Chennai, the soul of southern India, situated on the Bay of Bengal is much more than just beaches.
The city imbibes the culture and tradition of the South,and has a completely different vibe to that of any other metro cities in India which makes it a very desired destination to visit.
It’s an ideal tourist destination for any age group and it welcomes you with open arms. Temples, beaches, museums, malls, parks, Pattu sarees - Chennai has it all.
It plays host to over 12 very famous temples of southern India, the Kapaleshwar temple in Mylapore and Madhya Kailash temple close to Adyar, to name a few.
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The Kapaleshwar temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva where his consort Parvati is worshipped in the name “Karpagambal”. The temple’s architecture is completely influenced by Dravidian culture and was built back in the 7th Century.
Chennai is also home to one of the oldest temples in Tamil Nadu, the Marundeeshwar temple built somewhere around 50 BC. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, this temple is majorly worshipped by people suffering from ailments. It’s name alludes to this practise - “Marundh” in Tamil means medicine. The temples spreads over an area of 1 acre and has a magnificent 5-tier gopuram.
Parthasarthy temple for Lord Krishna is a landmark you shouldn't miss. Ii was built for “Parthasarthy” meaning “Charioteer of Arjuna”, as we all know from the famous Indian epic Mahabharata. This is known to be one of the oldest structures in Chennai, built in the 8th Century.
The Navagraha Temple was built during the Chola period. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to the “Nava Grahams” or the nine planets.The deity worshipped here is Lord Shiva, although by different names in various temples.
The Astalakshmi Temple, situated on the shores of Besant Nagar beach in Chennai is dedicated to the 8 forms of Goddess Lakshmi, the partner of Lord Vishnu, and the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The structure of the gopurams mimics the internal structure of the temple as well, where it's split into different levels. The view of the temple is breathtaking and a treat for photography enthusiasts.
The list of must-see temples in Chennai is incomplete without the Kalikambal Temple. This was built in 1640 AD after the original temple was destroyed by Portuguese invaders. The architecture of the temple, especially the gopuram, is replete with intricate and colorful sculptures and carvings.
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Temples in South India, especially Tamil Nadu have a different vibe and energy. The sanctum santorium, gopurams, entrance of the temples were all built keeping in mind its scientific energies and purpose.
The land of Kanchivaram Pattu sarees, one of the finest silks in India, is Chennai. Whether you happen to be a lover of mother nature or an admirer of architecture or just a shopaholic, Chennai gives you a 100 reasons to fall in love with it.
AirAsia is now connecting 2 of the most spiritualistic cities in India - Chennai and Bhubaneswar.
Bhubaneshwar, Odisha’s capital, is one of the top tourist places in India, with a history that goes back to over 2000 years. It is home to over 700 temples and is situated on the Mahanadi Delta. It is also famously known as the “temple city of India”, and showcases a diverse ranges of heritage resources.
Bhubaneshwar is the home of Lord Shiva, the city was named after him; “Bhubaneswar” is derived from the name “Tribuneshwar”, meaning “lord of three worlds”. Most of the temples in Bhubaneshwar were built between the 8th and 12th centuries AD.
Two cities with such similarities, yet so different in the culture, language and ethnicity, signifying India at it's best - unity in diversity.
Here are some of the temples you must see in Bhubaneshwar:
The Lingaraja temple built in the 11th century out of sandstone has a spire that is 180 feet tall with 64 small shrines.
Many temples built from sandstone are not situated around the Hindu Sagar lake in the old city. The Rajarani Temple is as unique as the name itself. It has no deity associated with it. You might think that this is associated to a particular king or queen. On the contrary, it gets its name from a variety of the sandstone with which it is made. It’s also called as the “Khajuraho of the East” because of its erotic sculptures and ornate carvings.
The next temple is rather a scary one as described by the locals. The Yogini temple is one of the 4 yogini temples in India. The inside walls of the temples are carved with 64 yogini goddesses.A unique feature of this temple is it’s missing roof. Early mornings are the best time to visit this time as the fog comes in and gives the temple a surreal feel.
The Brahmeshwar temple is situated close to the Lingaraja temple and has exquisite architecture. The use of iron beams across the temple is a first and ceilings carved with lotus and iron motifs make it a lovely sight.
The 34 feet tall Mukteshwar Temple is a petite and one of the smallest temples in Bhubaneshwar. However it makes it to the list of must visit temples because of its stone archway. The ceiling with lotus petal motifs and lion head motifs are similar to that of the Bhrameshwar temple. Mukteshwar, meaning freedom, is a temple dedicated to the lord giving freedom through yoga.
Apart from Hindu temples, Bhubaneshwar is also home to Buddhist and Jain temples that are famous for Kaligan architecture.
The present city is a modern, happening place with top class infrastructure and is one of the emerging cities for IT in India. Bhubaneshwar, similar to Chennai, has a warm tropical climate as they are both located on the coast. Bhubaneshwar, Puri and Konark are known to form the “golden triangle” which, combined, are home to over 500 temples.
Connecting these two diverse cities, AirAsia is enabling you explore India like never before for awesome fares.