Situated in the Himalayan range of Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Kedarnath temple is one of the most sacred shrines in the world. The holy abode of Shiva is believed to have been built by the Pandavas to atone for their sins during Mahabharata.
The temple was restored by Adi Sankaracharya in the 8th century. It is one of the Chota Char Dhams of Uttarakhand and requires the pilgrims to trek a distance of 14 kms on the hilly terrain.
Standing at a height of 3,583 metres, surrounded by the glaciers and snow-clad peaks, the temple is closed during winters due to severe weather conditions. Even the idol of Lord Shiva is shifted to Ukhimath during the months the temple remains closed.
The acts pertaining to rituals of puja were created with the help of the ichha-shakti (Energy of will) in the universe: Acts associated with karmakanda such as puja, offering Naivedya etc. are associated with the ichha-shakti in the universe. Depending on the bhav (Spiritual emotion) of the individual while performing these acts, through the specific act, the individual receives the waves associated with ichha-shakti of the respective Deity.The air appears to be reverberating with the name of Lord Shiva amid the mighty snow-clad peaks, enchanting meadows and forests of the lower mountain range of Himalayas. Situated in a breathtaking location, near the source of Mandakini River and at the height of 3,584 meters, Kedarnath Dham celebrates the greatness of Lord Shiva. Kedarnath temple is one of the 12 Jyotir Lingams and is also the most important temple among the Panch Kedars (group of 5 Shiva temples in Garhwal Himalayas). It is also one of the significant temples of the sacred Chota Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, raising the glory of the place to further heights.
The Sun temple is situated in the small town of Konark situated in the Puri district of Odisha. This marvel of architecture is dedicated to Indian God of Sun, Surya. The temple has been built in the shape of his chariot which is drawn by seven horses.
The temple was built in the 13th century by a king called Narasimhadeva. There is an ancient legend attached to this temple, once Lord Krishna cursed one of his own sons with leprosy. To seek penance, his son, Samba worshiped Surya for twelve years.
Pleased with his devotion, Surya healed him. Samba made the Sun temple in return to express his gratitude. The mesmerizing beauty of the place was best summed up by Rabindranath Tagore: ‘Here the language of stone surpasses the language of man.
Being a UNESCO World Heritage site, Konark is a rich repository of ancient temples, traditional music & dance, monuments and beaches. The town is an admired tourist destination in Odisha which is loved by many travellers due to its serene and tranquil ambiance, beautiful monuments.