Christ the Redeemer is an Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ created by French-Polish sculptor, Paul Landowski and built by the Brazilian engineer, Heitor de Silva Costa. The Romanian artist, Georghe Leonida created the face of the statue. This colossal statue is 30 metres tall with a pedestal of 8 metres and the arms that stretch 28 metres wide. The statue weighs 635 metric tons and is situated at the peak of Corvocado mountain at 2300 ft. in the Tijuca Forest National Park. The statue, built between 1922 and 1931, has been listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World . It cost $ 250,000 to construct and has become a symbol of Christianity around the world. The initial idea for the statue came from some Brazilians who viewed and felt an apparent rush of Godlessness around them in the city and country around the beginning of World War I Heitor da Silva Costa looked at the angles of view from various points and along with designer Carlos Oswald, thought of Christ as the cross and his outstretched arms showing the redemption of mankind at the crucifixion. The structure itself had to be massive to be seen across the city. De Silva used soapstone for the statue of the Virgin Mary in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil and 120 years later, it was still standing. Six million stone tiles cover the statue of Jesus today. Even today it is more of a spectacle in the night overlooking the city with the lights on. During festivals and carnival, samba dancers and drummers go through the streets below with shirts of Christ in tribute to the statue. Lightning, wear and tear are problems the statue faces today with it receiving direct hits and chipping off fingernails and scraping off part of the back of the head. Its right arm points to the Ipanema Beach and the left arm points to Maracana, the largest football stadium in the world. There are 222 steps on the stairway to reach Christ the Redeemer. In October 2006, the Archbishop of Rio, Cardinal Eusebio Oscar Scheid opened a chapel to commemorate the 75th anniversary under the statue. The name was taken from the patron saint of Brazil Nossa Senhora Aparecida or ‘Our Lady of the Apparition”.

About 40 kilometers north of nasik is a stretch of the sahyadri mountains known as the ajantha satmala range . The average height of peaks here is about 4500 feet . The tallest ( around 4600 feet ) in the group is dhodap towards the centre of the range and saptashrungi towards the western side . Saptashrungi is well known because of temple àtop the hill dedicated to goddess saptashrungi .There are two routes to saptashrungi the first is via vani chandakpur on the nasik saputara road . The distance between nashik and vani via dindori is 39 kilometers while via pimpalgaon it is 51 kilometres .Going by this route means you have to climb up all the way to the top of the mountain . There are steps to reach the temple . An easier alternative is the road via nanduri village 14 kilometers after vani .Nanduri village is in the foothills of saptashrungi and a regular minibus service run by the state transport corporation plies from here to the top of the plateau .From the plateau it is a relatively easy half hour climb up 250 steps to the temple . The temple is situated within a slight hollow in the mountain and is not visible even from the plateau. The sight of hundreds of devotees from the very young to the very old making the long tiring climb up to this temple is very moving . The statue of the goddess is on top floor of this two storeyed temple . During the nine days leading up to dassera an annual festival is held and all routes to the temple are literally choked with devotees. Since the temple is at a height it affords a splendid view of the surrounding hills , While climbing down from saptashrungi near nanduri village the mohindri mountain with its gaping hole can be seen . Villagers say that after wining a fierce battle the goddess saptashrungi disappeared through the mountain leaving behind a gaping hole ! .The height of saptashrungi ensures that it has a cool climate through out the year . In winter it can get quite cold . It is possible to stay the night in the temple complex and arrangement for food can also be made here . This one place that is not only attractive to the devout but even to the ordinary tourist .

State : uttar pradesh . Important Temples : hanuman garhi , dashrath bhavan , kanak bhavan , ramjanmabhoomi , nageshwarnath mandir . Location: On the banks of the saryu river in the indo gangetic plain .Distances : 134 km east of lucknow , 209 km north west of varanasi , 166 km north of allahabad , 9 km east of faizabad . Route From Lucknow : NH28 to ayodhya via bara banki , ramsanehighat , rauzagaon , ronahi , and faizabad . Revered as the birthplace of lord ram the ramayana the brahmanda purana considers ayodhya one of hinduism’s six holiest cities . According to ramayana ayodhya was founded by manu who received it as a gift from vishnu . For centuries it was the capital of raghuvanshis believed to be descendants of the sun god . Lord ram was the dynasty’s most celebrated king . The buddha is said to have spent many summers here . Ayutthaya the ancient capital of siam ( thailand ) gets its name from ayodhya. The five jain thirthankaras were born here . Once the capital of the kingdom of koshala ayodhya glory had waned by 5th century ce . The temple to nageshwarnath the only one to shiva in ram’s city alone survived till the time of chandragupta vikramaditya ( 376 – 415 ce ) and helped him locate ayodhya .With the advent of mughal rule in india . Ayodhya retreated into anonymity. Many believe that when babar conquered north india in 1528 he issued firman ( order ) for construction of mosque here . In the 18th century the nawabs of awadh created a kingdom here and the founder of the dynasty sadat khan burhan – ul – mulk made ayodhya his capital. Later the nawabs shifted their capital to lucknow and ayodhya fell into neglect and ruin .Post independence politics brought ayodhya into limelight again . Sites of pilgrim interest are spread out all over ayodhya. Most places of interest can be covered on foot . To get to some of the ghats which are further off an auto is best but they usually run on fixed routes . You could also hire a cycle rickshaw or a car . 

