Wat Chaimongkorn, Pattaya

Coordinates : 12° 55' 33.17" N 100° 52' 36.31" E

If you happen to be in Pattaya for whatsoever reasons, make sure you find time to visit this temple in heart of the city. There are idols inside which are offered gold foil coverings by devotees. You can also buy gold pendents from the priest inside the temple. The intricate architecture of the temple is done in gold, glass and tiles. The complex has another grand temple and a stupa inside.

Route : Fly to Bangkok and head for Pattaya.

Wat Saensuk - The temple of hell, Thailand

Coordinates : 13° 17' 51.80" N 100° 54' 43.50" E

About 60 kms from Pattaya in Chonburi province of Thailand, the small town of Bang Saen has the most unique temple where you can see lifesize sculptures depicting the hell. Hindu, Buddhist and other asian gods have been beautifully shown and the site also is home to tortoises which are more than 1000 years old. Head for the white sand beach and azure sea nearby.

Route : Fly to Bangkok and take a taxi to Bang Saen.

Kandolia Mahadev Van Vihar, Pauri Garhwal

Coordinates : 30° 8' 41.12" N 78° 46' 20.75" E

Where do you find God? In my opinion God is where the peace is and peace is where nature is at its best. Pauri Garhwal, a district headquarter in Uttarakhand is spread on Himlayan hills sloping towards Alaknanda valley. At the highest point of Pauri lies the Kandolia Mahadev temple and Forest department's Van vihar. Pine forest, swings and temple bells. Nice breath taking views of terrace farming slopes and a busy local market downtown.

Route : Delhi - Meerut - Kotdwar - Pauri | 8 Hours drive

Mahasu Devta Shrine, Hanol

Coordinates 30° 58' 14.28" N 77° 55' 39.10" E

Mahasu Devta Shrine is one of the paanch dhams of Uttarakhand. It is situated in Hanol under Dehradun district.

Route - Delhi - Yamunanagar - Paonta Sahib - Herbertpur - Vikas nagar - Kalsi - Chakrata - Tiuni - Hanol.

Ancient temples of Baijnath, Kumaon, Uttaranchal

Coordinates:

29° 54' 25.61" N 79° 36' 54.78" E

We had left Kausani in morning hours for Gwaldam and after a nice descent through the pine forests we hit a river bridge. The place was surrounded by terraced fields of the locals and just across the bridge I saw this easily recognigeable blue white board of Archeological Survey of India. We stopped, parked our car and followed the direction. To our surprise we found ourselves at one of the most ancient temples of India - The temples of Baijnath. The shikhara of the main temple is gone with the time, but still the architectural aspects of the temple are still testimony to its glorious past.

Lying in the Katyuri valley, 19 km away from Kausani and 26 km from Bageshwar, is the ancient town of Baijnath. The temple holds significance because, according to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva and Parvati were married at the confluence of River Gomati and Garur Ganga. Dedicated to SivaVaidyanatha, the Lord of Physicians, the Baijnath temple is actually a temples’ complex built by the Katyuri kings with the idols of Shiva, Ganesh, Parvati, Chandika, Kuber, Surya and Brahma. The main temple that houses a beautiful idol of Parvati is chiseled in black stone.

Approximately 525kms from New Delhi. Suggested route Delhi - Moradabad - Kathgodam - Ranikhet - Kausani - Baijnath.