Indian Columbus

Bishnupur, a town in the Bankura district of West Bengal, is renowned for its 17th- and 18th-century terracotta temples and Baluchari sarees. Located about 150 km from Kolkata, it holds great historical significance. This article explores one of its notable landmarks—the Dalmadal Cannon—steeped in history and legend. The Dalmadal Cannon, a massive artillery piece, stands prominently in the heart of Bishnupur. It was crafted by the Malla kings, who ruled the region for centuries. In ancient times, Bishnupur was part of the Mallabhum region, governed by the Malla dynasty. Unlike many other parts of India, it remained largely unaffected by Mughal invasions. The dynasty’s founder was Adi Malla. One of the most notable rulers, Bir Hambir—the 49th king of the dynasty—was a contemporary of Emperor Akbar. A devout Vaishnavite, he commissioned the Dalmadal Cannon to defend his kingdom against the Marathas. It is believed that he invested a significant amount in its construction. The cann...

Site Name:   Aurobindo Ashram Site Type:   Ashram Location:   Puducherry, India Highlights:   A very popular ashram across the entire country Nearest Railway Station:   Puducherry Nearest Airport:   Chennai   How to reach:   Well connected Hotel:  Many star hotels, luxury hotels/resorts and budget hotels are available  Restaurants:  Varieties of options Puducherry, also called as Pondicherry, is a city located in Puducherry Union Territory near Chennai city in India. Sri Aurobindo Ashram is the most popular landmark of Puducherry. Let us explore about this site in this article. Sri Aurobindo was an Indian patriot and freedom fighter from West Bengal state. He left politics and adapted spiritual life after moving to Puducherry in 1910 CE. He evolved a new method of spiritual practice called Integral Yoga. In 1926 CE, with the help of his spiritual collaborator, the Mother, he found Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Puducher...

Bishnupur, a historic town in West Bengal’s Bankura district, is renowned for its 17th- and 18th-century terracotta temples and Baluchari sarees. Located about 150 km from Kolkata, it is home to many fascinating sites, including the Chhinnamasta Temple, which we explore in this article. Situated near the Dalmadal Cannon, the Chhinnamasta Temple is approximately a century old and has been renovated in recent years. Though small in size, it features a main shrine and a sub-shrine, both holding deep spiritual significance. The sanctum enshrines Goddess Chhinnamasta, accompanied by her two Yogini attendants, Dakini and Varnini. The fierce Tantric deity is depicted holding her severed head in one hand and a sword in the other. Three streams of blood flow from her neck—one consumed by her severed head and the other two by her attendants. She stands atop a human couple resting on a large lotus, symbolizing the cycle of creation and destruction. All three female deities are depicted uncl...

Site Name:   Visva Bharati University Site Type:   University Location:   Shanti Niketan, West Bengal state, India Highlights:   One of India's most renowned universities Nearest Railway Station:   Bolpur Nearest Airport:   Kolkata  How to reach:   Easily reachable from Kolkata, which is around 160 kms away Hotel:  Many star hotels, luxury hotels/resorts, and budget hotels are available in Kolkata; Shantiniketan too has many decent options for stay Restaurants:  Limited options in Shantiniketan Travel to West Bengal is not complete without visiting Shanti Niketan and one of India's most renowned university called Visva Bharati University. Personally, if I get a chance to study again, I would definitely prefer no other place than this university. Anyone who visits this site would get positive energy for sure. It is not merely a place to study, but it is an institution, which would give the students a combination of pleasant and ...

Site Name:   Adi Badri Site Type:  Ancient Hindu temple Location:   Near Karnaprayag, Uttarakhand state, India Highlights:   Gupta period temples Nearest Railway Station:   Rishikesh Nearest Airport:  Dehraduns How to reach:  Reachable on road from Karnaprayag, which is at a distance of around 17 kms Climate:  Sep to Nov - winter; Dec to Mar - snow bound; the other months are pleasant Best time to visit:  May - Oct Clothing:  Light woolen in summer; heavy woolen in winter Hotel:  Mid-range to star hotels are available in the nearby hill stations; people stay right from Rudraprayag to Gaurikund  Restaurants:  In Karnaprayag - vegetarian option alone If you live in India, it is unlikely that you would not have heard about  Kedarnath  or  Badrinath . They are two of the  most popular pilgrimages for Hindus. It is located on the Himalayas in Uttarakhand state of India. Aro...

Site Name:  Jora Mandir Site Type:  Terracotta temple Location:   Supur village, 5 kms from Shanti Niketan, West Bengal state, India Highlights:   300 years old Twin Terracotta temples Nearest Railway Station:   Bolpur Nearest Airport:   Kolkata  How to reach:   Easily reachable from Kolkata and Shantiniketan Hotel:  Many star hotels, luxury hotels/resorts, and budget hotels are available in Kolkata; Shantiniketan too has many decent options for stay Restaurants:  Limited options in Shantiniketan West Bengal tourism is not only to do with Kolkata or only with the famous Shanti Niketan. There are hundreds of beautiful and unexplored sites all over West Bengal state of India. Let us explore one such little known beautiful site in this article. Shanti Niketan is a popular town in West Bengal related to education and academics. It is located at a distance of around 160 kms from Kolkata, the capital city of West Be...

Site Name:  Birla Mandir Site Type:  Hindu temple  Location:    Naubat Pahad, Hyderabad  city, Telungana state, India Highlights:   One of the important landmarks of Hyderabad city Nearest Railway Station:   Hyderabad Nearest Airport:   Hyderabad How to reach:   Well connected by road, rail and air Hotel:  All sorts of options are available in Hyderabad  Restaurants:  Hyderabad city has no shortage of restaurants of all varieties Hyderabad  is an important city in South India. It is the capital city of the newly formed Telangana state as well as Andhra Pradesh state of India. Hyderabad, which is also called as 'the city of Pearls' is a historical city. In the last two decades, the city became very popular thanks to the IT companies. There are many popular and varieties of tourist spots such as forts, palaces, lakes, masjids and temples located in this city. Let us explore one such popular site n...

A Ambika Kalna, commonly known as Kalna, is a town in West Bengal’s Bardhaman district, located about 80 km from Kolkata. It is home to the renowned 108 Shiva Temples, a significant religious and architectural marvel. This article explores this unique site. Built in 1809 CE by King Teja Chandra Bahadur, the 108 Shiva Temples were constructed to commemorate the transfer of ownership of the Bishnupur royal estate. The temple complex follows the Bangla Chala architectural style, which is characterized by sloping roofs. (Bangla temple architecture is broadly classified into two types—Chala (slope roof) and Ratna (pinnacle), with some temples incorporating elements of both styles.) The temples are arranged in two concentric circles, separated by a well-maintained lawn. The outer circle consists of 74 temples, each housing a Shiva Linga, alternating between black and white in color. The inner circle contains 34 temples, all enshrining white Shiva Lingas. Unlike many temple complexes...