Full Stop India

Many of South India’s famous temples are massive complexes with droves of visitors pouring into multiple entrances day or night. This can be an intimidating sight to a new tourist of India. But Sri Chamundeswari Temple is surprisingly intimate, accessible, relaxed and yet still very interesting. Just minutes (13 kms to be exact) from the [...]

Picturesque views, challenging trekking, wildlife refuge…just a few reasons tourists are drawn to Sarahan. But the main reason travelers venture off Highway 22, up the forested slopes nestled between the Sangla and Pabbar Valley, is to see Bhimakali Temple. Once a palace of the Rampur Bushahr kings, the twin wooden towers of the present day [...]

For those tourists running the monastery circuit of Himachal Pradesh, far in the northern reaches of India, Norbulingka Institute might be something to consider. This crafts training and cultural institute is open to foreigners interested in learning more about Tibetan history and culture. Although not a working monastery, the property is fashioned with similar architecture and does house a temple on site.

The small town of Thirupparankunram, 6 km southwest of Madurai, lies behind the sacred granite hill where visitors must climb 500+ stone cut steps to reach the hill top temple. Hindu mythology considers this place as one of the six sacred abodes of Murugun, the son of Shiva. This granite hill was the site of [...]

Located several kilometers from the villages of Chettinad, a region in Central Tamil Nadu known for its pottery, tilework and unique spicy foods, lies an Ayyanar temple. To say this destination is a temple doesn’t fit the traditional model of what tourists come to expect. Nor the rules of Hinduism. Vedic laws state a complete [...]