Manyamkonda Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara Temple aka. Palamoor Tirupathi

Name : Manyamkonda Sri Lakshmi Venkateshwara Temple aka. Palamoor Tirupathi

Location :

Manyamkonda is a place which has so much spiritual and tourist importance in Mahabubnagar District. This place is located exactly at a distance of 6 Km from Devarkadra Railway Station on the Secunderabad Dronachellam section of the South Central Railway. Due to its presence on a hill surrounded by beautiful scenic and ancient importance, this place has got lot of importance as a major tourist attraction of Mahabubnagar District and Telangana state.

Manyamkonda Venkateshwara Temple is around 13 Kms from Mahabubnagar town on the state highway to Raichur.

On the heart of the forest and on the hill top, Lord Venkateshwara Swamy could be found majestically. The shrine is located on a hill which is 915 m high and at a distance of 2 Km from the village.

Legend :

Very rarely we can find Lord Venkateshwara as a “Swayambhumurthi” which means self manifested. Seeing Lord Venkateshwara in the thick forest, with lush greens is truly a blissful experience.

When moving around the temple, devotees here believes and has found against the back wall, Lord Venkateshwara Swamy is’Self Manifested’ resembling the idol of Tirupathi. And it is also believed by the pilgrims that ancient saints have practiced penance in the caves which adds more positive energy to the shrine.

Naming Reason for the destination ‘Manyamkonda’:

During the past, it is said that ancient saints like Narasimha Yogi, Kasirayalu, Ettepu Ramayogi, Veerappaiah, Yanumaddhasu have meditated here and hence this place was called as Munulakonda (Munulu means Saints and Konda means hill) and later as days passed by it has been referred as Mannemkonda or Manyamkonda.

Description :

Manyamkonda or Mannemkonda (or Manikonda) is the hill were the Lord Venkateshwara Swamy Temple is located.This place is very calm ,mesmerizing, beautiful and of course a perfect destination for devotees and tourists. It is believed that this ancient temple is more than is five hundred years old. It is also called as "Palamoor Tirupathi".


Architecture of the Temple:
The temple is located in a cave here which is inclined and settled on top of three hills. Main Deity here is Lord Venkateshwara Swamy and this place is also known as Harihara Kshetra.

Festival time to visit the Temple:
It is ideal to visit the temple during the time of ‘Jathara’ which is celebrated every year during the months of January and February. Usually the festival is held on the day of ‘Maha Purnima’. This place is also well called as ‘Palamoor Tirupathi’.

Manyamkonda Temple Timings: 5am to 8pm daily

How to Reach the Temple:
By Road :
– Pilgrims could find the temple around 13 Kms from Mahabubnagar on the state highway to Raichur.
– Telangana State Road Transport Corporation buses ply frequently yo Manyamkonda Temple. One can also find many private vehicles from Mahabubnagar town to the temple.

By Train:
– After crossing to Mahabubnagar Railway Station, one can find ‘Devakadra’ Railway Station. The temple is just 6 Kms from this station.

By Air:
– Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad is the nearest airport for Mahabubnagar district.

Food Facilities:
– Very little options are available when it comes to food. It’s better to have food at Mahabubnagar town or pack your food from Mahabubnagar town.

Where to Stay:
– A guesthouse is present on the top of the hill. I can reach the temple and book the rooms.
– Other options is to stay at Mahabubnagar Town.

Nearby Places:
– Wanaparthy Town
– Koilsagar Dam Project
– Sangameshwara Temple
– Kollapur – Land of Temples
– Jurala Dam

Websites :
http://www.exploretelangana.com/manyamkonda-venkateshwara-temple-mahabubnagar/

Sanghi Temple

Name : Sanghi Temple

Location :

Sanghi Temple Hyderabad is Situated in Sanghi Nagar which is 25 km away from Hyderabad city, Sanghi temple stands beautifully on the hillock ‘Paramanand Giri’.

Description :

Built in the Chola-Chalukya style of architecture, the temple is a place worth visiting. This temple was built in the year of 1991 which was completed in a just 18 months! And since then it has been attracting tourists from everywhere. As the name suggests, it was developed by a leading industrial group of Southern India - Sanghi Group. They primarily operate their business from the city of Hyderabad.

 As you further proceed, the stone elephant is seen at the stairway. There are three Gopurams seen at the foot of the hillock which are so tall and seen as if entering into the heavens. On the top of the temple complex one can see the shrine of Lord Anjaneya, the son of Anjana devi, and the son of wind God, who is believed to shower his blessings to his devotees and the red faced Lord Anjaneya is the embodiment of death to the demons and his very name drives away all evils.

