Garuda Temple at Koladevi ©Sangeeta Venkatesh 

One of the most popular articles on my website is the piece on the Vainatheya Temple at Bindiganavile, where I get a number of visitors everyday. I had written that the place was also famous for the fact that this is the only temple where there is a separate sannidhi for Garuda. In all other temples, Garuda … Continue reading Garuda Temple at Koladevi ©Sangeeta Venkatesh 

Kolaramma Temple, Kolar ©Sangeeta Venkatesh 

You would have previously read my pieces on the Koti Lingeshwara Temple, the series on the Mulbagal Temples, the Ramalingeshwara group of temples and Avani Betta, all of which are in the vicinity of the town of Kolar. However, we missed visiting the Kolaramma temple dedicated to the goddess and presiding deity of Kolar, which … Continue reading Kolaramma Temple, Kolar ©Sangeeta Venkatesh 

Soumyanatha Swamy Temple, Nandalur (Pearls Across Pennar Series) #Day 2 #Part5  ©Sangeeta Venkatesh 

After a beautiful darshan at Tallapaka, our next stop was at the Soumyanatha Swamy Temple at Nandalur which is a mere 15 minutes drive. The temple is situated near the Cheyyuru River ( a confluence of the Bahuda River and Punch River) in the Kadapa district. The presiding deity is Lord Balaji in the divine … Continue reading Soumyanatha Swamy Temple, Nandalur (Pearls Across Pennar Series) #Day 2 #Part5  ©Sangeeta Venkatesh 

 Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami at Devuni Kadapa & Temples at Pushpagiri (Pearls across Pennar Series) #Day 3 (Part 2) ©Sangeeta Venkatesh

Devuni Kadapa is a part of Kadapa City and is also known as Patha Kadapa, meaning Old Kadapa. The name "Devuni Kadapa" is derived from the word gadapa, which means 'doorway' or threshhold'. The pilgrims who wanted to visit Tirumala. Tirupati had to first visit the Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami Temple in Devuni Kadapa, and hence the place got its name. It is … Continue reading  Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Swami at Devuni Kadapa & Temples at Pushpagiri (Pearls across Pennar Series) #Day 3 (Part 2) ©Sangeeta Venkatesh

Siddavatam (Pearls across Penna Series) #Day 3 (Part 1) ©Sangeeta Venkatesh

Reaching Siddavatam: Day 3 saw us getting up early (7 am) to drive towards the Siddavatam Fort, Rajampet, from Kadapa, where we had stayed overnight. It was built in 1303 AD by the River Pennar and indeed epitomized the 'Pearl of Pennar' trail. This is the right time to visit the fort before the sun … Continue reading Siddavatam (Pearls across Penna Series) #Day 3 (Part 1) ©Sangeeta Venkatesh

Breathing life into stones – the Allagadda Stone Sculptors ©Sangeeta Venkatesh

Pearls Across Penna Series (Day 3) Kadapa to Allagada, 1 hr 15 minutes Stone-craft in India has perhaps ‘carved’ a niche for itself- no pun intended. With a rich tradition of stonework, as is evident from temples whether it is Khajuraho, the Dilwara temple, Halebid, Belur, or Rameswaram, the list is endless. And behind these … Continue reading Breathing life into stones – the Allagadda Stone Sculptors ©Sangeeta Venkatesh

Photo-essay of Pench – World Wildlife Day March 3rd ©Sangeeta Venkatesh

Much has been written about the Pench National Park by other travellers. So I will keep it simple. We travelled from Ramtek to Pench and since we were arriving late evening, we were happy to check in quickly at the Tathasthu Guest House to get some rest before the early morning safari that was scheduled. … Continue reading Photo-essay of Pench – World Wildlife Day March 3rd ©Sangeeta Venkatesh

Sojourn with San is ‘Winner’ at the Orange Flowers Awards – 2023 (Instituted by the Women’s Web)!

Every year Women's Web - a leading digital media tech company that serves as a valuable platform allowing women digital creators to tell their story, hosts the 'Orange Flower Awards'. I have been associated with them since February 2019, and this was my first article that I published with them, where I reviewed the Oscar … Continue reading Sojourn with San is ‘Winner’ at the Orange Flowers Awards – 2023 (Instituted by the Women’s Web)!

Sumrux: Krupa Seetharaman is trying to get people to love preloved !

In an earlier post, I had given an introduction to the ills of Fast Fashion and why Sustainable Fashion is the way to go. In this video, Shailaja Rangarajan, Founder of Rimagined, also tells us in detail the magnitude of Textile Waste and the burden it is causing to the Earth. The statistics are staggering and the waste … Continue reading Sumrux: Krupa Seetharaman is trying to get people to love preloved !

Maha Shivaratri Special – A collation of some Shiva Temples of India ©Sangeeta Venkatesh

On Maha Shivaratri, I am collating few articles on this blog that features essays on Temples of Lord Shiva. Hope you enjoy and savour the read on this auspicious day/ night. The following article features the Koti Lingeshwara Temple in Kolar. https://sojournwithsan.com/2021/10/21/counting-the-shivalingas-at-the-koti-lingeshwara-temple-sangeeta-venkatesh/ 2. Close to Kotilingeswara Temple is the stunning Ramalingeshwara Temple at Avani Betta. … Continue reading Maha Shivaratri Special – A collation of some Shiva Temples of India ©Sangeeta Venkatesh