to Baba Balaknath in order to turn them into reality.

Description : A cave, created from rock, enshrines a magnificent idol of Babaji. It is also believed to be the sacred abode of Babaji. Devotees offer `Rot`, prepared with flour and sugar/gur at the altar of Babaji. Some even present goats for sacrifice. However, females are prohibited to enter the inner cave; a raised platform just opposite to the cave has been specially erected for female worshippers for Babaji`s `Darshan`. Six km from Baba Balak Nath Temple, there is spot named Shahtalai, where Baba is assumed to have observed penance. It is also considered exceedingly sacred to the pilgrims. The trustee board, Sidh Baba Balak Nath Temple Trust looks after the proper functioning and maintenance of the temple. Sunday is considered an auspicious day of Babaji, thereby attracting thousands of faithfuls. Una Railway Station is the nearest railhead.

The devotees who visit Baba Balaknath Temple offer Rot along with sugar or Gur (Jaggery) at the altar of Babaji. Females are not allowed to enter the cave and they can only get a glimpse of the idol from an outside dais. During the Navratris, pilgrims throng to the Temple. Government of Himachal Pradesh makes arrangements in tents for their accommodation and provides them with other bare necessities. A few kilometers away from the Baba Balaknath Temple, lies the Shah Talai connected by a ropeway, which is also an important tourist attraction.

Website : http://www.indianetzone.com/22/baba_balak_nath_temple_hamirpur_himachal_pradesh.htm

RudraNath Temple

Name : RudraNath. The strange mountain formation when given a close glance resembles the face of Lord Shiva. Hence the place is known as Rudramukh. “Rudra” refers to Lord Shiva and “mukh” means “face”.

Location : 23 km from Gopeshwar, Gaurikund, Uttranchal. Rudranath is sometimes considered as the toughest Panch Kedar temple to reach.

Altitude : 2,286 m

Year of Construction : 8th Century AD

Legend : According to the legends of Panch Kedar, this temple shelters the face of Shiva. There is a small rectangular space just outside the sanctum sanctorom. The deity is a Swyam Bhuva (Self Appeared) Shivalinga shaped like a human face formed by the projection of a huge rock. This face has a serene smile and a gaze of pure benevolence in the all-seeing eyes. Measuring about 3 feet from the chin to the top of the jatas, a white cloth remains bound tightly on the crown of Lord Shiva.

The Rudranath temple is believed to be established by the Pandavas, the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Legend has it that the Pandavas came to the Himalayan mountains in search of god Shiva, to redeem them of the sins of killing in the epic Kurukshetra war. God Shiva did not want to meet them and escaped in form of a bull in the ground and reentered in parts in the Panch Kedar places: the hump raising in Kedarnath, the arms appearing in Tunganath, the navel and stomach surfacing in Madhyamaheswar, the face showing up at Rudranath and the hair and the head appearing in Kalpeshwar. In winter, a symbolic image of Shiva is brought to Gopeshwar for worship. The Doli Yatra starts from Gopeshwar. The Doli Yatris cross Liti Bugyal and Panar and finally reach Pitradhar. The worship of ancestors is done here. Then, after crossing Dhalabni Maidan, the Doli or the symbolic image of Shiva, reaches Rudranath.Here first the Vandevi is worshipped. The local belief is that Vandevi protects the area. The Kheshtra is protected by Vandevi or Vandevatas.

Description :

Rudramukh is located at a height of 2286 meters and is surrounded by supreme natural beauty. The temple is the third temple to be visited in the Panch Kedar pilgrimage circuit, comprising five Shiva temples in the Garhwal region. The other temples in the circuit include: Kedarnath and Tungnath to be visited before Rudranath and Madhyamaheshwar or Madmaheshwar and Kalpeshwar to be visited after Rudranath. The face (mukha) of god Shiva is worshipped as "Nilkanth Mahadeva" here.

