meenakshi temple

The Sri Meenakshi Sundareswara temple and Madurai city originated together. According to tradition, Indra once committed sin when he killed a demon, who was then performing penance. He could find no relief from remorse in his own kingdom. He came down to earth. While passing through a forest of Kadamba trees in Pandya land, he felt relieved of his burden. His servitors told him that there was a Shivalinga under a Kadamba tree and beside a lake. Certain that it was the Linga that had helped him; he worshipped it and built a small temple around it. It is believed that it is this Linga, which is till under worship in the Madurai temple. The shrine is called the "Indra Vimana".

Once Dhananjaya, a merchant of Manavur, where the Pandyas had arrived after the second deluge in Kumari Kandam, having been overtaken by nightfall in Kadamba forest, spent the night in the Indra Vimana. When next morning he woke up, he was surprised to see signs of worship. Thinking that it must be the work of the Devas, he told the Pandya, Kulasekhara, in Manavur, of this. Meanwhile Lord Shiva had instructed Pandya in a dream to build a temple and a city at the spot Dhananjaya would indicate. Kulasekhara did so. Thus originated the temple and city.

mezquita cordoba

Mezquita Mosque and Cathedral

The Mezquita of Cordoba is one of the world’s most impressive buildings making it one of the most remarkable tourist attractions both in Cordoba and Spain.

Each year approximately 1.5 million tourists marvel at this impressive landmark featuring several architectural styles and uniting religious elements of Islam and occidental culture.

The so called holy cathedral (former mosque of Cordoba) is not only the largest mosque in the entire world, but the largest temple in the world, as well. The building has mammoth dimensions: It stretches across 24,000 square meters and features as many as 856 esthetic columns made of marble, granite, jasper, and other fine materials.

Visiting the Mezquita gives you a glimpse of how it was at ancient times. The Mezquita looks back on more than one thousand years of history. The first beginnings date back to the 8th century, when Abd al-Rahman I planned to construct a mosque instead of Christian Saint Vincent Basilica. The year 785 marks the beginning of Mezquita’s construction that lasted for about 200 years. The first major enlargement of the mosque took place between 833 and 852 under the rule of Abd al-Rahman II. Abd al-Rahman III ordered subsequent reforms, including a new minaret, which was realized between 961 and 966. The third and last of the mosque’s expansions was ruled by Al-Mansur in 987. It was the most significant enlargement that lead, with completion of the orange tree courtyard and the outer naves, to Mezquita’s current dimensions.

After Cordoba was recaptured by King Ferdinand III in 1236 and rejoined Christendom, the mosque became used as church.

Within the Mezquita, in the very center, is a Renaissance cathedral, which Bishop Alonso Manrique began build in 1523. The cathedral’s construction lasted until the beginning of the 17th century. Although parts of the column hall had been destroyed as the cathedral was constructed, the building is still a remarkable and dazzling symbol of fine Moorish architecture.

Mezquita is most notable for its red-and-white colored giant arches resting on 856 columns. These were made of a Roman temple and other buildings that had occupied the Mezquita site previously.

Due to its outstanding historical development, including influences of different cultures, Mezquita unites architectural treasures of several epochs, including Greek-Roman, Egyptian, and Visigothic styles. A Byzantine mosaic with praising inscriptions can be found in the southern part of the Mezquita.

The holy cathedral inside the mosque features all styles of the 16th and 17th centuries: Spanish-Flemish vaults, Renaissance domes, and baroque altar vaults. The treasure chamber houses remarkable religious pieces from the 15th and 16th centuries. A monstrance, manufactured by German goldsmith Heinrich von Arfe 1510 until 1516, is probably the most magnificent work of the chamber.

Chartres Cathedral

The Middle Ages showed a renewed interest in labyrinths and a design more complex than the classical seven-circuit labyrinth became popular.

This was an eleven-circuit design divided into four quadrants. It was often found in Gothic Cathedrals but over time many of these eleven-circuit designs were destroyed or intentionally removed.

The most famous of these remaining labyrinths is at Chartres Cathedral near Paris, France. The labyrinth at Chartres was built around 1200 and is laid into the floor in a style sometimes referred to as a pavement maze. The original center piece has been removed and other areas of the labyrinth have been restored.