In famous Sanghi Temple Presiding Deity Lord Venkateshwara inside the sanctum sanctorum is 9-% ft tall and is same as the one at Tirumala. Alankaram every day to the Lord at the Balaji temple. To the right is the abode of Goddess Padmavathi, the consort of Lord Venkateswara. Described as the epitome of love, mercy and compassion, the deity here is seated on a lotus and is also holding lotuses in her hand. The Ashtalakshmi temple is between the Balaji and Padmavathi temples. Bedecked with jewellery and garlands, Goddess Aadilakshmi in eight facets is seated holding a lotus and Abhaya mudra in her two hands and a lotus and Vara mudra (offering boons) in her other two hands. Close to the shrine of Lord Venkateshwara, is the temple of Lord SriRama, the symbol of man's conquest over evil. Accompanying the Lord are his faithful consort Sita, devoted brother Lakshmana and fervent devotee Hanuman, who is seated at the feet of the Lord with folded hands.

The temple of Lord Vijayganapathi is next to the SriRama temple. Known as the remover of all obstacles, his blessings are invoked prior to commencing any activity. Residing on the left of the Balaji temple is Lord Siva or the destroyer among the trinity. This all powerful Lord is seated on a lotus with a crescent moon decorating his hair and a trident in his right hand. Standing next to the Lord is Shakti Swaroopini Kamalambika. Further away is the temple of Goddess Durga. The dark moon faced deity clad in a saffron robe has three eyes. Decorated with omaments and hibiscus flower garlands, the Goddess holds a lotus in her right hand and the left hand reposes downward. The temple of Kartikeya is on the left of the Ganesh temple, fulfilling the tradition of his being on a hill top. The abode of Holding a staff in his right hand and resting his left hand on his waist, the loin clothed Kartikeya is like a Kalpavriksha fulfilling the desires of his devotees.

The Navagraha deities are the only ones that are in an open temple. Surya, the Sun God stands in the center and other Grahas surround him, each facing a direction over which he rules.

There is also a Pavitra Vanam or a Holy Garden in the temple complex where special leaves and flowers are grown for performing poojas. The complex also consist a Kalyana Mandapam for kalyanosthavam .The Mandapam is a raised platform with a decorated canopy over it. It is built in a style similar to the temples in the complex and blends perfectly into its surroundings. A well tended lawn in front provides plenty of open space for seating the spectators.

Timings & Pooja :

The Sanghi temple timings are from 8.30 am to 10.30 am and 4 pm to 6 pm. If you are keen on attending the pooja, plan your Sanghi temple visit around 6pm and 8pm. This temple is perfect getaway for a weekend. Either with family or alone, you can visit anytime with anyone! For those who are planning to visit over the weekends, there is no cause to worry as the Sanghi temple timings on Sunday is same as its timings on other days of the week.

If you are visiting Sanghi Temple, do try to catch the glimpse of the temple in night. When lighted, the view is spectacular.

Festivals :

Visiting during festivals such as Shivaratri, Sri Rama Navami, Krishnashtami, Vinayaka Chaturthi, Dussera, Hanuman Jayanthi and Brahmotsavams can be a good idea as these festivals are celebrated with much enthusiasm and devotion.

Tourist Attractions :

Tourists can also plan a trip to various other sightseeing places such as Ramoji Film City which is less than 1 km away from Sanghi temple, Birla Mandir, Golconda Fort, , Salar Jung Museum, etc. too. A slight planning of the day taking Sanghi temple timings is required so that you can visit the other places nearby within the same day itself.

Websites :
http://www.hyderabadtourism.travel/sanghi-temple-hyderabad

http://www.sanghitemple.in/

Guru Shikhar Dattatreya Swami Cave Temple Mount Abu Rajasthan

Name : Guru Shikhar Dattatreya Swami Cave Temple

Location :

Gurushikhar holds the honor of being not only the highest peak of Mount Abu but the whole of Aravali mountain range, Situated at a height of 1722 meters from the sea-level, Gurushikar provides a breathtaking panoramic view of Mount Abu town and green aravali range.

Description :

You will hardly find a place in Mount Abu which does not have a temple or hermitage nearby. Gurushikhar is no exception.

Before you reach the peak, you will find the temple dedicated to Dattatreya. The literal meaning of the name can be explained thus: Atreya means son of Atri, the sage from Hindu mythology. Datta in Sanskrit means given. Dattatreya, according to Hindu belief is the son given to the sage Atri and his wife Anasuya by the trinity, Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. The peak is dedicated to Guru Dattatreya and hence the name of the peak, Guru Shikhar.

The temple is believed to house the foot prints of Dattatreya and devotees feel blessed by darshan (sighting) of these footprints.

Within the temple you can also see footprints of Swami Ramnath, the seer who enshrined the statue in the Raghunathji temple in Mount Abu. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is an important pilgrimage place for the Vaishnavites, that is, devotees of Lord Vishnu.