Tourists need to trek for fifteen kilometers in order to reach Rudranath from Gopeshwar. The Mandir Committee has a guesthouse where devotees can spend the night if they wish to. A motorable road is present up to the village Sagar — 5 km (3 mi) from Gopeshwar, beyond which a 20 km (12 mi) trek has to be undergone to reach Rudranath. The trek winds through tall grass, oak and rhododendron forests. The trek path is stated to be slippery. Other routes include: an uphill, 17 km (11 mi) trek from Gangolgaon — 3 km (2 mi) from Gopeshwar — through the forest and Panar and Naila shepherd settlements. Another trek route from Gopeshwar to Rudranath passes via Mandal (13 km/8 mi) and then additional 6 km (4 mi) to the Anusuya Devi temple and then another 3 km (2 mi) to Rudranath. The Anusuya Devi temple is home to goddess Anusuya, who is believed to help devotees in distress.

There is a natural ledge overhanging the face of Shiva from where droplets of water fall perennially. The temple is very damp and cold with small puddles here and there. There are a few pieces of flat wood on which the pujari or temple priest and his assistant stand during the performance of the elaborate rituals. The large half open eyes of the deity are kept covered with larger golden coverings. The enormous upturned, golden moustaches transform this face into a terrifying angry face. Every evening, in elaborate worship, the mask is removed from the face of Shiva to give a brief glimpse of a rarely-sighted aspect of Shiva. This is the only temple of Shiva where his face is his symbol.

There are numerous sacred water tanks ("Kund") near the temple. These include Surya-kund, Chandra-kund, Tara-kund, Mana-Kund etc. Nanda Devi, Trishul and Nanda Ghunti are the famous mountain peaks, which provide the backdrop to the temple. The Vaitharini stream or Baitarani or Rudraganga flows near the temple, which has a grey stone idol of Rudranath. The river is identified with the "river of salvation", where souls of the dead cross to reach the other world. Thus, devotees visit Rudranath to perform rituals of the dead, such as performing a pind offering. Some believe that offering a pind to ancestors here equals offering a hundred million at the holy city of Gaya.

Festivals :

The temple celebrates an annual fair on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Sravan (July–August). The fair is attended mainly by locals. The priests at the Rudranath temple are Bhatts and tiwaris of Gopeshwar village. At Nandikund (2,439 m/8,002 ft), on the trekking route to Rudranath, devotees worship old historic swords protruding from the rocks, believed to be of Pandavas.




Website : http://littlerandomwalks.blogspot.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudranath

CHENNIMALAI

Name : This hill is also called Sigaragiri, Pushpagiri and Siragiri.

Location : This temple is located in the city of Chennimalai of Perundurai, Erode District. Chennimalai is 26 kilometres from Erode and 13 kilometres from Perunthurai. The nearest railway station is Ingoor and can be reached by road from Perundurai also. The Devasthanam has provided special buses to reach the hilltop.

Hill : This temple is situated at about 600 meters above sea level and this hill is noted for its natural flora and fauna. This hill also has rare medicinal herbs in its lush green forests.

Deity : The moolavar here is popularly known as Siragiri Dandayudhapani. This deity as per Sthala Puranam gave Dharsan to Saravana Munivar as single faced Murugan after appearing as the six faced Arumugam in the first instance. The utsava murti is Muttukumara Subramaniyar with his two consorts Valli and Teyvannai. Murugan is highly praised and sung with reference to this abode in Kundruthoradal. Chennimalai is one of them and abounds in natural beauty and splendor.

Special Features : The most famous temple of Lord Muruga in Coimbatore District is Chennimalai. This world famous temple of Lord Muruga is where Lord Arunagirinathar was blessed with "Padikasu", wealth of coins. This is where an unusual phenomenon, rather a miracle took place in the year 1984 on 12th February. A bullock cart with two bulls climbed the 1320 steps on their own on this eventful day. Saravana Munivar wrote the most popular Chennimalai Sthalapuranam before 700 years. Milk and curds are used as special offerings to Lord Muruga in Chennimalai and it is the general belief that curds do not become sour here.

Temple : The temple of Chennimalai is situated on the banks of Noyal also called Kanchima Nadhi. The Sanctum Sanctorum faces the east. Just in front of the temple we find the Puliyadi Vinayagar. Inside the temple to the right of Moolavar we find the Srines of Markandeswarar and to the left Umayavalli. On the left side we find the Srines of Kasi Viswanathar and Visalakshi.

