Muse the Place Drass Valley

Drass Velly

Ladakh, the far flung Eastern corner of Jammu and Kashmir is India’s most remote place, a high altitude snow desert cradled by the Karakoram and Great Himalaya ranges. There is no other land like Ladakh. It is rich in natural beauty, sightseeing destinations and calm weather.   The valleys of Ladakh are the perfect destinations for the adventure activities and the best way to explore the beauty of the ranges. Most of the valleys give you a break to explore monasteries and Gompas. To enjoy the pristine and calmness of the valley, I decided to explore the valleys personally. My journey included the beautiful Drass valley.

Nurtured by the Drass River which rises in the Machoi glacier near the Zojila Pass, the enchanting Drass valley is situated at an altitude of 3230 m. this cold valley starts from the Zojila Pass, the Himalayan gateway to Ladakh. As I stepped into the valley, I noticed the carvings of a king and 2 women on the pillar. The pillars bore some inscriptions in the old Brahmi script. The valley is inhabited by Dard Stock which is an Aryan race. Drass experiences the lowest temperatures in the valley, it is said to be the 2^nd coldest inhabited place in Asia. Drass is famous for the Kargil war which was fought in 1999. Rugged landscapes, adventure buffs and trekking cliffs are some of the main attractions in Drass valley tour.

Drass Valley Trek

This valley is the world famous trekking site; it offers a number of small and long trek routes to the tourists. The 3 day long trek to Suru valley across the sub range separating the two valleys is the popular Drass valley trek. The trekking tour passes through some of the most splendid upland villages and crosses Umbala pass offering a scenic view of meadows and flower valleys. Some of the must visit attractions in Drass valley travel are Tiger Hill- The highest peak in this area known as Point 5353.  

It was subject to the 1999 Kargil war; it is a strategic route way and connects Srinagar to Leh in Ladakh. I also visited the Kargil war memorial- a memorial built in pink sandstone and has an epitaph commemorating the sacrifice of the soldiers. A war gallery known as the Manoj Pandey art gallery showcases weapons and artillery recovered from Pakistani forces. With not much to explore further, my tour had ended. Overall my trip to Drass valley was snow bound and quite chilly but has left a scintillating experience with its grace.

Crystallizing chaos Khajuraho Temples

Adinath Temple Khajuraho

A historic city widely acclaimed for its lovely temples, Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh is located in the woody plains of Bundelkhand region. The city has been rightly called as the symbol of medieval heritage. The appealing temples of Khajuraho present a wonderful blend of architectural and sculptural sheerness, representing one of the preeminent examples of Indian Art.  I also had always wanted to witness the grandeur and delicacy of the temples and planned for a Khajuraho tourism.

The temples at Khajuraho are a brilliant example of medieval architecture built under the later Chandela Kings between AD 950 and AD 1050.  The temples are divided into various categories namely Western group of temples, Eastern group and Southern group of temples. My temple tour started with visit to Adinath temple; richly ornamented with frail and pretty sculptures, this temple is dedicated to the 1^st Jain tirthankars, Adinath. The temple is constructed in the form of lime plastered masonry, showing arched doorways. Constructed in the form of ‘sapta rath’ with the passage of time only the sanctum and the corridor roofs of the temple have survived. The walls are decorated with beautifully carved images and postures of court musicians.

The next temple was Parsvanath temple. It is the largest Jain temple in the Eastern group; the temple features intricate stone carvings and sculptures enshrining a throne facing a bull emblem that represents the 1^st tirthankar. Next on the itinerary was Chitragupta temple; dedicated to the Sun god, it is one of the venues for the Khajuraho dance festival. The temple features a massive 5 feet tall deity in the inner sanctum driving a horse drawn chariot. The Chaturbhuj temple located in the southern side of the complex is the only important temple that faces west.

Parsvanath Temple Khajuraho

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the temple is so named because of idol of the presiding deity Vishnu has 4 arms. The temple has a huge cross shaped congregation hall that caters to devotees of Krishna Bhakti cult. Lotus emblem and other symbols provide the delicate exterior ornamentation. Indeed the Khajuraho tour of sacred temples is one of the most illustrious symbols of native Indian structure signifying religiosity, patronage and creative professional and visual feelings.