Prayaga or Triveni Sangam where the three rivers meet!

Boat queue for Triveni Sangam

Second oldest city of India after Varanasi- Prayaga is another holy city. One of the four theerthas (sacred places) Prayaga or Triveni Sangam is just 83KM from Varanasi. Triveni Sangam is the meeting point of three sacred rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati (subterranean). One of the four places where the popular Kumbh-mela is held every 12 years sangam is believed to have soul cleansing powers hence a sacred bathing place. Also called as Theertharaja (king of holy places) Prayaga is the birth place of Soma (Moon), Varuna (God of rain) and Daksha Prajapati (Son of Brahma). The city has a long history dating back Vedic period as the location where Brahma performed a sacrifice and hence the name Prayaga. Mahrishi Ved Vyas wrote Siva Puarana here in this place. 

Ramnagar Fort and Museum- An amazing collection of weapons!

Ramnagar Fort

Apart from the popular Buddhist center Sarnath there is another half-day excursion from Varanasi and that is Ramnagar Fort. Built by a Kashi Naresh Ramanagar fort is the residence of the Royal family of Varanasi even today. The fort built in mughal style using chunar sandstone stands high above the flood levels of River Ganga. Only a part of the fortress is accessible to the public. Sarswati Bhavan which was the durbar hall those days is converted into a museum. The fort also houses a temple dedicated to Veda Vyasa.

Heritage- Jaisalmer, The Golden City in the heart of Thar Desert

Jaisalmer in the state of Rajasthan in India is popularly known as The Golden City. Located in the heart of Thar Desert the city is a home for many beautiful structures like forts and palaces built of yellow sandstone and the yellow tinge in the surrounding desert sand make the city look GOLDEN. 

Heritage- Jodhpur, the Capital of Kingdom Marwar

During my road-trip to Rajasthan, from Jaipur I made my way to Jodhpur which is popularly known as Blue City. Because, most of the houses are painted in blue. This second largest city in Rajasthan is also called Sun City because of the bright sunlight! Yes, quite bright to wear sunglasses! The main attraction in the city is the seven storied Mehrangarh Fort majestically standing on a hilltop.

Cities- Gwalior, The tourist capital of Madhya Pradesh

Man Mandir Palace

Gwalior city was built and named after a Hindu Saint Gwalipa who cured the Rajput chief Suraj Sen of leprosy. From Shivapuri I took a bus to Gwalior (118KM) and the journey was very peaceful than I had expected. I got off at the bus stand and took a room in Tansen Residency run by MP Tourism. Only two things I knew about Gwalior were- the love story of Raja Man Singh Tomar and his wife Mrignayanee, and the Chaturbhuj Temple where the oldest known use of shunya (a zero) in India.

Off the beaten track- Chanderi, a town carved out of rock!

After wandering around the temples and tombs in Orchcha I decided to visit Chanderi, a place known for its traditional sarees. It wasn't easy to reach this place using public transport. From Jhansi I took a bus to Lalitpur (95KM) and then another bus to Chanderi (40KM). Those 40KM from Lalitpur to Chanderi were never ending. The journey in a slow moving bus on almost mud-road was very painful. The bus could hardly carry the load. Unimaginable 3.5 hrs in human packed bus to cover 40KM ... Once I got off the bus I learned that no autorikshaws run in the town. Everyone around stared at me but when I asked for help they were extremely nice. There is a nice hotel here right near the fort.

Cities- Jabalpur

I had heard about Jabalpur as a base for higher education and Kanha National Park. Never knew anything much about it. I had some time when in Indore, I did an internet search some evening and was surprised to know there are many beautiful places in and near the city. Jabalpur is well connected by bus and train. I was at Pachhmarhi and so decided to take a train from Piparia to Jabalpur (about 170KM) and found a decent budget hotel with the help of autorikshaw driver. The hotel restaurant food was great.

Forts of India- Maheshwar

Maheshwar is a small town in Madhya Pradesh popular for two things- an amazingly beautiful fort and stunningly beautiful hand-woven sarees. In fact, I visited Maheshwar by chance. I was looking for transportation from Mandu to Omkareshwar and happened to get off at Maheshwar per bus conductor's advice. I didn't regret, many thanks to him!

Heritage- Ancient city Kangra

Kangra, Himachal Pradesh is a historical town which is 18Km from Dharmashala. Once upon a time it was Nagarkot, the rich city founded by Chandravanshi Katoch Rajputs. It was a beautiful fort city of rich temples and vast treasure. Gazni Muhammad invaded the fort, looted the temples and took away the treasure as any other Muslim invader did. The Vajreshwari temple was the oldest and wealthiest temples in northern India. Gazni, and then Tughlaqs destroyed it along with the fort and the town. The temple is rebuilt and is still functioning. It is one of the Shaktipeethas. From Dharmashala I took a day-long excursion to Kangra and Masroor temples.

Heritage- Agra, Home of an ancient wonder Taj Mahal

Well, who doesn't know Agra? The home of world famous Taj Mahal, one of the ancient wonders of the world and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was much anticipated trip with a lot of expectations which ended with mixed feelings!