The Wonder that is India

The well-known Jaina site of Samosharan is deservedly a tourist attraction in Pawapuri not  to be missed. The place is home to a beautiful temple of white marble. It’s the place where  Mahavira delivered his sermon after getting full enlightenment. Samosharan has long since  been a place for religious pilgrimage.

Located in the state of Bihar, Pawapuri has existed as a place of spirituality for many centuries, and remains one of the most sacred sites of Jainism. Pawapuri’s claim to fame lies in being the place where the twenty fourth Tirthankar and founder of Jainism, Mahavir, breathed his last at the age of seventy two.   Image source According to a legend, the present tank in Pawapuri came into being as a result of removal of the soil following the great demand for Lord Mahavir’s ashes after his cremation by his devotees. Today Jalmandir, a beautiful temple of white marble in the centre of the tank, is a magnet for devotees and tourists. The focal point of any visit to Pawapuri is the Jalmandir. Located in the middle of the pool, Jalmandir is one of the holiest shrines in Jainism. It is the place where Mahavir was cremated. It is no wonder that the temple is a major pilgrimage destination for Jains from all over the world, as well as an increasingly popular tourist attraction. Pilgrims reach

St Paul’s Cathedral, Kolkata / image Credit A fine specimen of Indo-Gothic architecture modelled after the Canterbury Cathedral,  St Paul’s Cathedral in Kolkata is billed as one of the most important churches of India. Located east of the Victoria Memorial, the church houses the best stained glass window in the country. Built in 1847, St Paul’s Cathedral underwent redesigning and reconstruction after the damage to the structure in 1897 earthquake.

St. John’s Church, Kolkata / Image credit   Built in 1787, St. John’s Church is one of the oldest Churches in Kolkata. Its 174 ft-high stone tower has earned it the nickname ‘The Stone Church’.  Within the precincts of the Church is the tomb of Job charnock, traditionally associated with the foundation of Kolkata. Another highlight of St. John’s Church is home to 2 hundred year old exquisite painting depicting the Last Supper, by 18th-century German neoclassical artist Johann Zoffany.