After reaching the peak, at a little distance to the northwest, you will also find a temple dedicated to Ahilya, who was Dattatreya’s mother.

On the peak, there is a huge bell with inscription 1411 A.D. The original bell has had to be replaced with a new bell in recent times because of disintegration of the old one. The sound of the bell is carried to a long distance and is very captivating.

Historically speaking, King Prithviraj Chowhan is believed to have travelled along this peak to meet his bride and consummate his marriage with her. The bride was the princess of Prahladanpur, now known as Palanpur.

Places Near by :

– Mount Abu observatory is located nearby and can be sighted from the peak of Guru Shikhar. The observatory belongs to the physical research laboratory and houses a 1.2 m infra-red telescope which enables people manning it to keep an eye on the nation’s borders with neighbouring countries. Astronomical research is also carried out in this place.
– Achalgarh fort is about 7 km away.
– Peace park is also about the same distance.
– Delwara jain temple is about 10km from here.
Things to do

– Shop for souvenirs.
– Pilgrimage to Dattatreya temple
– Picnic at the top of the peak
– Capture the beauty of the surroundings in photographs.
Additional information

Duration : 1 hour for reaching the top and coming back, all vehicles are reachable.
Parking : Plenty of free parking space available.
Location : It is at a distance of about 15 km from the town centre.
How to reach : Rent a taxi or take a two-wheeler and travel along the Delwara-Achalgadh road to reach the base of the mountain. From here, you need to climb about 300 steps to reach the peak.
Good for : The adventurous as well as the spiritually inclined. Although it is a steep climb, the steps are in good condition throughout and can be negotiated with relative ease unless you have a medical condition. The shops alongside, with their display of a variety of wares, help to distract the mind from the tedium
and rigor of climbing the hill.

Websites :
http://www.abutimes.com/guru-shikhar-mount-abu/ 

Sundha mata Temple, Rajasthan

Name : Sundha Mata Temple

Location :

Sundha Mata temple is a nearly 900-year-old temple of Mother goddess situated on a hilltop called Sundha, located in Jalore District of Rajasthan. It is 64 km from Mount Abu and 20 km from the town of Bhinmal.

History :

In the temple premises there are three historically significant inscriptions that highlight the history of the region. First inscription is from AD 1262, which describes victory of Chauhans and downfall of Parmaras. The second inscription is from 1326, and the third one is from 1727.

The Sundha inscriptions are of peculiar importance in historical sense—like the Harishen inscription or Delhi’s Mehrulli pillar inscription. Sundha inscriptions throw light on the history of India.

In ancient days worship in this temple was done by "Nath Yogi's". Emperor of the Sirohi district gave land of the "Sonani" , "Dedol" and "Sundha ki dhani" villages to one of the Nath Yogi Rabad Nath Ji, who worshiped in Sundha Mata Temple at that time. After the death of one of the Nath yogi Ajay Nath ji, no one was there to do the worship so Ram Nath ji (Aayas of Mengalwa that time) was taken there to take the responsibility. The land of Mengalwa and Chitrodi villages were given to these Nath Yogi's in ancient days by king of Jodhpur Maharaja Jaswant Singh. So Nath yogi of Mengalwa were called as "Aayas". After the death of Ram Nath ji, Badri Nath ji, pupil of Ram nath Ji became Aayas at Sundha Mata temple and took the responsibility of worship. He also looked after land of "Sonani" , "Dedol" ,"Mengalwa" and "Chitrodi". As the time passed, no one was there to do all the management, so a trust (Sundha Mata Trust) was created to look after temple and manage tourism.
 
Description :

At 1220 m height in the Aravalli ranges there on Sundha mountain is temple of goddesses Chamunda Devi, a very sacred place for devotees. It is 105 km from district headquarters and 35 km. from sub divisional Bhinmal. This place lies in Raniwara Teshil in the mid-east of Malwara to Jaswantpura Road near Dantlawas village.

Many tourists from Gujarat and Rajasthan visit it. The environment here is fresh and attractive. The waterfalls flows year-round and the hotel at the valley made of yellow sandstone of Jaisalmer attracts everyone.

Sundha temple is made up of white marble, the pillars reminds of the art of Abus’s Dilwara temple pillars. A very beautiful idol of goddess Chamunda stands under the huge stone. Here Chamunda’s head is worshipped. It is said that the trunk of mother Chamunda are established in Korta and legs in Sundarla Pal (Jalore). In front of mother Chamunda a BhurBhuva Swaweshwar Shivling is established. In the main temple a duo idol of Shiva and Parvati Ganesh’s idol are considered very old and extinct.

Recently, a ropeway service has been started to climb Sundha Mountain, to make the journey easier for pilgrims, making it a memorable experience. Ropeway (Udan Khatola) to the temple—first in Rajasthan—is ready, Rs 124 for both ways.

