Splendid Sand Art by Sudarshan Patnaik

Twenty two year old Sudarshan Patnaik was the first to introduce “Sand Art” form on the beach in India. The striking sand art and sculptures shaped by Sudarshan Patnaik on Puri Beach have been widely cherished by people across the world. The sculptures are shaped based on different concepts. People in large number visit Puri to take a glimpse of the magnificent and splendid art by Sudarshan. Puri, also known as “Abode of Lord Jagannath”, is a place 70 kms away from Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Orissa State, India.

Siripuram Golden Temple at Vellore

The glorious ‘Golden Temple’, in which the Goddess “Mahalakshmi” is the main deity, was constructed on 100 acres land with a blooming landscape at Siripuram village in Vellore district, Tamil Nadu. This architectural marvel in gold was built by hundreds of goldsmiths and craftsmen from Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam. It took around six years to complete the entire structure. Even the central chandelier was made of gold. With 36 pillars around, the temple with Rajagopuram resembles the Tirumala temple. Except the walking area, the entire structure, with intricate carvings and sculptures has been plated with gold. With the lighting arrangements that were made, the temple glitters even more during nights. The messages of ‘Amma’ and quotes from Bhagawad Gita, Bible and Quran are displayed on either side of the pathway. That makes the people not just to admire the ‘Golden Temple’, but to carry some messages and to gain some wisdom.