Spritual Abode- Ujjain Madhya Pradesh

A Day in Ujjain

Traveling is not just about seeing places. It is an overwhelming spiritual experience where one can learn to connect with the unknown, other than connecting to oneself. Taking time for yourself and embarking on a spiritual journey can give you back that feeling of connectedness and peace. Spiritual journey provides you the mental space and energy to open yourself up so you can relax and completely immerse yourself in the experience

This was one of the most anticipated trips for me. I had planned for this trip long back and it executed in last week. The main source that driven me to visit these places is all because of to see Jyothrilingas and see ShakthiPeedam. Already, I have seen five Shakthi peedams and three Jyothirlingas. As four day visit  to Madhya Pradesh,  we visited Ujjain, Omkareshwar, Mamaleeshwar, Maheshwar, Mandu and Indore. My journey started on Sunday evening at 7.10PM. Got into a train and reached Ujjain at 7:30 AM on Monday, Dec 2. Had our refreshment there and then started our journey too see the ancient Ujjain.

 

Shining like a gem in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh, the historic city of Ujjain is remarkably situated on the banks of holy Shipra River. Soaked in every bit of spirituality, Ujjain is an important place for major religious activities and is mentioned in ancient Hindu scriptures. It is one of Sapta Puris, the seven most revered pilgrimage centres of India, and home to the famous Mahakaleshwar Temple (also known as Mahakal), which enshrines one of the twelve Jyotirlingas (the sacred abodes of Lord Shiva). Moreover, it is situated on the line of Tropic of Cancer, and has greater importance compared to other holy cities of India because of its unique geographical position for calculation of time.

As per the Surya Siddhanta, a 4th-century astronomical treatise, Ujjain is geographically situated at the precise spot where the zero meridian of longitude and the Tropic of Cancer intersect. This is why it was considered the navel of the earth, and is called the “Greenwich of India”.

First we visited Sandipani Ashram.

Sandipani Ashram, located 2km from the city, is a place of great mythological value.

 

 It is named after Maharishi Sandipani, the Guru (Master) of Lord Krishna, where Lord Krishna and His brother Balaram & their friend Sudama went for enriching their knowledge as students. This Ashram is near to Mangalnath Mandir on the banks of River Shipra. It is vast inside though the entrance is small. Entry is free and it is open to visitors from 7am to 8pm in the evening. There are lot of temples but obviously the main shrine belongs to Guru Sandipani. 

 

One of the temples situated here, called Sarveshwar Mahadev, a 6000 year Shivlinga that was worshipped by Guru Sandipani and his disciples. If one looks closely at the Sarveshwar linga, images of Lord Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeyan is also situated in a temple can be seen on it.

 

 Nandi is always in a sitting posture in all Shiva temples. But the Shiva temple near Gomati Kunda has a Nandi (bull) standing in front of the deity.

 

A Gomti kund is situated towards the right with steps from all four sides leading to the pond deep below.

 

 Lord Krishna learned there total 14 Vidya (Techniques) and 64 Kala (Art forms) .Apart from temple you can find the detail description of all 14 techniques and 64 art forms with pictorial description.

 

 The 3000 year old site is well maintained and is definitely worth a visit. Apart from idols of Sage there are idols of Krishna. Not to miss is the 64 art forms taught at that time vividly painted and nicely displayed in a long corridor. 

 

A must-see place for everyone to understand how beautiful is Indian traditional education system which not just educate but teach you the real aspects of life.

Then we proceeded to Mangalnath temple.

Mangalnath Temple is situated away from the city, overlooking the vast stretch of water in the majestic the Kshipra River. According to ancient Hindi scriptures this place is the birth place of Mangala graha or planet Mars. 

 

It is said that a large mass of Earth got separated from here and took the shape of a new planet, Mars. The planet Mars is worshipped in the form of Shiv Ling and it is believed that the Lord fulfils the wishes of all his devotees. The temple is also famous for the bhaat (rice) pooja for those who come to worship the Lord seeking the removal of flaws in their kundli (horoscope) related to Mars.

