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Sanctified
by Faith
Omkareshwar,
the sacred island, shaped like the holiest of all Hindu symbols,
'Om', has drawn to it hundreds of generations of pilgrims. Here,
at the confluence of the rivers Narmada and Kaveri, the devout
gather to kneel before the Jyotirlinga (one of the twelve throughout
India) at the temple of Shri Omkar Mandhata. And here, as in so
many of Madhya Pradesh's sacred shrines, the works of Nature complement
those of man to provide a setting awe-inspiring in its magnificence.
The
island comprises two lofty hills and is divided by a valley in
such a way that it appears in the shape of the sacred Hindu symbol
'Om' from above. Between the precipitous hills of the Vindhya
on the North and the Satpura on the South, the Narmada forms a
deep silent pool which in former times was full of alligators
and fish, so tame as to take grain from human hand. This pool
is 270 ft below the cantilever type bridge constructed in 1979.
The bridge has enhanced the scenic beauty of the place, making
it look exceedingly picturesque.
Places
to visit
Shri
Omkar Mandhata
The temple stands on a one mile long, half mile wide island formed
by the fork of the Narmada. The soft stone of which it was constructed
has lent its paliable surface to a rare degree of detailed work,
of which the frieze figures on the upper portion is the most striking.
Also intricately carved is the stone roof of the temple. Encircling
the shrine are verandahs with columns which are carved in circles,
polygons and squares.
Siddhnath
Temple
Siddhnath
Temple
A find example of early medieval Brahminic architecture. Its unique
feature is a frieze of elephants carved upon a stone slab at its
outer perimeter.
24
Avtars
A cluster of Hindu and Jain temples, remarkable for their skillful
use of varied architectural modes.
Satmatrika
Temples
6 km from Omkareshwar, a group of 10th century temples.
Kajal
Rani Cave
9 km from Omkareshwar, this is a particularly picturesque scenic
spot, with a panoramic view of the broad acres and gently undulating
landscape that stretches in unbroken harmony till the horizon.
Access
By
Air : The nearest airport is Indore (77 km) connected by regular
flights with Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal and Gwalior.
By
Rail : Nearest railhead is Omkareshwar Road (12 km) on the
Ratlam-Khandwa section of the Western Railway
By
Road : Omkareshwar is connected to Indore, Ujjain , Khandwa
and Omkareshwar Road by regular bus services
Best
Season : July to March
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