The Most Beautiful Places to Visit in the Philippines

 

 

Philippines is located at the very eastern edge of Asia. It is also known for having world class islands and rock formations. By having 7,000 islands which divided in 3 mainly groups called Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are inhabited by the friendly locals and indigenous tribes.

The Philippines’ location on the Pacific Ring of Fire and close to the equator makes the Philippines prone to earthquakes and typhoons, but also endows it with abundant natural resources and some of the world’s greatest biodiversity.

                      

  VIGAN

 

Vigan is the best-preserve example of a planned Spanish colonial town in Asia. It was established in the 16th century. If you love historic places, Vigan is the best for you!

The bucket list of most tourists to do here is to take the Early Calle Crisologo walk. The best time to do that is probably before dawn. So get ready your cameras!

 

Maria Cristina Falls

This is the most popular falls in the Philippines which can be found in Iligan City. It is also declared the 2nd Highest Falls in the Philippines. It will captivate your heart for it’s enchanting beauty.

Aside from being a natural beauty, Maria Cristina Falls powers the Agus VI Hydroelectric Plant which provides the power supply for Mindanao among other plants.

 

 

Banaue Rice Terraces

The Philippines is rich also in land formations just like this 2000-6000 year old terraces had been curved to the mountains found in Apayao, Benguet, Mountain Province, and Ifugao. It covers a total land area of 251,778 hectares. 

It is also referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World“. The Rice Terraces had been built largely by hand with hand tools and with the help also of animal power. 

 

Tinuy-an Falls

The Philippines is also known for having many different kinds of majestic waterfalls. And one of them is Tinuy-an Falls. The Tinuy-an Falls is in Bislig City and is known as the “Little Niagara Falls of The Philippines.” It is one of the widest waterfalls in the country.

 

 

Oslob Whale Shark Watching

Another main attraction apart from having a breath-taking view, was swimming with the gentle giants, the whale sharks. The Oslob Whale Shark experience is rated as one of the best places to swim with whale sharks in the Philippines.

 

Chocolate Hills

Amazing and original made by Mother Nature. The Chocolate Hills that can be found in Bohol City, Philippines. The Hills are not only two but more than 1,268 cone-shaped hills. The Chocolate hills appear to be seemingly endless when you are at the top of Carmen Town. Many geologists found it strange because of it’s geological formation and the hills are spread over an area of 50 square kilometers or more and vary in size from 30 meters to 120 meters in height.

 

Siargao Island

This Island is known for its waves, so if you are a surfer. This place is the best for you! But even if you’re not a surfer, there are still activities that you can do here to enjoy your stay just like swimming in the pool of stingless jellyfish or paddle boarding.

 

Boracay

Boracay was famous for having superb long white sand beaches. Their facilities are available in different water sports activities like sailing, windsurfing, jet skiing, snorkeling and diving. The fun in Boracay doesn’t end when the sun sets, many bars and restaurants are serving drinks and foods until very late evening.

 

Puerto Princesa

Puerto Princesa is the capital city of Palawan. There are so many beautiful things and do in this tropical paradise, it can be your next adventure with your family and friends! One of the most famous adventures here was going to the underground river which was considered as one of the 7 Wonders of Nature 

 

ANJANEYAR TEMPLE – NAMAKKAL

ANJANEYAR TEMPLE – NAMAKKAL

About Temple:

Namakkal is famous for a life size Hanuman Statue (Anjaneynar) carved out of a single stone. The city lies at the foot of a huge rock, upon which there is a fort. The name Namakkal immediately brings to mind ‘Namakkal Anjaneyar’ – the temple of Hanuman at Namakkal. The idol of Hanuman is 18 feet or so in height, and stands under open sky. Opposite to the Hanuman is a temple of Narasimha.

 

 

THE GREATNESS OF LORD ANJANEYA:

It is said that Lord Anjaneya brought the Salakrama Hills from Nepal as instructed by his guru Narasimha Murthy and named it as Namakkal. The Lord presents Himself in Vishwarupa Dharshan with His hands worshipping in the open terrace, exposing Himself to natural calamities like flood, hot sun and storm. It is believed that He keeps on growing height wise. The people of Namakkal pray to the Lord for blessing them with good sense, health, boldness, success, wealth and fine speech.