This labyrinth was meant to be walked but is reported to be infrequently used today. In the past it could be walked as a pilgrimage and/or for repentance. As a pilgrimage it was a questing, searching journey with the hope of becoming closer to God. When used for repentance the pilgrims would walk on their knees. Sometimes this eleven-circuit labyrinth would serve as a substitute for an actual pilgrimage to Jerusalem and as a result came to be called the "Chemin de Jerusalem" or Road of Jerusalem.

In walking the Chartres style labyrinth the walker meanders through each of the four quadrants several times before reaching the goal. An expectancy is created as to when the center will be reached. At the center is a rosette design which has a rich symbolic value including that of enlightenment. The four arms of the cross are readily visible and provide significant Christian symbolism.

amalfi drive

The corniche road, Amalfi Drive, provides one of the world's hairiest and most scenic motoring experiences—veering vertiginously around the jagged edge of the Lattari Mountains, twisting and tunneling and hairpin-bending, providing vista after stunning vista of gorges, bridges, cliffs plunging vertically into the glassy Tyrrhenian Sea, and sudden improbable villages tucked picturesquely into the landscape. Of course, the designated driver will miss the scenery, being too busy concentrating on the white knuckles: John Steinbeck, who used to come here in the 1950s, claimed the Amalfi Drive was "carefully designed to be a little narrower than two cars side by side." From the east, the route begins in Salerno, a working port city with a Norman Duomo. Beyond the town of Vietri sul Mare, famous for its colorful ceramicware, the road skirts the imposing bulk of Monte dell'Avvocata, passing Cetara, a salty fishing town that represents the Amalfi Coast at its least touristy. After the low-key resorts of Maiori and Minori comes the historic town of Amalfi, the coast's unofficial capital. Worthwhile stops between Amalfi and Positano include the Vallone di Furore, pictured, a rare Mediterranean fjord, whose steep rock walls shelter an enclave of fishermen's houses and their tiny harbor; and Praiano, a pretty, low-key alternative to the glitz of Positano. West of Positano, the road enters its most spectacular stretch: The nine-mile Nastro Azzurro, which clings to the side of the cliffs as it climbs to Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi: From there, it's a steep descent down into Sorrento on the other side of the peninsula.

Golden Temple

The Golden Temple stands as one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city of Amritsar. On your tour to India you will thoroughly like your visit to the city of Amritsar as it offers itself as a religious as well as a major tourist site. One of the several tourist attractions in Amritsar, the Golden Temple is visited by several travelers from various parts of the world. The Golden Temple history is one of the several areas that the tourists would love to explore.

Believed to have been built in 1588 by Guru Arjan Dev with a view to create a central site of worship for the Sikhs, the Golden Temple or Harmandir as it is called, symbolizes the philosophy of the religion through every detail of its architecture. The location of the temple amid a pool, which was conceptualized by Guru Amar Dev, denotes the synthesis of nirgun and sargun - the spiritual and temporal realms of human existence.Although Guru Arjan Dev was instrumental in laying the foundation of the Gurudwara, the Golden Temple history says that its construction has been the result of several years’ evolution.
Even before the main shrine of the Gurudwara was laid, the pool had already been bordered with bricks under the supervision of Baba Budha ji. Guru Arjan Dev, with the principle intention of propagating the ethos of Sikhism, built the structure in sheer burnt brick and lime. Much later, during Maharajah Ranjit Singh’s reign (1799-1839), the temple was renovated and made into an architectural masterpiece, displaying a major sense of affluence along with, of course, the deep spirituality of the Sikh religion.

The history of Golden Temple says that the land for the site was acquired free of charge from the zamindars (landlords) of local villages. Exhibiting influences of both Hindu and Muslim styles of design, the Golden Temple architecture significantly flaunts a large dome of gold.
Positioned in the center of the city of Amritsar, the 40.5 square feet Golden Temple balances itself on a 67 square feet platform. The bridge escorting you to the temple is linked with the 13 feet broad ‘Pardakshna’ or circumambulatory path. Winding around the main temple it reaches the ‘Har ki Paure’ (steps of God). On the first floor of ‘Har ki Paure’, there is a continuous reading session of Guru Granth Sahib. Guru Arjan Dev planned and executed the compilation of the Sikh scriptures: a collection of the teachings, thoughts, hymns, and verses of the first five gurus of the Sikhs, and scholars and saints of Hindu and Muslim like Kabir, Namdev, Ravidas, and Sheikh Farid.

