Sreehari Girish class 7 SST subject enrichment activity flip-flap book

Social science subject enrichment activity Devotional paths to divine India’ s top 5 pilgrimage Centers

The City of Thousand Temples – Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu is one of the seven sacred places in India wherein the people can attain moksha, as per the Hindu religion. Every temple in Kanchipuram is a fascinating element of architecture. Among the most revered temples of Kanchi three major ones are mentioned below: •Kamaksstronghi Amman Temple: Goddess Kamakshi is one of the manifestations of Goddess Parvati. Unlike her other idols which are in standing position, the enchanting idol at Kamakshi temple is sitting in Padmasana- a yogic sitting posture. •Ekambareswarar Temple: This shrine of Lord Shiva is also the largest among all the temples in Kanchipuram. The main lingam of the Ekambareswarar temple is made of sand and is believed to be built by the Goddess Parvati herself. •Varadaraja Perumal Temple: It is one of the 108 temples of Vishnu (Divya Desams). This temple along with the temples of Kamakshi and Ekambareswarar are collectively called Mumurtivasam meaning home of the trio.

Khajuraho is a town in the state of Madhya Pradesh, which houses several temples built between 10th to 12th centuries. Spread across an area of 20 sq km, the monuments of the town are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The temples are built of sandstone and dedicated to the deities of Hinduism and Jainism. The temples are popular worldwide for the erotic cravings, which can be seen along with other cravings depicting the daily chores of life. It is believed that there were over 75 temples in the area but only 20 exist today. The temples have been divided into three zones – eastern, western and southern. The Western zone consists of the most famous temples; the largest temple of Khajuraho, Kandariya Mahadeva Temple, falls under this zone. An annual Khajuraho Dance Festival, celebrating classical dance forms of India, is held against the background of Chitragupta or Vishwanath temple in the first week of February every year.

Basilica of Bom Jesus is amongst the most famous churches in India. The church is around 300 years old and holds the remains of St. Francis Xavier. It is one of the finest examples of Portuguese influence as the edifice is done in signature Baroque style. The flooring has been done in marble, inlaid with precious stones, the altar is elaborate with gilded gold work, the murals and the artistic rendition are also worth the appreciation. The church has been declared as the world heritage site and also boasts of a museum. A large number of believers gather at the church when the preserved body of Saint Francis Xavier is put on display.

St Thomas is an important Christian pilgrimage in Kerala. The church is named after St. Thomas, the apostle who is believed to have spread the teachings of Christianity in South India. It is among the old churches in India and dates back to 52 AD. It is also believed that church was built by St. Thomas himself, thus it has been declared as an international pilgrimage spot by the Vatican. Since it is on the hill top, climbing the hill, it offers a great experience to the worshipers to get to the church and pray.

The Cheramaan Juma Mosque is a mosque in Methala, Kodungallur, Thrissur in the Indian state of Kerala. A legend claims that it was built in 629 CE,which makes it the oldest mosque in the Indian subcontinent which is still in use. It was built by Malik Deenar,Persian tābiʿūn of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, on the orders of the successor of Cheraman Perumal, the Chera King of modern-day Kerala. The mosque was constructed in Kerala style with hanging lamps, making the historicity of its date claims more convincing. The mosque was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1504 when Lopo Soares de Albergaria attacked the port of Kodungallur. The old building was built some time after the 1504 de Algabaria attack (i.e., from mid-16th to the early 17th century). Modern corridors and halls were built in 1984. The 1984 extensions, which surround the old building, conceal almost all of the exterior features of the old building.

An exotic tourist destination built during the Mughal reign in India, Jama Masjid of Ajmer is located in Lohakhan Colony of Ajmer, Rajasthan. This grand mosque was constructed under the supervision of Shahjahan in 1638 as a sign of gratitude after his triumph in the battle against the Rana of Mewar. This 45m long mosque has 11 arches and bears Persian inscriptions on its walls. Built in pristine white marbles, this architectural marvel is divided into three parts. The prayer hall of this mosque is designed in a star shape. The mosque is close to the hallowed shrine of Khwaja Muin-ud- din Chishti Rahmatullah Alaih and is thronged by huge crowd during annual Urs festival.