My Heritage Chronicles

Most countries have their own traditional style of wrestling. In India mud wrestling also known as "Kushti" is more than 3000 years old traditional Indian sport. Traditional Indian wrestling isn't just a sport but a subculture where wrestlers used to live and train under their guru known as Ustad in the "Akhara's" and followed strict rules on everything including what they eat to what they do in their spare time. The focus was on living a pure life, building strength, and honing the skills. Drinking, smoking, and sex was off-limits for the wrestlers who used to stay in the Akharas.  Wrestling akhara's also got a mention in the Mahabharata Epic, Legendary wrestler's in Mahabharta included Lord Krishna, Jarasanga, Bhima, Lord Hanuman, Krishna's brother - Balarama and there were many more who were masters of this sport. Kushti was a sport that holds great importance in Indian society in the past but today with the adoption of western culture...

Delwara is a gem nestled in the Aravali mountain range some 40 minutes' drive from Udaipur. A town of temples and gods. Delwara historically guarded one of the three main routes into Udaipur, It was one of the 16 districts or rajwadas in the Kingdom of Mewar and was ruled by the Jhala dynasty - Dukedom of Mewar.  The town not to be mistaken with Dilwara temples which are close to Mount Abu has earned the name  "Devkul Paton Nagari" which means the town of the gods. True to its name, the town boasted about 1000 temples out of which 400 were Jain temples. The fact has seen even today where every street in the village would have at least 1-3 temples. Delwara along with other villages like Nagdha and Aayad was one of the main centers of learning and culture during the 15th century, What remains of the town today is just 25% of what it was once upon a time. My visit : Delwara was on my to-do list ever since I had planned to visit Nathdwara - The abode of Shreenath...

Yana: Nestled in Sahyadri mountain range of western ghats, surrounded by forest near Kumta - Uttar Kannada lies this unusual karst rock formation called Yana rocks and a cave underneath. About 60 kms from Karwar port, 40 kms from Sirsi and 31 kms from Kumta these rocky sentinels of Yana are a tourist attraction today, reached by a small hike of 1.5 kms in scenic and evergreen forest from Kumta side or 3 kms from side of Sirsi. Yana shot to fame after being portrayed in Kannada movie "Nammoora Mandara Hoove". Bhairaveshwara Shikhara Mohini Shikhara Though there are total of over 60 rock formation in the entire region but nothing huge as compared to two massive rock outcrop known as Bhairaveshwara Shikhara & Mohini Shikhara. Bhairaveshwara shikhara is around 390 ft in height while Mohini Shikhara is smaller at 300 ft. Yana is also a pilgrimage center because of cave temple below Bhairaveshwara hillock where a "Linga" has been formed due to water d...