Sandeep Bohra Photographs

...the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world"...the list is never ending. This masterpiece of art by Leonardo da Vinci is also one of the most valuable paintings in the world & holds the Guinness World Record for the highest known insurance valuation in history at one hundred million dollars in 1962. It is presently on display at the Louvre Museum Paris and I got the opportunity of lifetime to visit this place in May this year.

On the ninth day of auspicious Navratri celebration, I bring you today the famous "Barahi Temple" of Devidhura. The temple is approx 100 kilometres from Kathgodam railway station and situated amidst lush green forest of oak and deodaar.  The temple is famous for its stone pelting fest which is held every year during Raksha Bandhan. These pictures were taken moments ago on my way back to my hometown. I  hope and believe that you have enjoyed this Navratri special. Jai Mata Di

The holy Mansa Devi temple is situated in Billav hills, a three kilometer trek from Haridwar Railway Station. Quick roapway facility is also available from Haridwar to Mansa Devi temple. Main entrance to Mansa Devi temple The temple is dedicated to Goddess Manasa, a form of Shakti and is said to have emerged from the mind of the lord Shiva. The literary meaning of "Mansa" is wish and it is believed that the goddess fulfils all the wishes of a sincere devotee. Rope way is also available from Haridwar to temple It is one of the three Siddh Peetha located in Haridwar the other two being Chandi Devi Temple and Maya Devi Temple. One can have a beautiful view of Haridwar and River Ganga from the temple. V These pics were taken on August 15, 2013 . A very good day to all of you.

Nainital, the world famous tourist destination got its name by the Naini Lake which which is one of the Shakti Peeths, or religious sites where parts of the charred body of Devi Sati (Parvati) fell on earth while being carried by Lord Shiva.  The spot where Sati's eyes (or Nain) fell, came to be called Nain-tal or lake of the eye. The goddess Shakti is worshiped at the Naina Devi Temple, known by locals as Naini Mata Temple on the north shore of the present day lake. This temple is one of the well known temple of Uttarakhand. These pictures were taken during my various visit to this place over the past years.

Garjiya Devi Temple is one of the ancient and most famous Devi temple in Nainital district located in the Garjiya village near Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, India, on the outskirts of the Corbett National Park.  It is a sacred Shakti shrine where Garjiya Devi (incarnation of Goddess Parwati) or Girija Devi is the presiding deity. The temple is situated over a giant rock in the the middle of Kosi River.   From the temple, one can have an eye catching beautiful view of Kosi river. The temple attracts thousands of devotees throughout the year but a noted fest is held every year during Kartik Poornima festival. These pics were taken in January this year. May Mata bless you all!

Kasar Devi is a village near Almora, Uttarakhand. It is known for the Kasar Devi temple, a Devi temple, dedicated to Kasar Devi, after whom the place is also named. The temple structure is almost 2000 year's old. The annual "Kasar Devi Fair" on Kartik Poornima is hosted here. The area is home to deodar and pine forests. It provides views of Almora and the Hawabagh Valley on one side and the panoramic view of the Himalayas on the other side. View of Mata Mandir from the path way. The area around this temple has enormous geomagnetic field. This is because this temple comes under the Van Allen Belt. Only Machu Picchu in Peru and Stone Henge in England have this kind of magnetic field. Thee causes behind the formation of this belt have been researched by NASA for the last two years. These pictures are from my last year's trip which happened in September 2016. 

This beautiful temple of Goddess Sheetala, also called Sitala (शीतला) is situated in the gateway of Kumaun, Haldwani in Nainital District. Just a few kilometres ride from Kathgodam railway station and you see this entrance gate at Ranibagh. entrance of Sheetla Mata Temple at main Haldwani-Nainital Highway Thereafter, a short trek amidst the forest leads you the temple of Mata Shitla. The path is beautiful and very well lit and well paved. Shitla Mata is an incarnation of Supreme Goddess Durga. Shitala literally means "one who cools" in Sanskrit and she cures poxes, sores, ghouls, pustules and diseases. Mata Sheetla The Temple Wall front view of main temple The temple commette has well maintained the area and there is greenery everywhere. This temple is not only a treat to inner self but also very picturesque to eyes. I got the opportunity to visit this place yesterday itself and here I  present you some beautiful memo

Kunjapuri Devi Temple is one of the Shakti Peeths of India. Located in Tehri District, this place is about 25 kilometers from Rishikesh in the main Rishikesh-Chamba Highway. Located at an height of 1676 mtrs on a hill, Kunjapuri Devi Temple presents splendid view of the surrounding area. According to Hindu mythology, the Kunjapuri temple is located where upper body of the Goddess  Sati was fallen. This temple is one of the 3 shakti peethas in Tehri District and was founded by Jagadguru Shankaracharya. The other 2 shakti peethas are Surkanda Devi temple & Chandrabadni Devi temple. These pictures are from my Kunjapuri Mandir trip of February 2015. Wish you all a happt Navratri. Jai Mata Di.

First of all, apology for being late today. Now, the Navratri special continues  and today I present you the famous Shakti Peethas of Hat Kalika of goddess Kali. This temple is situated in Gangolihaat town of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand. 'Haat Kalika Mandir' was chosen by Adi Guru Sankaracharya for installation of one of the Shakti_Peethas. It is believed that the Original Goddess Kalika Mata, which supposed to be in West Bangal, shifted her place form Bangal to Gangolihat.  This Temple is very famous all over India, specially among Indian Armed Forces. The goddess Mahakali is the designated goddess of the Kumaun Regiment.  I got the chance to visit this divine place on October 22, 2012 during Navratri time. May Mata Bless you all!!!

Today, I am starting "Navratri special" photo blog in my project 365. Navratra is a nine days festival of Hindus devoted to nine forms of Goddess Durga, the deity of power. The festival ends on tenth day with the celebration of Vijayadashami or popularly known as Dushera. Surkunda Devi Temple is around 2 kilometres hike from the road head. Day 1 begins with this famous temple of Devi Surkunda. It is a Hindu temple situated in Tehri District just an hour's drive from Mussoorie. It is at an altitude of about 10000 ft. And according  to popular Hindu legend it is one of the Shakti peeths of Devi sati whose head fell at the spot where the modern temple of Surkhanda Devi stands.due to fall of head part of sati its name became sirkhanda which in the passage of time called surkanda. One can have a 360 degree view of the surrounding hills from here and the place itself is very peaceful. Weather here is generally cold and sometimes even in the month