Stories from the Road and beyond...

When we think of terracotta temples, we think of Bishnupur in West Bengal. Never did I imagine that I would visit terracotta temples in Jharkhand, on my very first visit to the state! Jharkhand, as a state is just around 25 years old. The state was carved out of Bihar in the year 2000. The name ‘Jharkhand’ means ‘land of the forests’, and forests and tribals are what we associate most with this state. While the idea of exploring the forests of Jharkhand sounds interesting,

The Vaital temple is one of the oldest temples in Bubaneshwar, dedicated to the goddess Chamunda. There are some beautiful sculptures of various forms of Shiva, the goddess as well as Surya

The Parasurameshwara Temple at Bhubaneshwar is a fascinating temple built by the Pasupata sect. It has some amazing sculptures of various forms of Shiva and the goddess.

The Yogini Temple at Hirapur is an unique temple to different forms of the goddesses

2 lesser known ancient goddess temples in Odisha near Konark - Varahi Temple and Gangeshwari Temple

A quiet gem on the outskirts of Varanasi, the Kardameshwar Temple offers a rare glimpse into ancient Hindu architecture that has largely faded from Kashi’s landscape. Set beside the serene Kardama Kund and adorned with evocative sculptures of Shiva, Vishnu, and other deities, the temple stands as a timeless reminder of the city’s artistic and spiritual heritage.