If we take the steps found just behind the Moolavar Sannidhi, we reach the Valli Teyvannai Temple. The two consorts enshrined in a separate temple are a very unique phenomenon. On the top of the hill we find the Pinnakau Siddhar cave with the front yard filled with Vel of different sizes and shapes. This Siddhar is one of the popular 18 Siddhar known to the world for their Siddha yoga. Near this cave we find the Saravana Mamunivar's Tomb. There is also another very ancient cave near this temple.

Speciality of this temple : The main deity Murugan is equated to the Sevvai graham or planet Mars and all the rest of the eight planets encircle the Lord in perfect harmony. If one circumambulates the main deity he is believed to get the benefit of circumambulating the navagrahas and worshipping them.

Kanda Shasti Kavacham offering : Another most important feature here is that the popular daily prayer of Murugan Devotees, Kanda Shasti Kavacham was first offered to the world in this temple by Balan Devaraya Swamigal. From that day onwards till today many devotees keep chanting this prayer every day.

Sirasuppu Utharavu Kettal : Asking for the Lord's permission before taking up any task like building a new house or getting their children married or any other issue is customary in this temple. Devotees offer an Archnai and perform Sirasappu offering. If the reply is positive they whole-heartedly perform that action or event. Traditionally if the answer is negative the Devotees do not venture further.

The holy water for Abishekam is being brought everyday by the temple bulls, which are being maintained by the Devasthanam. This procedure is also a very unique one not found in other temples.

Sthala Theertham :
1. Mamanga Theertham - This spring is on the southwestern slope of Chennimalai just opposite the Vinayagar Srine.
2. Kandu Kanach Sunai - This spring can be seen only by yogis and saints (reference Verse 27 Siragiri Manmiyam)
3. Subramanya Theertham - This is found on the northern side of foothill. This is also called Saravanapoigai, Kumara Theertham. Saravana Munivar established this city on banks of this spring (Alayam Kanda Manmiyam verse 11).

Sthala Vriksham : Tamarind tree and is found in front of the temple where there is a Shrine for Puliamarathadi Vinayagar.

Website : http://murugan.org/temples/chennimalai.htm

Sathuragiri Mahalingam Temple

Update :

After the floods in may 2015, for the past one year, Pilgrims are allowed only four days in a month at the time of Amavasya and Pournami. So pilgrims get prior information from below contacts before you start your journey to Sathuragiri Temple.

Temple Administrative Office Postal Address
Arulmigu Sundhara Mahalingam Swamy Temple,
117/42 Agraharam Nadu Theru,
Sathuragiri,
Srivilliputhur,
Virudhunagar District.
PIN CODE : 626 132
Phone : 04563-288155,04563-293155
Mobile : 9486461488

Name : SathuraGiri, Chathurachalam, Siddhar Bhoomi, Mooligai Malai (Vanam), Mahalinga Malai

Location :

It is situated approximately 5 Kms from "Watrap" (otherwise called as "Vathirairuppu") near Srivilliputhur. It is approximately 100 Kms from Tirunelveli and 70 Kms from Madurai.

Legends :

Footmark (hoof-marks) of the divine/celestial/Indira Loga cow "Kamadhenu".

Once upon a time, a devotee was on his way to Sathuragiri. In those days only a few people used to go to the hills, as it was thick forest with lots of wild animals. Since being new to the hills he soon got lost in the thickly populated mountains. Seeing this the Lord asks Kamadhenu, the divine cow to help his devotee and bring him back to the correct path. Kamadhenu immediately appeared before the devotee and lead him to the correct path. After bringing the devotee to the correct path, Kamadhenu, being a divine cow, had to travel back to its heavenly abode. In the process, of starting to fly, Kamadhenu gave pressure to her legs and the pressure was so immense that her hoofs left an indelible mark, that can be seen even today.

Gorakunda (Goraknathar Cave)

Goraknathar is one of the foremost important Indian Siddha. He is part of the 18 siddha tradition of South India. He is also one amongst the Nava Nath Siddha tradition of North India. He is also closely associated with Vajrayana (Tantric) Buddhism. He attained Siddha by mastering sound. The main siddha of Sathuragiri is Goraknathar. Goraknathar created thousands of new siddha medicines like Kayakalpa etc to attain immortality. Every 10th in the Tamil Calendar he appears in light form to his devotees at this place. On every no moon day Sri Kalimuthu Ashram offers a lingam made of Thinai Maavu and the same is worshipped.

