India 2017 (Madhya Pradesh) - Amarkantak

Amarkantak is a small pilgrimage town at a hight of about 1050m in the Maikal hills on the border between Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. Though it is an important pilgrimage site to Hindus the town and its temple complex maintained a calm and pleasant atmosphere.

Within the temple area more than 20 white temples are grouped around a reservoir of water called Narmada Kund. There is an outlet for the water build in the style of a mouth of a cow (Gao Mukh) into a ritual pond where the pilgrims may take a bath in the holy water.

Narmada Udgam

Narmada Udgam is the central temple complex in Amarkantak, home to the goddes Narmada Devi and its water reservoir Narmada Kund, spring of the river Narmada - the sixth longest river in India (1300km) flowing west through the states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat into the Arabian Sea.

The river Narmada is also one of the most sacred rivers in India and considered to be the embodiment of the goddess Narmada Devi. A bath in its waters will relieve the believer of all sins. Some even believe just to take a glance on its waters will do the trick.

Ancient Temples of Kalachuri

Just next to the temple complex Narmada Udgam situated within a well kept garden area is a group of temples from the 6th century CE called "The Ancient Temples of Kalachuri".