Hanuman Garhi Temple : The most popular temple in ayodhya has an impressive exterior . The entrance is through an ornate gateway which is accessed by a gentle flight of 76 steps . The main temple contains the statue of anjani devi with bal hanuman seated on her lap . It is believed that all wishes if uttered before the shrine are fulfilled. 

Dashrath Bhavan : Located 100 m up the road west of hanuman garhi . This is a small peaceful temple to ram sita and lakshman. Next to the main shrine an enclosure houses a supine idol of hanuman . It is considered disrespectful to leave the temple without sitting down in front of the shrine for a few minutes .

Kanak Bhavan : Located 70 m north west of dashrath bhavan . An impressive palace temple dating back to 1891 this white ornate building is part of a huge complex which has shops an office a park and a dharmashala . Inside there are three pairs of idols of varying heights of ram and sita . People bring newly purchased goods for blessings here . During the shravan jhula festival ( mid june to mid july ) the deities are taken to the top of maniparvat serenaded in jhulas ( swings ) and later brought back to the temple .

Nageshwarnath Mandir : A small temple this is the only shrine in ayodhya dedicated to lord shiva . The story goes that kush lost his armlet while bathing in the saryu. It was retrieved by a nag kanya who fell in love with him . As she was a shiva devotee kush erected temple for her .

Ram Ka Paidi : Ayodhya’s magnificent ghats he ram ka paidi are its most impressive vista’s. The well laid out gardens on the embankments and the shimmering waters of saryu allow us a glimpse of how ayodhya must have been once . The clean waters beckon one to take a dip in them .Ram is said to have entered the river on his final journey to heaven at guptar ghat . His last rites are believed to have been performed at the swargadwar ghat . Boating in the river and strolling along the promenade are recommended. 

UNESCO World Heritage site since 1992 the ankor wat was built by suryavarman 2 between 1113 & 1150 over an area of 500 acres . Khmwr is the official language of cambodia & the temple is the expression of the highest order of the country & its genius in architecture. This temple is not only stunning but also incredible in detail. The towers the decorations and the refinements are hard to describe with a pen according to the first visitor there ( antonio de madelena ) . The temple was dedicated to the hindu god vishnu & later shifted to buddhism . It was intially drawn to represent mount meru which was the home of devas according to hindu lore . There is a huge moat covering the entire temple and its precise 90 degree angle for the entire site are nothing short of remarkable. Legends say that 300, 000 workers with 6000 elephants toiled for 37 years to build it and millions of slabs of sandstone were floated down the phnom kulen mountain range .

A scenic religious town jejuri is largely visited by pilgrims from neighborhood towns on most weekends and festive occasions associated with shiva . A lovely drive on a smooth road through lush countryside and small towns ideal for a tea break or an early breakfast of wada pav then a halt at a colorful bazar that marks the town .Shops essentially stock what pilgrims seek puja baskets , fresh flowers and heaps of turmeric the main offering to the presiding deity lord khandoba. It’s almost as if the entire town and its inhabitants are engulfed by a haze of haldi ( turmeric ) every deity stone sculpture the temple floor the pujaris dhoti , people clothes. As part of the offering devotees throw handful of turmeric powder into the air accompanied by loud chanting . According to legend shiva appeared as a turmeric plant to a group of shepherds and hence it is considered as an offering . Again the residing deity khandoba is often described as shining like gold and the sun covered in turmeric. A popular family deity in maharashtra, khandoba also finds mention in folk songs . His wives mhalsa and banai are also identified with shivas wife parvati and ganga . A flight of 350 steps lined with stone deepmala ( tall stone oil lamp holders ) lead up to the temple . It is a good idea to take a break during your ascent to enjoy the views of surrounding hills . Once at the top the vibrant yellow of turmeric everywhere and the deep red of kumkum will greet you as you enter the temple premises. The main doorway has a nagarkhana superimposed on it . There are long queues along the large courtyard of people waiting for darshan for those disinclined there are panoramic views and an opportunity to picnic outside the temple complex . A fortress like structure the shrine has 18 kamani ( arches ) and 350 deepmalas , a deepstambha in front of the temple and a rather imposing mandap an ornate devali styled nagara shikara is decorated with motifs , figurines of animals , deities and demi gods . The garbhagriha has two lingas one of khandoba and another of mhalsabai . The older of the two shrines in jejuri the ancient temple of kadepathar is peculiar for its two lingas . Getting to the temple involves a steep climb but you will be rewarded by breathtaking vista’s of the yellow flowers that dot the landscape. A few dhabas in the temple premises cater to tired visitors serving tea and snacks .