Your visit to one of the greatest tourist attractions in Amritsar as well as in India will leave you with amazing sense of peace and tranquility, along with a feeling of self realization and spiritual emancipation.

Log on to www.touristplacesinindia.com which gives online information about Golden Temple History, the tourist attractions on your tour to Golden Temple, booking for India travel tours, and tour packages on your tour to India.

Prague Old Town

Mentioned in 1091, it is the oldest of the towns of Prague gained the privileges of a town in the 13th century. However, its name dates back to the 14th century when the New Town was founded. The centre of the Old Town has always been the Old Town Square dominated by the Church of Our Lady of Týn and the Town Hall.

Powder Gate (Prašná brána)
The 65m-tall Powder Tower was begun in 1475 during the reign of King Vladislav II Jagiello to form one of the 13 entrances to the Old Town. In 1483 it was left unfinished because the king moved to Prague Castle. Between 1875 and 1886 the tower was rebuilt, decorated and steepled by Josef Mocker. The gate acquired its present name in the 17th century when it was used to store gunpowder. Today, there is a small exhibition about the tower and it is open for great views.

Municipal House (Obecní dům)
Built on the site of the royal court between 1906 and 1912, it is Prague's most prominent Art Nouveau building. Above the main entrance there is a huge mosaic “Homage to Prague“ by Karel Špillar. Inside, there is the Smetana Hall – the biggest concert hall in Prague, number of smaller halls, conference rooms and offices, cafés and restaurants to relax and enjoy the inner decoration. On 28 October 1918, the Czechoslovakian Republic was proclaimed here and meetings between Civic Forum and the communist regime were held here in November1989.

Celetná Street (Celetná ulice)
Named after the plaited bread rolls that were first baked here in the Middle Ages, the Celetná Street is a pedestrianised lane from the Old Town square to the Powder Tower. There are lots of architecturally and historically important houses, such as At the Three Kings, At the White Lion, At the Black Sun and At the Vulture. The most interesting one is the Cubist facade on the House of the Black Madonna, which dates only from 1912 and houses a branch of the Czech Museum of Fine Arts with a permanent exhibition on Czech Kubism..

Church of St James (Kostel sv. Jakuba)
This attractive Baroque church began in the 14th century as a Minorite monastery church. There are about 20 altars decorated with works by Jan Jiří Heinsh, Petr Brandl and Václav Vavřinec Reiner. A tomb of Count Vratislav of Mitrovice is the most beautiful Baroque tomb in Bohemia. Hanging to the left of the main door is a mummified forearm. It has been there for over 400 years, since a thief tried to steal the jewellers of the statue of the Virgin. Legend says that the Virgin grabbed his arm and held on so tightly that it had to be cut off. Because of its excellent acoustics many concerts and recitals are given in the church.

Estates Theatre (Stavovské divadlo)
Built in 1783 it is Prague's oldest theatre and one of the finest examples of Neo-classicism. Renamed the Tyl Theatre after WWII in honour of the 19th century Czech playwrite Josef Kajetán Tyl, its name reverted to Stavovské divadlo in 1990s.
Mozart's opera “Don Giovanni” had its premiere there on 29 October 1834 and in 1834 it was a musical comedy “Fidlovačka”. One of the songs became later the Czech national anthem.

Carolinum (Karolinum)
Founded by Emperor Charles IV on 7 April 1348, it is the oldest university north of the Alps.
Thousands of German students left the university in 1420 when the reform preacher Jan Hus became rector.
Today the Charles University has faculties all over Prague and the Carolinum houses only some medical faculty offices, the University Club and occasional academic ceremonies.

Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí)
Being Prague's heart since the 10th century and its main market place until the beginning of the 20th century, the spacious 1.7 hectare Old Town Square has been the scene of great events, both glorious and tragic. There are beautiful pastel-coloured buildings of Romanesque or Gothic origin with fascinating house signs. Some of the most prominent examples include the Kinský Palace, the House of the Stone Bell and the Štorch House. Today, the Old Town Square offers visitors a tourist information office, number of restaurants, cafés, shops and galleries.

Church of Our Lady before Tyn (Kostel Panny Marie před Týnem)
This Gothic church was built in 1365 on the site of an earlier Romanesque church. Its magnificent multiple steeples are 80m high and dominate the square. Between the early 15th century and the year of 1620 it was the main Hussite church in Prague. A beautiful entrance portal decorated with scenes of Christ's passion and a huge Rococo altar on the northern wall are its most striking features. Right of the altar there is a tomb of the Danish astronomer Tycho de Brahe who worked at the court of the Emperor Rudolph II. Týn church has a grand-sounding pipe organ and occasionally, it is a concert venue.

Kinský Palace (Palác Kinských)
Built between 1755 and 1765 by Anselmo Lurago according to the designs by Kilian Ignaz Dientzenhofer, it is the most beautiful Rococo building in Prague. In 1768 it was bought by Štěpán Kinský, an Imperial diplomat. In February 1948 Klement Gottwald proclaimed communist rule in Czechoslovakia from the palace balcony. Nowadays, the Kinský palace belongs to the National Gallery.

Jan Hus Monument (Pomník Jana Husa)
Completed in 1915 on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the death of Jan Hus, the Czech Hussite reformer, the massive monument dominates the square. It shows two groups of people, a young mother symbolising national rebirth and the figure of Hus emphasising the moral authority of the man who gave up life rather than his beliefs.

Church of St Nicholas (Kostel sv. Mikuláše)
This church was completed in 1735 by Kilian Dientzenhofer; its statues are work of Antonín Braun. Originally a church of a Benedictine Monastery, now belongs to the Czechoslovakian Hussite Church. There are beautiful ceiling paintigs that shows scenes from the life of St Nicholas and St Benedict, and a wonderful chandelier. It is a concert venue during the summer.

Old Town Hall (Staroměstská radnice)
Old Town's ancient town hall was established in 1338 after the agreement of King John of Luxemburg to set up a town council. Several old houses had to be knocked together over the centuries as the Old Town Hall expanded. A Gothic chapel and a neo-Gothic north wing were destroyed by the Nazis in spring 1945. The chapel has been reconstructed. The most popular part of the tower is the Town Hall Clock (Orloj). Originally instaled in 1410, the clock was rebuilt by the Master Hanuš in 1490. It consists of three parts – the procession of Apostles, the astronomical clock and the calendar. The main attraction is the hourly procession of the 12 Apostles. The height of the tower is 69,5 m and it offers a great view of the city.

House at the Two Golden Bears (Dům u dvou zlatých medvědů)
Constructed from two earlier houses in 1567 it is a building with one of the most beautiful Renaissance portals in Prague, added in 1590. In 1885 Egon Erwin Kisch, known as the “Furious Reporter” was born here.

Church of St Gall (Kostel sv. Havla)
Founded in the 13th century it was one of the four Old Town parish churches. It was an important centre of the reformation movement and Jan Hus and Jan of Nepomuk also preached here. In the chapel, there is a tomb of the well-known Bohemian Baroque artist Karel Škréta. Since the middle ages Prague's best-known market has been held in Havelská Street.

Church of St Martin in the Wall (Kostel sv. Martina ve zdi)
Used to mark the boundary between the Old Town and the New Town, its name dates from the time when the church was a part of the town wall during the fortification of the Old Town. Originally a Romanesque building it was renovated in Gothic style twice. During the Hussite Movement in 1414, it was this church where communion was offered for the first time to everyone, not only to priests.

Church of St Giles (Kostel sv. Jiljí)
The church was founded in 1371 on the site of an old Romanesque church. In 1420 it became a Hussite parish church but during the Counter-Reformation the Dominicans gained possession. There is a tomb of Václav Reiner, a painter who created the ceiling frescos.