 

During ancient times place was famous for clear views of skies and planet and so was very suitable for astronomical studies. It is said that this is the intersection point of the Tropic of Cancer and the zero longitude passing the Earth. Devotees especially come to this temple to do prayers for removal of Mangal dosh according to Hindu beliefs.

Maharaja Vikramaditya

During my first visit to Ujjain made it a point to visit this place as heard and read many stories of famous Vikram and Bethal. 

 

It’s a memorial and worship place devoted to Maharaja Vikramaditya the legendary emperor of ancient India, who is characterised as the ideal king, famous for his decision taking ability and fare practices . there are lot of famous stories you can find over in net and story books  known for his wisdom, valour, magnanimity and patronage of scholars. He is also considered to be a partly historical figure or a purely mythical character, who in 57 BC, founded the Vikram Samvat calendar, a Hindu calendar. You can find a big bronze color sculpture of maharaja vikramaditya over there and small sculpture of the 32 doll and their story about Vikramaditya with board and statue.

Bharthari caves:

We visited this cave. It is located around 5 kms away from Ujjain on the bank of shipra  river near the temple of Gadhkalika. It is said that the great Sanskrit Poet Bhartrihari, who is said to have been the step brother of Vikramaditya,   meditated inside this cave for 12 years and it is believed that even Lord Indra came to fear him after such penance. His famous works, Shringarshataka, Vairagyashataka, and Nitishataka, were possibly written here.

 

 This caves are supposed to be more than 3000 years old. There are two main caves having narrow entrances. Once you inside you will be amazed to see the palace.There are lot of statues of Indian Gods in each room supported by stone pillars. There are various gods’ murtis in the caves. Caves shown wonderful traditional art of that period.

Gadhkalika Temple:

After visiting the cave we went to nearby temple Gadhkalika Temple. It is said that the Maha Kavi Kalidas got inspiration to pen his monumental works in literature.This is not labelled as Sakthi peetam. The temple was remodelled in 7th century by King Harhwardhan. 

 

It is believed that the great poet Kalidas attained his scholarly skills by true dedication to Goddess Kalika. An exquisite status of Lord Ganesha has been placed in the temple. 

 

Other idols of the famous Hindu Gods and Goddesses have been erected in the temple. Though it is not a Shakti Peetha and due to its location in the region of Harsiddhi, it holds an equal importance to that of a Shakti Peetha. At the entrance of the shrine, a structure of a lion can be seen. It is also worshiped as the vehicle of the goddess.The festival of Navratri is one of the famous celebrations in the temple. The temple is wonderfully lit and appears illuminated in the dark nights. A small but beautiful well maintained temple. For the importance it has in history, it is a must-see in Ujjain.

Harsiddhi Temple:

Just around 350 m away from Mahakaleshwar Temple and across the Rudra Sagar Lake, is the Harsiddhi Mata Temple, another important land mark of Ujjain. It is one of the 51 major Shaktipeeths of India.

 

 Legend has it that Goddess Parvati took the form of Harsiddhi to kill two demons at the behest of Lord Shiva. Her elbow fell here when Shiva was carrying her body from the sacrificial fire. The main deity, Harsiddhi Mata, is painted in dark vermillion color in the centre of a very large temple complex with idols of Mahasaraswati and Mahalakshmi beside it. 

 

The presence of Shree Yantra which represents nine forms of Durga is one of the characteristic features of this temple. The temple was built during the Maratha Period.

 The temple has two unique pine-shaped iron lamp stands that loom to a height of 15 feet are lit up on the evening of every day. The temple is vibrating, clean and  well maintained and I feel blessed.

Mahakaleshwar Temple: 

Its located in the ancient city of Ujjain in the state of Madhya Pradesh, continues to be one of the most sacred and outstanding places of pilgrimage for Hindus till date. The abode of Lord Shiva, it is on the banks of the Rudra Sagar Lake and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas.

 

It was reconstructed in 18th century AD. It is a mix of the Paramara, Chalukya and Maratha styles of architecture. The underground level houses the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). 

