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.All Trips / Asia / Sri Lanka
A Visit to the Koneswaram Temple, Trincomalee
For most of the late 20th century, Trincomalee was at the heart of Sri Lanka’s long, bloody Civil War. As you would expect, visitation to the area was limited and I’ve only been to the city once, this during my last visit to Ceylon. It’s one of the nicer communities in the country and has a beautiful setting along the Indian Ocean.
Located high on a rock promontory (known as Konesar Malai) is one of the biggest attractions in Trincomalee, the Koneswaram Hindu Temple (a.k.a Dakshinakailasha). The temple is built on an ancient Hindu site that dates to around the 16th century B.C. A temple has occupied the space since at least the 6th century B.C., and it’s long been a …
Tagged Hindu, Indian Ocean, Koneswaram Temple, Trincomalee
.All Trips / Asia / India
Visiting the Khajuraho Group of Monuments, India
Khajuraho is a co-mingled grouping of Hindu and Jain temples in Madhya Pradesh, India. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the temple collection is especially well-known for its erotic sculptures and architecture.
Most of the temples in Khajuraho were built between 950 and 1050 AD during the Chandela dynasty. It’s thought that the grouping consisted of 85 temples when the region reached its peak of activity in the 12th century; currently only 25 temples remain. These temples vary tremendously in size from tiny to enormous! The most visited temple, Kandariya Mahadev, has an area of about 6,500 square feet and a spire that rises 116 feet. The temples all face the rising sun and are built near water.
India …
Tagged Hindu, Jain, Khajuraho, temples, UNESCO World Heritage Site
.All Trips / Asia / Nepal
Swayambunath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
Swayambunath Temple, in Kathmandu, Nepal, is one of the most important sites in this ancient city. It is known as the “Monkey Temple” because of the large number of (mean spirited) monkeys that have all but taken over this complex (and are said to be “holy monkeys”).
Swayambhunath is an ancient complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley. Most approach it via a long uphill climb of 365 steps (one for each day of the year), past thousands of Buddhist prayer flags that set the atmosphere for the complex ahead. Each morning before dawn hundreds of Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims ascend these steps and begin a clockwise walk around the stupa at the center of this ancient site.
Swayambunath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
The Swayambhunath complex dates to …