Festivals :

During Navratri tourists from Gujarat and nearby areas come in a large numbers. Regular buses are run by Gujarat roadways from Palanpur, Deesa and elsewhere during that time.

Websites :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundha_Mata_Temple

Shakumbhri Devi, Jasmour

Name : Shakumbhri Devi Shakti Peeth

Location :

Shakumbhri, meaning the abode of Shakti Goddess Shakambhari or Shakumbhri, is situated in the Jasmour village area, at a distance of 40 km to the north of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh state of Northern India.

Legend :

It is said that, at this place, Mother Goddess Shakumbhri killed the mighty demon king (Maha Daitya) Mahishasura. It is also believed that, here she performed worship and meditation (Tapas) for 100 years, having a vegetarian meal (shaka-ahar) only once at the end of every month. During this time, the saints and seers (Rishis/Munis) who came for her worship (Darshan) were welcomed and honoured with vegetarian meals. Because of this the temple was named the Shakumbhri Devi temple and she also got very strongly connected with the cult of vegetarianism among Hindus.

Description :

The temple is on the site of the ruins of a more ancient temple and was constructed by the Pundir Rajputs under Rana Bahadur Singh Pundir who was the representative of the Pundir chief Rana Pitambar Singh Pundir of Jasmour. It has two important temples of Hindu deities: one of the Goddess (Devi) Shakumbhri herself and another one, Bhura-Dev temple, located one kilometer away from it to the east, of the deity Bhairava, considered to be her guard. Because of this all the devotees to Shakambari Devi first visit Bhura-Dev (Bhairavar temple) temple and then proceed to the temple of the goddess.

Though it is not an ancient temple, its devotees consider it to be a Shakti Peetha, a powerful seat of Shakti, the divine feminine. The devotees have a strong faith in the Goddess and the temple attracts a large number of devotees from India as also from outside the country particularly during the Navratree days. The temple is well maintained and is well laid out to have full darshan of the idols in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. It is found from the plaque displayed near the staircase that it was during the early 1960s that a properly covered corridor, connecting the main entrance gate and outer varandah of the temple, was constructed for the convenience and comfort of the devotees. This work was done, with the permission of the Ranas of Jasmour who own the temple, by one Shri Radha Kishan,then Treasurer of the erstwhile Kalsia State (Chhachhrauli)(presently in Yamunanagar District of Haryana)from his personal contribution and also by collecting donations from several devotees.It is indeed an experience of life to visit the main temple as also the nearby Bhuradev Temple seeking their blessings and benedictions.It is rightly said that a visit to these temples with faith and devotion always brings great satisfaction, rewards and contentment in life and family.These temples are easily approachable by road or train from different parts of the country and their location is surrounded by hills and serene environment.  Another temple dedicated to this goddess and quite famous is near the Sambhar Lake, in Rajasthan.Another big temple of Shakumbari devi is located in Badami, of Bagalkot District of Karnataka.

Festivals :

Twice a year, in the Ashwin and Chaitra months of the Hindu calendar (during the days of Navratra),as also at the time of Holi festival, the famous Shakumbhri melas are organised.It is during these melas, in particular, that the roads from Saharanpur(U.P.) to the Temple are properly maintained so as to facilitate to and fro smooth journey for the devotees. The devotees to Shakumbhri first visit Bhura-Dev temple which is about one kilometer before the Temple and then proceed to the Temple of the Goddess.

The popularity of this temple has been increasing day by day and many devotees from far and near visit this temple for "Darshan" these days. During this famous melas lakhs of Hindu devotees visit this temple for darshan. It is indeed considered to be a rewarding experience to visit the Temple with devotion and faith in the munificence of the Goddess.

Websites :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakumbhri_Devi

Kalka Mata Temple Amarsar Jaipur

Name : Kalka Mata

Location :

Kalka Mata Mandir is located in the hills of a smal village near Amarsar in Jaipur , Rajasthan. Amarsar is a smalltown located about 75 KMS away from the city of Jaipur. With a vibrant scenere Around of green hills and fresh air. 5 Kms small 2 lane road from Amarsar leads you to a small mountain where the Kalka Mata Mandir is located.

Description :

Kalkaji mata is the goddess worshipped by a vast community of Rajasthani People.Kalaka Mata is Kull Devi (Family Deity) for many. The mandir is built on mid hill. You have to clim 451 steps to reach the temple. Kalka Mata is consideredthe Kul-devi of the people residing in Amarsar and adjoining Villages. She is worshipped with lot of faith by the Devotees, Families cme to make wishes and Kalka mataji fulfills all your wishes.

Located at a Height of 500 Ft above the sea level the temple is a major visiting spot. People from all over hailing originally from the town and now settled elsewhere still come to worship at the temple.

Websites :
http://www.kalkajimata.com/