 

The presiding deity, Shiva in the lingam form, is believed to be swayambhu, deriving currents of power from within itself as against the other images and lingams that are ritually established and invested with mantra-shakti. Mahakaleshwar’s idol is said to be dakshinamurti, i.e. facing the south. This is a distinctive characteristic endorsed by tantric traditions, visible only at this jyotirling.  Within the temple complex, there is a kunda (reservoir), which is considered holy.

The most important and unique pooja at Mahakaleshwar temple is the BhasmaArathi.We missed it. When we arrived at the temple, it was evening 5.30pm. Blistering hot. To gain quick access to the garbhagriha, We paid for a special entrance ticket of 250Rupees. Still, there were quite a many people in the queue. The narrow underground passage crammed with chanting devotees was a claustrophobic experience. The marble floor was wet and slippery. I had a good glimpse of the deity Gods grace me stay for a moment longer than others near the garbhagriha. Exiting the temple, was a bit away from the locker room, where we had deposited my handbag, mobiles and footwear. We collected and left to our room to take rest and to proceed to Omkareshwar.

"To be Cont"
Travel plan By  Dirtboots

Switzerland- Europe My Travel Journey Part-6

Visit to Switzerland

Switzerland travel is something everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. Switzerland just may be the most beautiful country in Europe . Everywhere you look in Switzerland, beauty is all around you. 
 

 From towering mountain peaks that are snow-capped even in summer, to crystal clear lakes, well-preserved medieval cities, lush alpine pastures and charming villages, it just goes on and on.  Switzerland has it all. Switzerland you should visit, most of the way either by car or by train.

Switzerland may be a small country but there is so much to see and experience here that you may feel that 3 days is not enough. There are more than 200 peaks, several ancient castles, a lake within every 10 km and breath taking views of the countryside that you will never get over in this lifetime. We stayed in Fluhli.

Bern:

Bern Old Town, which is proud to be a UNESCO world heritage site. Looping around the city in a horse-shoe bend is the spectacular River Aare. Bright turquoise in colour, The River Aare is incredibly clean and swimming in it is a part of daily life for many locals. 

Bern is a compact city so it’s easy to walk around on foot, there are also impressive fountains scattered all over this medieval old town.

 

 Our first stop was the 16th-century Zytglogge Astronomical Clock — a Bern landmark since around 1530. It still works (!!), in keeping with Switzerland’s reputation for classic, well-made clocks and watches

Lucerne

Nestled between a backdrop of towering mountains and a sparkling lake, Lucerne (called Luzern in German) is one of Switzerland’s most visited cities. Offering a host of things to see and do, Lucerne makes a wonderful holiday destination.

Chapel Bridge and Spreuer Bridge

Without doubt, one of the most popular Lucerne attractions is the Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke). Dating back to 1333, the medieval bridge is just one of many that straddles the River Reuss, but this one is recognizable by its distinctive water tower with an octagonal roof.

 

A fire in 1993 all but destroyed the famous Lucerne wooden bridge, and even though it was rebuilt, fire damage can still be seen on the remaining 17th century pictorial panels which are a feature under the eaves. Lucerne’s other famous covered bridge, Spreuer Bridge, was finished in 1408 as part of the city’s fortification. Kaspar Meglinger added 67 paintings representing the "Dance of Death" between 1626 and 1635. This covered bridge dates back to the 14th century and it is absolutely gorgeous.

Mount Titlis:

A day trip to Mt Titlis from Lucerne is a perfect way to spending one whole day in the Swiss Alps. 
 
Mount Titlis is more than 3,000 meter high (10,000 ft) so you will need warm clothing the whole year round, even in summer, especially if you want to go inside the ice cave or pay a visit to the glacier snow park.more breath taking views of what seemed to be a perpetual picture perfect world, we finally reached Engelberg, just below Mt. Titlis, from where our journey of two different cable cars — a standard cable car, and a revolving one, called the Rotair, started.

