Omkareswar, Narmada River Boating

Omkareswar

Narmada River Boating

Also see: Familiarization (FAM) Tour of Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Omkareshwar is a river island located in the middle of the Narmada River roughly at the mid point of its source in Amarkantak and its sea mouth in Baruch. The island measures 4 km in length and 2 km in breadth and houses two lofty hills.

Boating in Narmada River, with Omkereshwar Island in the Background, Omkereshwar, Madhya Pradesh

When viewed from the top it appears to form the sacred Hindu symbol of Om and hence the name Omkareshwar. A sacred Hindu pilgrimage it houses one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and plays an important role in Narmada Parikrama, a pilgrimage consisting of a arduous trek along the bank of the Narmada River.

Rajwada, Maheshwar Fort, Abode of Ahilya Bai

Rajwada, Maheshwar Fort, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Abode of Ahilya Bai

Also see: Familiarization (FAM) Tour of Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Ahilya Bai is second to none in valour, sagacity and eminence. Nobody can equate her in these matters.

Nana Phadnavis

Statue of Ahilyaa Bai, Rajwadaa, Maheshwar Fort

The massive Maheshwar Fort stands on hill overlooking the Narmada River on the south. The stupendous walls of the Maheshwar Fort rises straight out of the Narmada River to a height of more than 30 meters.

The Maheshwar Fort dates back to antiquity and there are no clear evidence of its first construction. The fort as we see today was conceived during the reign of Ahilya Bai Holkar (1767 – 95).

Ahilya Bai, was the daughter in law of Malhar Rao Holkar, the founder of Hindu Maratha dynasty of Holkar, who ruled central India from Indore.

Ahilya Bai was born in 1725 in the village of Chondi in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Her father was Mankoji Shinde, a village chief. Unusual for the time he tought her daughter to read and write.

According to legend one day Malhar Rao Holkar, while passing through the village of Chondi spotted the 8 year old Ahilya Bai.

Pleased with her beauty and personality he brought her home as a bride for her son Malhar Rao Holkar. They were married in 1733. Ahilya Bai become a widow in 1754, when her husband Malhar Rao Holkar, died during the siege of Kumbher.

Rewa Kund Group, Mandu, Baz Bahadur’s Palace and Roopmati’s Pavilion

Rewa Kund Group, Mandu

Baz Bahadur Palace and Roopmati’s Pavilion

Eternal Love Story of Baz Bahadur and Roopmati

Also see: Familiarization (FAM) Tour of Madhya Pradesh (MP)

The Rewa Kund Group, consisting of Rewa Kund, Baz Bahadur’s Palace and Roopmati’s Pavilion is located at the southern end of the Citadel of Mandu in Madhya Pradesh (MP).

L: Baz Bahadur and Roopmati enjoying a horse ride, C: Both riding in the moonlight, R: Attack of Mandu by Akbar’s army (Source: Wikinedia Commons)

The most enchanting and romantic of the Mandu groups is the Rewa Kund Group. It stills speaks of the legend of Baz Bahadur and his consort Roopmati. The stories of the love affair of Baz Bahadur and Roopmati make up some of the most enchanting folk lores of Mandu.

Cenotaph Complex, Maheshwar Fort, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Cenotaph Complex, Maheshwar Fort

Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Also see: Familiarization (FAM) Tour of Madhya Pradesh (MP)

The massive Maheshwar Fort stands on hill overlooking the Narmada River on the south. The stupendous walls of the Maheshwar Fort rises straight out of the Narmada River to a height of more than 30 meters.

Panoramic view of the southern facade of Maheshwar Fort, from the ghats of Narmada, Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

The Maheshwar Fort dates back to antiquity and there are no clear evidence of its first construction. The fort as we see today was conceived during the reign of Ahilya Bai Holkar (1767 – 95).

Jal Mahotsav, Hanuwantiya, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

A Paradise for Adventure Lovers

Also see: Familiarization (FAM) Tour of Madhya Pradesh (MP)

The third edition of Jal Mahotsav is scheduled on 15 Oct. 2017 – 02 Jan 2018

For booking contact: M.P STATE TOURISM DEV. CORPN.LTD.“CHITRAKOOT”, ROOM  67, 6TH FLOOR, 230-A, A.J.C.BOSE ROAD, KOLKATA 700020TEL:033-2287-5855/2283-3526

Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) in order to boost tourism in Madhya Pradesh (MP) organized the first ever water festival in the country Jal Maotsav.

Jal Mahotsav, Hanuwantiya, Khandwa District, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

The 10 day long Jal Mahotsav (जलमहोत्सव) began on 11 Feb. 2016 and was held at Hanuwantiya or Hanumantiya (हनुमंतिया), in Khandwa district. Hanuwantiya is a small village on the banks of Indira Sagar of one the largest lakes created by damming the Narmada River.

A Panoramic Tour of Madhya Pradesh (MP)

Compilation of Panoramic Photos from Amarkantak, Pachmarhi, Bandhavgarh, Jabalpur, Omkareshwar, Maheshwar. Hanuwantiya and Mandu

Also see: My collection of Panorama Compilation

Panoramic photography is a technique of photography, using specialized equipment or software, that captures images with elongated fields of view. It is sometimes known as wide format photography. Panorama photos are normally shot by stitching  series of photos with sightly overlapping fields to create a panoramic image.

This blog post contains panoramic photos from Amarkantak, Pachmarhi, Bandhavgarh, Jabalpur, Omkareswar, Maheshwar, Hanuwantia (Jal Mahotsav) and Mandu of Madhya Pradesh (MP).

Amarkantak

Amazing mix of old and new temples

Amarkantak, the source of the Rivers Narmada and Son, is a important pilgrimage for for both Hindus and Jains.

Narmada Kund Temple, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh (MP)

No wonder Amarkantak has innumerable temples and still newer ones are being constucted. Thus the ancient pilgrimage offers an interesting mix of old and new temples.