Description :

As the name speaks, the mountain is mentioned as "South Kailash" (Thenkailayam), Bhoologa Kailayam as Lord Shiva and Parvathy have promised the Siddhars that they will stay here permanently and visit other places only from here. It is also said that it is the meeting place and head quarters of all the Siddhars, who still stay there in various places/caves in the mountain to worship Lord Siva and Parvathi.

It is also said in Siva Puranam that the four Vedas joined together and formed this mountain and that is why it is called Chathur(ved)agiri.

Diety :

There are three main temples in the hill

Sri Sundara Mahalinga Swamy Temple and
Sri Santhana Mahalinga Swamy Temple
Anandavalli Amma temple Temple

One more sanctum of Lord Siva is also there in the top of the hill which is called as "Periya Mahalingam" Big Mahalingam). This is worshipped by Siddhars and only those who are destained to see it will be able to go there. It can be reached with help of the local people called "Palingargal" (Hill tribe people)



Sacred waters or Theertham :

The Akasha Ganga (river) which flows from above the Santhana Mahalingam temple.
Atthiootru, Maangani Ootru (Maavuthu), Arjunaa river and Naval OOtru which are on the way when hiking up.
Naaval Ootru is just below a jambu tree water in it has the taste of Jaman tree and it is said that it is good for Diabetic patients.

The Holy Trek Starts :

The trek to Sadhuragiri starts from Dhaanipaarai, and in about 30 minutes we reach a place called Kudhirai Ootru (a place where yesteryear Rajahs used to tie their horses at this area before proceeding on with their treks)

Then one has to pass the Vazhukkupaarai. As name says it is very slippery to pass this. Then comes Atthiootru, Koonathalaivaasal, so named due to its winding uphill trek, Kaaram pasu thadam, a landmark during the trek, apparently a hoof mark of a cow from which Lord Shiva drank milk from.



Path after Sangali paarai leads to Korakkar cave (Goraknath cave). After crossing Gorakunda – you can go through the river to visit a small cave here, you will com across Irattai Lingam.



Irattai Lingam :

Legend says that a Shivite husband and a Vaishanite wife had an argument on who is the greater god – Shiva or Vishnu, and went into deep meditation in Sadhuragiri to find the answer. God then appeared before them in his Shiva form and Vishnu form to make the couple understand that both are one and the same (Hari-yum Haran-num Onnu). To mark this, both Shiva and Vishnu forms rest here as 2 Lingas, thus Irattai Lingam.

A short trek after Irattai Lingam led us to Periya Pasukkidai, Naaval ootru and to Pacharisi Medu. Pacharisi Medu named because of the small white pebbles found on the path. Then we reached Kuliraati, Chinna Pasukkidai and Vanadurgai, a kaaval deivam (protecting deity) of the forests. Then you reach Pilaavadi Karuppar Sannidhi who is known to be the security guard of Shivamalai.



Pilaavadi Karuppar :

As the name says this shrine of karuppa samy is below a Jackfruit tree (Pala maram) and hence the name came pilavadi karuppa samy.

The legend says that a Siddhar called Kaalanganaadhar has the rare ability to turn normal metal pieces to gold, using mooligai from Sadhuragiri and the right Mantras. After making a whole bag of gold to a guy from a nearby village to assist him in building a temple in his hometown, Kaalanganaadhar still had some left over gold-making essence, gold pieces and herbs. He decided to dig a deep well called Thailakkinaru and hid the precious material in hit. To secure the well further, he created Pilaavadi Karuppar as a guard to protect the treasures not only in Thailakinnaru but the whole of Sadhuragiri itself.



