Explore the mysterious temples in India

India is a land of diverse culture and mystic charm and many travelers visit India every year to experience India's rich cultural heritage. There are several religious or holy places in India which have mysteries or unexplained stories connected to them. Below is list of mysterious tepmles you can visit in India.

Kamakhya Devi Temple, Assam

Perched atop the Nilachal Hill in Guwahati, Assam resides the Maa Kamakhya Devi Temple, one of the most famous temples in India. It is one of the oldest of the 51 Shakti Peethas in the Indian subcontinent. The temple does not have a sculpture to worship, however, what it does have is the yoni or vagina of Devi Sati, the wife of Lord Shiva, covered with a red silk sari.

Every year during monsoon, the goddess menstruates, and the temple is closed down for three days. It is also when the Tantric fertility festival or Ambubachi Mela is celebrated here, till the fourth day when the temple reopens. It is also said that the underground spring that flows in the sanctum of the temple turns red on these three days. Devotees are offered a piece of the red cloth used to cover the stone yoni during the days of menstruation as ‘prasad’.

Venkateswara Temple

South India, is an exquisite part of India. Which attracts tourists for their grandeur and natural beauty. The way coastal and natural hill stations are famous in South India. Tirupati Balaji’s temple is the most popular. Venkateswara Bhagwan is also called by many names such as Balaji, Govinda, and Srinivas.

Tirupati Balaji’s temple is in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. This temple is considered being India’s richest temple because here it is donated millions of rupees a day, and there is a tradition of donating your hair here. Apart from this, there are things in Balaji which are unique. This temple is in a list of top 5 mysterious temples in India.

Lepakshi Temple

Located in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, the Lepakshi temple is famous for its ‘Hanging Pillar’, literally. Of the 70 structured and carved pillars inside the temple, one does not touch the ground. Devotees regularly pass thin objects like clothes or papers from under the pillar to test the theory and be amazed. They even believe doing so would bring them prosperity. That is for another day to discuss but how the weight of the pillar could be supported without it touching the ground remains the real mystery.

Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple

It is a Hindu temple located in Thiruvananthapuram, India. The temple has what seem to be seven secret vaults. On the supreme court’s request, the committee overseeing the temple has opened 6 of those vaults unveiling ornaments of gold estimated to be worth over 22 billion dollars. Now the 7th vault has steel doors with no latches or bolts. It has carvings depicting 2 cobras. It is believed that the door is opened only by a secret chant and any other means would bring catastrophes. It is considered both a mystery and highly dangerous.

Brahma Temple

Brahma Temple is also in the list of mysterious temples in India, situated at the shore of Puskar Lake in Puskar, Rajasthan. This temple got its name on the name of Pushkar Lake. A long time ago, Lord Brama started a big Yagna at this place. Only couples can perform that yagna so, Brahma has to perform this Yagna with this wife. But at the time of Yagna Bramha wife did not arrive on time. So, Brahma did that with another woman named Gayatri Devi. As the Yagna begin Saraswati wife of Brahma arrived. Seeing another woman in her place, she became angry and she cursed her husband Brahma saying no unmarried men are allowed in this temple from now.

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Source Internet

5 underrated destinations in East Asia

Looking forward to exploring East Asia but not a fan of crowded, mainstream destinations? Then check out these underrated East Asia travel gems.

Xi’an, China

If you’re looking for another cool city to visit – one without the hordes of tourists and dodgy air quality – Xi’an is where you want to be. The city is arguably the root of Chinese civilisation, having been the country’s capital for several dynasties.

It holds several magnificent historical ruins, including Emperor Qin’s mausoleum, his Army of Terracotta Warriors, and the 12th-century Bell Tower. That’s not all! Xi’an is also home to a large Muslim community, and, as a result, an exquisite dining scene. Don’t miss the bazaar in the Muslim Quarter, and make sure to try an authentic Xi’an Roujiamo meat sandwich while you’re there.

Nagano, Japan

We can all agree that vacationing in Japan during winter is a dream! It’s hard to say “no” especially with the abundance of natural onsen (hot springs) and ski resorts all over the country. Nagano is one hot spot that’s popular for these very reasons. The capital of the Nagano Prefecture on the island of Honshu, the city is surrounded by the Japanese Alps. What’s more, it’s home to the Edo-era Matsushiro Castle and Zenkō-ji, one of the oldest Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world.

Outside the city, adventure awaits. There’s Shiga Kogen, an enormous ski resort situated in the highlands with ski runs and onsens leading to the summit of Mount Yokote. Other than that, you can also watch snow monkeys bathe in the hot springs at Jigokudani Monkey Park. And if you’re going all out, there’s the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route located on the Japanese Alps which lets visitors hike along mountainous valleys and even walk through 20-metre-high snow corridors!

Kanazawa, Japan

If you’re fond of Kyoto’s shrines, and seafood in Osaka, you’ll be pleased to know that Kanazawa offers just as many, if not more, unforgettable experiences. Its quiet location, famous provincial cuisine, and extremely well-preserved Edo period landmarks make it a true hidden gem of a holiday destination in Japan!