Bethlehem Chapel (Betlémská kaple)
It is a faithful reconstruction of the original 14-th century church in which Jan Hus preached between 1402 and 1413. Handed over to the Jesuits after the Battle of the White Mountain in 1620, the church was completely rebuilt and in 1786 a residential house was built on the side. Following old illustrations the chapel was reconstructed after the WWII.

Clam-Gallas Palace (Clam-Gallasův palác)
Named after the wealthy patron of the arts, Václav Gallas, this outstanding Baroque palace was built by Johann Bernhard Fischer of Erlach between 1713 – 1719. There are statues made by Matthias Bernhard Braun and a theatre where Beethoven performed some of his works. The palace has been restored and today it houses the Municipal Archives of Prague.

Mariánské Square (Mariánské náměstí)
A statue of Rabbi Löw and a statue of the Iron Man dominate the square from the corners of the Town Hall built in 1912. A garden wall of Clamm-Gallas Palace encloses the southern side of the square. There is a statue of the River Vltava made by Václav Práchner in 1812. This sculpture is popularly called Terezka.

Charles Street (Karlova ulice)
Originally called Jesuits street, in the 12th century this narrow medieval street was part of the Royal Route and it has always connected the Old Town by way of Charles Bridge with the Old Town Square. There are several original Gothic and Renaissance houses, such as the Colloredo-Mansfeld Palace, At the French Crown, the Schönfeld Palace, At the Blue Pike, At the Golden Snake. Many of them are converted into shops to attract the tourists.

Palace of the Lords of Kunštát (Dům Pánů z Kunštátu)
The palace was built around the year of 1200. On the basement, there are three of the best-preserved Romanesque rooms in Prague. The house was enlarged in Gothic style by the Lords of Kunštát and Poděbrady in the 15th century. Today it houses a historical exhibition devoted to George of Poděbrady, a hussite king, who stayed here for a time.

Clementinum (Klementinum)
Formerly a Jesuit college established in the former Dominican monastery of St Clement between 1653 – 1723. It is the largest complex of buildings in Prague after Prague castle. The Church of St Clemens and the Church of St Salvator are its part. When the Jesuits had to leave Prague in 1773, the Clementinum became the Prague University and National library. Concerts are often held in the Mirror Chapel.

Knights of the Cross Square (Křížovnické náměstí)
Located in front of the Old Town Bridge Tower, there are nice views across the Vltava. This small square is bounded on three sides by the Church of St Francis, the Baroque Church of St Salvator and the Old Town Bridge Tower. In the centre of the square there is a bronze Neo-Gothic statue of Charles IV unveiled in 1848 in honour of the 500th anniversary of the founding of Prague's Carolinum University.

Dubrovnik

Lord Byron was not overstating the matter when he proclaimed Dubrovnik ‘the pearl of the Adriatic’. Dubrovnik is clearly special. A magnificent curtain of walls surrounds marble streets and baroque buildings that exude a pearly light in the Adriatic sun. The main pedestrian thoroughfare, Placa, is a melange of cafés and shops with outstanding monuments at either end. Churches, monasteries and museums ornamented with finely carved stone recall an eventful history and a vibrant artistic tradition. Beyond the city is a heavenly landscape of beaches, wooded peninsulas and a sea strewn with lush islands.

Damascus old city

Damascus is often referred to as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.

Damascus has a wealth of historical sites dating back to many different periods of the city's history. Since the city has been built up with every passing occupation, it has become almost impossible to excavate all the ruins of Damascus that lie up to 8 feet below the modern level. The Citadel of Damascus is located in the northwest corner of the Old City. The street called straight (referred to in the conversion of St. Paul in Acts 9:11), also known as the Via Recta, was one of the main streets of Roman Damascus, and extended for over 1500 meters. Today, it consists of the street of Bab Sharqi and the Souk Medhat Pasha, a covered market. The Bab Sharqi street is filled with small shops and leads to the old Christian quarter of Bab Touma (St. Thomas's Gate). Souq Medhat Pasha is also a main market in Damascus and was named after Medhat Pasha, the Ottoman governor of Damascus who renovated the Souq. At the end of the Bab Sharqi street, one reaches the House of Ananias, an underground chapel that was the cellar of Ananias's house.