HISTORY:

Ri Hanuman played a vital role in Lord Sri Rama’s kingdom. He had served Lord Sri Ram in all the ways, as a servant in personal life, as a Minister in political operations, as a knight in his military and etc., Hence, he decorated himself with silk cloths, gold and diamond ornaments and short sword suitable to all his roles and responsibilities. With the same dresses, jewels and decorations, Sri Hanuman came to Namakkal and serving the Lord Sri Narashima.

You could realize this by having Dharsan of Sri Hanuman in this temple. Sri Hanuman is decorated with golden Crown; big diamond Earrings, lengthy gold Garlands and Chains; Fingers decorated with rings; wrists decorated ornaments; Hip covered with golden belt; a short curved sword in right hand side of hip; ankles clubbed with gold rings; such a nice huge and beautiful deity of Sri Hanuman, we couldn’t see anywhere in this world.

One more specialty of this temple is as follows: Lord Sri Hanuman don’t like roof over him, would like to stay in open sky. In past centuries, many people tried many times to build roof for Sri Hanuman, but Lord Hanuman didn’t accept it. For one of the devotees, in dream, Sri Hanuman declared as follows: “My supreme master Lord Sri Narashimha stays inside cave. There is no roof for him as Hill is the natural roof by itself. Since, my master doesn’t have the roof, I don’t want to stay under the roof. Let me live in open sky and do the service for Lord Narashimha for ever”.

Pallava kingdom built many halls, compound walls and numerous stone sculptures in this temple, but couldn’t build a roof for Sri Hanuman. This is the proof that Lord Sri Hanuman didn’t allow to build a roof for him. Even ten years before, temple renovation completed with huge budget, but the square portion of where Sri Hanuman stands, left for open sky.

 

Devotees comes day and night and do worship to Sri Hanuman in all aspects. With the great Anugraham of Lord Hanuman, they get relief for all the problems. Devotees surrender to Sri Hanuman, who always takes care of his devotees with special attachment.

 

Devotees are coming from all over the World to have Dharsan of this temple. Devotees offer sacred tulasi garlands, sweet-scented betel garlands and flower garlands for decorating Sri Hanuman. Devotees offer milk, ghee, honey, sugar and nuts with full of devotion.

Some Image’s

 

 

SANGAMESHWARAR TEMPLE, BHAVANI

               

                   SANGAMESHWARAR TEMPLE, BHAVANI  

 

Sangameswarar Temple

 

NAME

Other names      :           Thirunana

Proper name      :           Sangameswarar Temple

 

GEOGRAPHY

Country            :           India

State                 :           Tamilnadu

District              :           Erode

Location            :           Bhavani

 

CULTURE

            Primary deity     :           Shiva

 

ARCHITECTURE

Architectural styles:        South Indian, Temple

 

SANGAMESWARAR ALAYAM

Sangameswarar alayam is a temple in Bhavani, in the Erode district, of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The temple was built at the confluence of Kaveri river, Bhavani river and ‘agaya gangai’, an invisible underground water source.

The temple was praised in old Tamil literatures Thirupugazh, Pillaithamizh by Thirugnanasambandar and Arunagiriyar, as Thirunana.

Sangameswarar alayam is a Tamil Nadu tourism spot and has a huge hall for social events, a beautiful river side garden, round boat ride, swim and bath area, and an elephant too. Here Kaveri river, Bhavani river and Amudha river join together. River Amudha flow as Antharvahini, just like Sarasvathy at Triveni Sangamam of Allahabad. The place is also known as Dakshina Triveni Sangamam. This place is also known as Padhuma Giri which is surrounded by Naga Giri, Veda giri, Sanga Giri and Mangala Giri.The temple is known as Kooduthurai by locals.

HISTORY AND MYTHS

Kubera, son of Vishrava was gifted an aircraft to visit Shiva temples across the country in recognition of his devotion to Lord Shiva. While he was flying near the river Cauvery Kubera was surprised to see a deer, tiger, cow, elephant, snake and rat drinking water near an Ilandhai tree on the river bank without enmity, to answer his wonder Kubera heard a voice from the sky saying it was a place where vedas visited, inhabited by gandharvas and advised him to worship the shivalingam under the iilanadhi tree.

