My Weekend Odysseys

Gyaraspur - One name which many may not have heard of unless you have some association with Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh. Its is situated around 35kms from town of Vidisha on Vidisha - Sagar road. The name it seems was derived from a fair which is held at the eleventh month of Hindu calendar hence the name Gyaras and pur meaning a small town. Irony is most don't even know that there is a statue of lady called " Shalabhanjika " kept at Gujari Mahal museum - Gwalior which is considered a matchless beauty by many historians and experts. The statue is called as Indian Venus or Monalisa statue in stone. It was discovered in Gyaraspur. History: The Kachhapagatha dynasty ruled the North West parts of Madhya Pradesh during the 10th and 12th CE. They are assumed to be progeny of the Nagas and were the vassals of Gurjara - Pratiharas and later of the Chandelas of Central India. This dynasty contributed much to art and architecture and many temples were built under their patro

UDVADA - This coastal town lies 200kms from Mumbai and around 8kms from NH8. This town is renowned for Zoroastrian Atash Behram or the holy fire which has been burning for over 1250 years. This place of worship is the oldest still functioning example of its kind. Udvada is to Parsis what Mecca is to Muslims, Kashi for Hindus and Vatican for Christians. Not many would be aware that Udvada Atash Behram (Holy fire temple) is one of the nine Atash Behram worldwide (four are in Mumbai, two in Surat, one in Navsari and one in Udvada), The only place outside India is in town of Yazd in central Iran.  Legend has it that during the Muslims conquest of Iran in 7th century marginalised Zoroastrians fled to Indian sub-continent to preserve their diminishing culture and populace. It is said that they first landed on shore in small beach village of Nargol from where they settled in Sanjan and over the years due to changing political situation moved places and finally landed in Udvada. The j