The Umayyad Mosque, also known as the Grand Mosque of Damascus, is one of the largest mosques in the world, and one of the oldest sites of continuous prayer since the rise of Islam. A shrine in the mosque is said to contain the head of John the Baptist.

Kashmir Valley

The Kashmir valley region is famous for it picturesque natural beauty and among other things is known for its Dal Lake that reflects the surrounding snow-capped mountain peaks. Among the most interesting attractions in the region are the Mogul Gardens, the floating vegetable and flower markets and the unique experience of staying on a houseboat. The Valley is known for its fresh apples and the intricate embroidery stitching that is done on the traditional warm kurtas, for both, men and women.

Kashmir is very popular for its golf courses. Tours and travel to Kashmir can be a beautiful experience for those who spend time viewing the floating vegetable and flower markets. These take place in secluded tree-lined canals.

The Dal Lake is perhaps the most important and picturesque tourist destination in Kashmir. It is very popular for its shikara rides and houseboats.

As far as handicrafts are concerned, Kashmir is very popular for its carpets and wall hangings. Kashmir is known for its pashmina and cashmere scarves. Kashmir in the ancient times was the seat of Buddhism. Besides Buddhism many faiths have taken birth and have flourished in the Kashmir region.

Kashmir has a rich cultural heritage. The ancient work of art, Rajatarangini, is an account of the rulers who have ruled the region over a period of 4000 years.

Among the important pilgrimages in Kashmir are Amreshwar, popularly known as Amarnath, Sureshwar, Tripreshwar, Hareshwar, Jeshteshwar, Shivbuteshwar and Sharda Saritshilla.

The Kashmir valley is known for its fresh apples and the intricate embroidery stitching that is done on the traditional warm kurtas, for both, men and women known as phirans. The Kashmir valley has been known since the ancient times as the valley of flowers. A Mughal emperor used the phrase, paradise on earth, to describe the Kashmir valley. The valley is known for its tall chinar trees and snow capped peaks. The famous Mughal Gardens are located on the banks of the Dal Lake and are a must visit for any one who visits Kashmir. The Dal Lake in the Kashmir valley is of course known for its floating houseboats. Tours and travel packages to the Kashmir Valley region offer special options for those interested in staying on the houseboats.

pompeii

It is my opinion that Pompeii is the most important archeological site anywhere. Almost every other ancient urban site is simply the remains of a ghost town, long ago deserted by its citizens who carried away with them everything of value. Prior to the eruption of Vesuvius, Pompeii was a thriving city. Then it was buried with so little warning in 79 A.D. that Pompeii was literally frozen in time.
If we want to know details about what life was like in a Roman city during the first century, I think by studying Pompeii we can get the very best perspective with the least speculation. We can understand how the privileged rich man and the ordinary slave lived from day to day in the Roman Empire during the time when Christianity was beginning to spread throughout the Mediterranean. A better understanding of life in Pompeii, a city with both Roman and Greek influence, can help us to better understand many of the writings of the New Testament.
Thanks to the United States Navy, I was stationed near Pompeii in the mid-1980's. My wife Jeannie and I visited the ruins of that ancient city many times. Our first tour was conducted by Tony d'Ambrosio, then a professor of archeology at the University of Naples, now the director of excavation at Pompei. After studying everything I could find about Pompeii, I served as an amateur guide for many friends and relatives.
The slide show and commentary provided here will give you a glimpse of what you would see and learn if I could personally escort you around the streets, villas, temples, theaters, baths, shops, and forum of Pompeii. As a bonus, I've also included photos of many items from the National Archeological Museum of Naples where most of the treasures of Pompeii are housed. If you're interested, you should check out some of the many books and Web sites from which you can learn lots more than I'll be sharing with you here.
If you're planning to visit Pompeii, perhaps this virtual tour will help prepare you for what you will experience there. If you've already been to Pompeii, maybe you'll learn something new from my perspectives. If you're likely to never make it to see Pompeii for yourself, I truly hope your time spent at this Web site will educate, enlighten, and inspire you.