As I got into the first one and journeyed towards a whopping 10,000 feet above sea level, I wondered how they managed to the setup and an observatory at such challenging landscapes. But you do not need to worry as the entire seemingly breathtaking facilities are more than safe.

The revolving Rotair wounded its way up towards the snow-covered summit as I was reminded by someone that it was perhaps the world’s first revolving gondola that can accommodate up to 50 people and can reach to an altitude of 10,000 feet above the sea level.

The gondola revolved 360 degrees during its five-minute trip, treating its passengers to idyllic panoramic views of steep rock faces, deep crevasses, and the prominent snow-covered mountain peaks. It took a little less than half an hour before I was on the top of Mount Titlis — with a few dozen other happy tourists, half of whom appeared to be Asian.

There were a few activities on Mount Titlis besides feeling awed sitting inside a cable car. This included the cliff walk, Europe’s highest suspension bridge, a glacier cave, and an ice flyer. Out of all of them, however, I particularly loved walking through the glacier cave, where the ice appeared to lit up in different colors, and the temperature felt at least a few degrees below zero.

Gruyère:

Gruyères is a beautiful, walled medieval town with cobbled streets and its own castle. Gruyères is located at the base of the Swiss Prealps in the French-speaking canton of Fribourg. In the 13th century, the Count of Gruyeres built his castle at the top of the hill to control the upper Saanen Valley and the town was developed thereafter. 

The historic town of Gruyères has been unaffected by time and takes pride in their exceptional art and cultural exhibitions. You will be enchanted by the architectural charm of Gruyères and enjoy some of the most breathtaking views in Switzerland.

La Maison du Gruyère:

This is the only cheese factory in Switzerland within the walls of a monastery, where you can watch cheese making live-being produced by hand right before your eyes. High on the list of any visit to Gruyères is a visit to the local cheese factory,

 

 where you can watch the master cheesemakers hard at work perfecting enormous round slabs of famous Gruyère. It’s located outside the old town at the foot of the hill. 
 
Here, you’ll learn the history of the cheese and the intricate details of how it is made After it's done, visitors can enjoy the delicious, freshly made products in the cheese factory's restaurant. At the restaurant you can taste local delicacies featuring the cheese itself.It’s used in many of the classic Swiss dishes like raclette and fondue, so, if you’re a cheese fan, you simply have to visit La Maison du Gruyère.

Cailler Chocolate Factory:
 

You can catch a train from the Gruyères train station to Broc and visit the Cailler chocolate factory, which should take about 25 minutes by train. Cailler is the oldest chocolate manufacturer in Switzerland and is known as one of the world's finest chocolates. Its brands include Frigor and Cailler, which are still made in the company's factory in Broc. Cailler is not widely exported . 
 
Upon taking a tour of the factory and learning about the history of chocolate, you can enjoy the chocolate sample room where you can try as much chocolate as you want. There is also a large gift shop selling all varieties of Cailler chocolate so you can be sure to stock up.

Rhine Falls:
 

To stand high above Europe's largest waterfall, feeling the roar and vibration of the water over one's entire body - this can be experienced at the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen.The 150 m wide and 23 m high waterfall is located near the village of Neuhausen in Northern Switzerland. The nearby city of Schaffhausen is commonly associated with the falls too. Even though the Rhine Fall is a form of mass tourism, the natural beauty is overwhelming and for sure worth your time. May/June is the best time to visit because the amount of water peaks then.

To really appreciate the spectacular scenery the country has to offer you need to leave the cities and head to the countryside.  It’s here you can breathe in the crisp alpine air, walk amongst lush fields and enjoy a look at what life in a smaller Swiss town is really like. 

Switzerland, with its fairy tale locations and rustic wood chalets, makes it impossible to leave.
 
 Switzerland trip remains incomplete if you don’t hog on their world-famous cheese and hot chocolate. After all the excitement, it’s time to leave but hopefully, had the best 10-days seeing the best places in Europe. It really is so incredible.I have to thank My daughter and Soninlaw for arranging this beautiful trip.