The city is home to major cultural spots such as the Kenrokuen Garden (one of Japan’s top 3 gardens), the charming Nagamachi Samurai District, and the serene Teramachi Temple District. Kanazawa’s dining scene is also an amazing gastronomic affair, with its sake (rice wine) said to be the very refined and one-of-a-kind.

Tainan, Taiwan

The oldest city in Taiwan, Tainan has existed since the 16th century with its history dating back to Dutch colonial times and the Qing dynasty. It holds a plethora of ancient landmarks, like Fort Provintia, and the Taiwan Confucian Temple which conducts ancient Confucian ceremonies to this day.

You’ll also want to check out Anping Old Streets, where you’ll find alleys of traditional rammed earth houses which offer a glimpse into Tainan’s olden days. Don’t miss Qigu Salt Mountain too, where you’ll get to climb up the salt mountains and enjoy authentic salt ice-cream found only in Qigu, Tainan.

Chongqing, China

At first glance, Chongqing may come across as a city without much to see. However, one cannot be more wrong with that assumption! In reality, Chongqing offers an endless amount of things to see, do, and eat, which will have its visitors wanting to discover more.

For starters, embark on a cruise down the iconic Yangtze river and marvel at the picturesque landscapes. Then, travel back in time and explore China’s rich history up close through a tour at Hong Ya Dong, an old town leaning on the side of a mountain. It used to be the military headquarters which belonged to famous military leader Chiang Kai-Shek. Afterwards, indulge in a hearty hot pot meal… with caution. That’s because hot pot in Chongqing is an unquestionably spicy affair!

See more: Top underrated destinations in South Korea

Source: Internet

A historical tour around Old Delhi

Old Delhi is a walled part of New Delhi, founded by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1639 and originally named Shahjahanabad. It remained the capital of the Mughals until the end of the Mughal dynasty and was later rechristened Old Delhi by the British. It offers spectacular pieces of architecture, a mouthwatering variety of food, and a living, breathing a piece of history.

Old Delhi Food

Food is a religion in this city. The narrow gullies of old Delhi have an overwhelming variety of cuisines to offer. The heavenly aroma of food literally liberates the taste buds here. Acclaimed by national and international food guides, the food will never fail to tempt you. The cuisine is generally dominated by meat, and also offers delicious hot parathas, chats, and sweets. The famous Paranthe Wali Gali is a narrow street located in Chandni Chowk and has a series of shops offering parathas, a fried Indian bread which is stuffed with fillings and served with mint chutney, tamarind chutney, pickles, and curries. Over 30 variety of parathas are available. The Ghantewala Halwai is one of the oldest sweet shops in India, founded in the year 1790. It is famous for its sohan halwa and Karachi halwa along with badaam barfi, kalakand, pista samosa and mootichoor ladoo.

Chandni Chowk and Chawri have many street joints that offer spicy and tangy chaats, dahi bhalle, tikki, kulle fruit chaat, and phirni (a sweet dish). Karim’s Place is very famous for its kebabs. It is situated in the area of Jama Masjid. It was established by Haji Karimuddin with the idea of opening a dhaba in 1913. All meat lovers must make a pit stop at Karim’s for their wonderful kebabs and divine mutton nahari.

Old Delhi Architecture

Old Delhi architecture is a spectacular example of Mughal architecture, with plenty of charisma and nostalgia. While walking the bylanes of old Delhi you realize every wall has a story to tell. Old Delhi is a walled city shaped roughly like a quarter circle with the Red Fort as a focal point. The old city was surrounded by a wall enclosing about 1500 acres with 14 gates. Although the walls have largely disappeared, most of the gates are still present.

The Red Fort is named for its massive walls of red sandstone and its proximity to the Salimgarh Fort. It was a political and ceremonial center for the Mughals. Constructed in 1648 by Shah Jahan, the architecture reflects the fusion of Persian and Timurid traditions, along with a huge beautiful garden. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2007. The Red Fort has an area of 254.67 acres enclosed by 2.41 kilometers of defensive walls, punctuated by turrets and bastions varying in height from 18 meters on the riverside to 33 meters on the city side. The fort is octagonal, with the north-south axis longer than the east-west axis. The marble, floral decorations and double domes in the fort’s buildings exemplify later Mughal architecture.

Located in Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India. Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656 at a cost of one million rupees, it has three gates, four towers, and two 40m high minarets constructed of strips of red sandstone and white marble. The mosque is built on a red sandstone porch which is about 30 feet from ground level. The courtyard can accommodate 25,000 people. The Red Fort stands opposite to Jama Masjid. The floor is covered with white and black ornamented marble to look like a Muslim prayer mat. Beside it, a thin black border is marked for worshippers.

The immense culture of Old Delhi never loses its charm, giving us a window to look into history.

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By Suyasha Kale/ The Culture Trip