My Heritage Chronicles

Ranakpur - located in western Rajasthan between Udaipur and Jodhpur cities is famous for its magnanimous Jain temples from the 15th century carved in marble stone. The set of three Jain temples stands like a white pearl surrounded by dense forest and hills of the Aravalli mountain range. The Jain temples draw devout Jain pilgrims from across India and abroad including architecture and heritage enthusiasts. But apart from the Jain temple complex, there lies a lone temple just 350 meters from Jain temple complex which is much older and was built by the Maharana Mokalji - father of Rana Kumbha. This temple stands in the shadow of the grandeur of the Jain temples and is dedicated to Sun God - known as Lord Surya Narayan. The Surya Narayan temple is one of the few temples in India dedicated to the Sun god built in white limestone in Nagara style of architecture with a delicate ornamental work. The 13th-century temple built on a raised stone platform with no boundaries is managed by Eklingji...

Borivali is a coastal suburb of Mumbai located at the Northwest end. It is believed that the name Borivali comes from bushes of sweet berries called "Borr" in the local language that was found in abundance here. It was once a congregation of small villages called Eksar, Vazira, Shimpoli, Mandapeshwar, Kanheri, Magathane, Tulsi, etc sandwiched between two major erstwhile rivers, Poisar river & Dahisar river. Some say it was called "Berewlee" under British rule. Prehistoric era caves of smaller Mandapeshwar & bigger Buddhist center cum settlement of Kanheri stand testament to the rich heritage of this place. But apart from these caves, there are many ancient religious places as well as pieces of heritage scattered across nooks & corners of Borivali which makes this suburb of Mumbai worth exploring and knowing about interesting trivia around it. Borivali's most famous attraction is the well-preserved cave complexes of Kanheri, located deep inside the S...

The name Chakreshwar Mahadev doesn't ring a bell instantly and many may have never heard of it. But talk to archaeologists or heritage enthusiasts and they will speak highly of this temple. No one knows of the exact date of construction of the original temple but it is generally believed that it could be 1000 years old. The original temple is said to have been destroyed and plundered during the Portuguese rule of Bassein and the new construction is modern and utterly ugly. The treasure trove of sculptures and relics in the temple compound makes it stand out and an important heritage that needs to be preserved. So where is this temple? Chakreshwar Mahadev temple is located in Sopara village which we know today as Nalasopara. Sopara was also known as Shurparaka (city of brave), It was an ancient port city and a trade center with links to other ancient cities of the world like Mesopotamia, Greece, Rome, Africa among others, and an important seat of Buddhism. It gets a mention in Maha...