The temples Ilandhai tree gives fruit on all season which was used for everyday puja even today. During the period of Chera Chola and Pandya’s there was a cave connection existed between Chidambaram and Sangameshwarar temple and puja’s are performed at same time in both temples.

The cow behind the Vishnu statue remains the harmony between Saivism and Vaishnavism. It was said from generations that every inch under the temple has one shivalingam.

In the year 1804, William Karo, a British Collector of Coimbatore district, visited Bhavani, camping in the Travellers' Bungalow. One night, when he was asleep, a small girl woke him up and got him out of the Bungalow. Once they were out, the Bungalow collapsed. Shocked by this incident, the Collector turned to thank the girl but to find, she wasn't there. The next day, the priest on duty informed him that it was Bhavani Vedanaayaki Amman, who saved his life. He bore three holes in the temple wall exactly opposite to Vedanaayaki Amman shrine and torched these holes to pray the goddess. He offered a gold plate to the goddess with his signature dated 11/01/1804. The holes and the gold plate are present even now and are taken care with caution.

INSIDE THE TEMPLE

Rock status of this temple represents the beauty of stone carving and the culture of the people. When water or milk poured on the two identical stone statues in font of ambal sannidhi- Hindu goddess, one smiles at you, while the other sheds tears at you. The temple got a precious Ambal statue, a Hindu goddess donated by a district collector during British period for saving his life. Of all the seven holy Shiva centers of the Kongu Region, Bhavani is known as Thirunana in script. The holy waters of Sangameswarar temple is known as Cauvery theertham, Surya theertham and Gayatri theertham.

SPECIALTIES:

 

Ø This is the temple that releases people afflicted with Naga- subjected to the anger of serpents. They make an idol of the Snakes and install it in the Vinayaga temple on the banks of the river Cauvery to quench the dhosha severety.

 

Ø Those having problems with the Planet Mars, if men, should tie a Mangal Sutra to a plantain tree and leave it in the river. Women perform pujas to Bodhi stick with leaves (Arasamaram) and leave it in the river.

 

Ø This is the place where rivers Cauvery, Bhavani and Amirtha (invisible) meet. People perform rites here to satisfy their departed elders.

 

Ø The other speciality in Bhavani is, that when dead bodies are burnt, the skulls do not scatter as generally found in yards of other places. Because it said that there are 1008 Sivalingas under the earth.

 

Ø For cure from high fever, people offer rice prepared with pepper and Jeeragam to the Lord and get cured.

 

Ø Besides the above prayer offerings, people also come here for removal obstacles to marriage etc.

 

Ø There will be heavy crowd here during new moon days and 18th of Adi Tamil month (July-August). Devotees offer pujas to Mother Cauvery with coconut, fruits, flowers, ear rings made of palm leaves, black pearls etc. It is a scene of great delight. Also those who bathe in the confluence spot of Cauvery and Bhavani rivers during the Solar and Lunar Eclipse attain salvation. They offer fine clothing to the Lord and the Goddess.

 

Ø It is also believed that performing pujas, offering donation for righteous causes ensure the devotee with manifold benefits.

 

Ø The Amirthalingeswarar in the temple is placed on a seat called Avudayar according to Saiva principles is a mobile one that can be removed and placed on the seat again. Men and women seeking boons for children take the Sivalinga, perform puja and walk around it for three times and place it back on the Avudayar. The Amirthalinga is in the southern entrance of the temple.

 

Ø The other names of the Lord here are, Alagesan, Sangamanathar, Maruthulingam. Vakreswara, Nattatriwara and Thirunannavudayar.

 

Ø The Goddess Vedanayaki is also known as Sangameswari, Bhavani Amman, Maruthunayaki and Vakreswari. It is said that the Four Vedas came into being on this soil only.

 

 

FESTIVALS:

13 days Car festival in the Tamil Month Chithirai (April-May) and this is the most famous of the temple attracting lakhs of devotees. Also on Adiperukku day, Amavasyas, especially Thai Aamavasya, eclipse days are devotionally followed in Bhavani temple bathing in the river and performing rites. Devotees from other states would be large in numbers during November and December months corresponding to Tamil Karthikai and Margazhi. Also special pujas are performed to the Lord and Goddess on English and Tamil New Year days, Pongal and Deepavali days.

 

More gallery