Murugeshpalya Lord Shiva Temple

This temple is situated in Murugeshpalya locality of Bangalore hence named after it.The temple is having a huge Lord Shiva's idol (approx 65ft tall) seeing which you will forget everything and start admiring him for a long long time.The idol is so adorable and is made up of cement and concrete.The temple premises is also having a huge Lord Ganesha statue and Navgraha temple and shrines,which you will see via some artificially made tunnel and crazy lights along the way.

The Lord Shiva is seating in Padmasan position on a lotus with the backdrop view of Kailash parvat

and river Ganga from his 'jata'.This statue is considered as one of the largest statue in India.

Here shivaratri celebration is very much grand and be ready to face huge crowd as well.The light decoration is so amazing and appealing that for once you may forget to even blink.

However on other times the darshan here is hassle free but this temple is much commercial.

Somehow you may feel at one or other point they are trying to grap money from your pocket.They will charge for keeping shoes ,for putting 108 coins,for capturing pics through camera  and for 12-linga's darshan as well.

Har Har Mahadev......Jai Shiv Shambhu

GANESHOTSAVA 'The mangal shubharambh of festive season'

Ganeshotsava or Vinayaka Festival or Ganesh chaturthi are the names given to the this Spectacular festival by the people of different states.Ganeshotsava is however celebrated in whole country with great enthusiasm but is mainly celebrated  with huge pomp and show in MaharashtraThe way of celebrating this utsav may differ state to state but everywhere feelings and the emotions related is the same.In most of places the celebration lasts for 10 days from ganesh chaturthi to ganesh chaturdashi.

Lord Ganesha is the vighnaharta(Obstacle remover),problem solver,lord of wisdom and judgement and is worshiped before starting any new work or any 'mangal karya'.

Ganesh Chaturthi is the first day of celebration.On this day lord ganesha statue is placed in Pandals/Mandapas and worshiped with huge pomp and show.The pandals are beautifully decorated by flowers,banana leaves,lights,lamps,garlands,mango leaves and even some pandals are designed and decorated based on some themes.

Many people also bought clay statues of Lord Ganesha at their homes and do worship at home too.
Few days before the celebration starts one can easily find so many shops for all the pooja stuffs and Lord Ganesha statue in every size .People used to prepare lord's favorite sweet dish 'Modak' and 'Motichoor ladoo' as prasadam.

There is also competitions for the best Pandals/Jhaki/Madapas of the year.Even its also the time for
cultural activities singing,dancing,tambola,orchestra and so on.Some people also do arrange the medical health checkups camps,blood donation camp and charity during this time taking care of the society.

The dhol,gulal-kumkum and dancing like anything at the time of welcoming the Lord ganesha to Pandals as well on the day of visarjan(immersion of the idol in water bodies) is the most awesome thing.
On the (Anant Chaturdashi)day of visarjan huge crowd is there taking the lord ganesha statue towards the water bodies and celebrating on the whole way with dhols and nagade.

All hindu festivals are lined up after the Ganesha Chaturthi say it durga pooja,diwali.
"Lal-Bagh cha Raja" is the famous Pandal in Mumbai here there huge crowd for darshan.From celebrities to common man everyone comes up to catch one glimpse of  Lord Ganesha in this Pandal.

All the Ganesha temples have lots of devotees for Darshan.In one of temple in Madhya Pradesh "Khajrana Ganesh Temple" people used to offers quintal of ladoos,gold ladoo and large number of coconut as prasadam. Its believed that wishes of people praying at this temple get fulfilled by Lord Ganesha's blessings.
Khajrana temple,Ashtavinayak temple,Siddhi vinayaka temple are some of the many famous temples of India having huge crowd of devotees on every Wednesday and on some special days like til chauth,Ganesha chaturthi.

Om GanGan Pate Namha!!!

Nandi Hills-Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace

"Nandi Hills" a wonderful place for one day outing/picnic about 65km away from Bangalore.Its is around 40km from BIAL(Bengluru Airport).Here you can enjoy the cycle riding and bike riding as well to reach the hill top.However some people also chose to reach there in nights and spent the night in cottage on the top of hill and enjoy the amazing sunrise amidst  wonderful cloudy weather.To enjoy the beauty of sunrise be there before 5:30am.This tourist spot is also having a very ancient shiva-parvati and nandi temple,Nandi Durg,Tipu's Drop(suicide point ;) ),garden and a few hotel-motel on the top of hill.

The scenic view and landscape around is so beautiful to enjoy from the height about 1450 mtr above sea level.The Bamboo tree house are also a point of attraction.

There is one parking area before the entrance gate to Tipu sultan's estate where all two wheeler,tempo traveler,buses are parked however the four wheelers are allowed to reach till the top of hill.One need to take ticket before entering the main entrance gate.

There are so many monkeys over there on top so beware of them because they are always ready snatch anything specially the food items from your hand.The scenic beauty can't stop you taking lots of photographs so be ready with full battery in cameras and space in storage card.The beautiful  clouds will increase your excitement level.

Horticulture department is maintaining one garden there.Eucalyptus tree along both side of roads seems they are welcoming you wide open.One small coffee shop is there right after parking which immediately fulfill the urge to have some hot drink in the chill weather .But conditions applied to enjoy the morning glory one needs to be there as early as possible.

On the way to Nandi Hills you may come to see locals with bunch of grapes in their hands
selling along both side of roads. This will definitely gonna raise your temptation.You can also visit some of the vineyards in Devanahalli(a small town on the way to Nandi Hills).Being there at the vineyard itself will be a good experience for anyone whether you take wine or not.

Bye and  get ready to plan next outing to Nandi Hills