Sundara Moorthy Swami Lingam (Anidai Lingam - A Lingam worshipped by Siddhas) :

15 minutes of trek after Pilaavadi Karuppar shrine will bring u to Sundara Moorthy Swami Temple. Sundara Moorthy Swami is a disciple of Sundara Mahalingam. The legend goes that once upon a time, Lord Siva was looking for a priest to perform regular puja (ceremony) at his temple. Siva found a child 3year old nearby village and he took the name of Sundara Moorthy Swamy and grows up to be an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. It is said Sundara Moorthy Swamy is much more powerful than Sundara Mahalingam. Devotees normally pray to Sundara Moorthy & would request him to let Sundara Mahalingam know about their prayers. Lord Sundara Mahalingam would also doubly ensure that prayers routed through Sundara Moorthy Swamigal gets immediately answered. Since this lingam was worshipped by various Siddhas including Agathiyar & Sundaranandar, it belongs to Anidai type.



Sundhara Mahalingam Temple :

The Sundhara Mahalingam temple, and infront of the temple, flows a stream. It is inevitable that your feet touches the cold flowing stream water before u enter temple premises, so a definite feet wash is done. It is notable that a stream or river runs in front of the 3 major temples in Sadhuragiri. There is a row of shops on either side of the steps that lead to the Sundhara Mahalingam sannidhaanam, selling Pooja products, posters, pictures and what really interested me was these natural incense resins (Saambiraani)



Sandhana Mahalingam Temple :

Santhana Mahalingam temple is just 15minutes upward trek from Sundara mahalingam temple. It is only Shiva temple where instead of vibhudhi, santhanam is given as prasadham. Also in this campus are present sanctums for 18 Siddhars, Lord Ganesha, Lord Muruga, Navagrahas, Santhana Mahadevi (Sakthi). The Aagaaya Ganga as it is called, which flows down right behind Goddess Shakthi’s shrine. Inside the Siddhar peedam we can see the cave of Sattamuni, where he meditated and lived.



Periya Mahalingam :

Periya mahalingam is a huge spellbounding swayambu lingam. You can see rocks looking like Balipeetam and Thiruvodu nearby. Also the trunks/roots formation of the tree on top lingam looks like the Jadamudi (hair) of Lord Shiva.

Temples Timings and Festivals :

At Santhana MahalingamTemple the daily pooja starts by 3 'O' clock in the morning. The two jama poojas are performed before sunrise. At Sundara Mahalingam temple the daily pooja starts by 6 'O' clock in the morning. At both the temples Ardha Jama Poojas are finished before 18.00 hrs and closed. On full moon and new moon days, the time schedule changes according to the visit of pilgrims.

During full moon and new moon devotees visit the temples and pay their penance and have darshan. Pilgrims will climb the mountain only in groups and not in solo, since the forest is full of animals. Those who have strong heart and health are advised to climb up. The new moon during the month of July-August (Aadi Amavasai) attracts about 10 to 15 lacs devotees who come there to have the darshan of the Lord Mahalingam.

Anandavalli Amma temple:

Anandavalli Amma's temple mandapam can be found behind Sundara Mahalingam temple. Anandavalli Amma is formless. Only during Navarathiri she takes a form. There are two festivals in honour of Amma. The first one falls in the Tamil month of Purattasi and the second one during Navarathiri.

Other deities above Sundara Mahalingam inside forest :

1. Vana Durga
2. Oonjal Karuppan Swamy
3. Korakkar Scripture Rock
4. Vellai Ganapathi (White colored Lord Ganesha)
5. Nadu Kattu Ganapathi
6. Naga Kanni Kavu
7. Lord Ganesa at Thavasi Cave
8. Periya Mahalingam

Trekking Adventures :



There is Thavasi Cave above the temple. This cave is formed in between Rocks and one has to crawl to go inside the cave. After crawling there is a huge space inside for 12 people to gather and do meditation. This place is illuminated inside by small oil lamps. There is a belief that Siddhars do Tapas here every day and that’s why the name Thavasi Kugai.You cannot enter inside the cave without their permission.




Websites :

http://scrawls.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/sadhuragiri-part1/

http://lightsandshades.blogspot.com/2008/06/nobody-knows-when-where-how-why.html

http://www.sathuragiri.com/index1.htm


http://saduragiri.blogspot.com/2009/07/saduragiri.html

http://aryam0403.wordpress.com/2010/10/30/visit-to-sathuragiri-part-ii/