The oldest optical illusion in the world is in Tamil Nadu’s Airavatesvara Temple. The rishabha-kunjara (bull and elephant in Sanskrit) carving from Chola architecture is said to be 900 years old. In the carving, a bull and an elephant share the same head. The bull is Nandi, the sacred vehicle of Lord Shiva, while the elephant, Airavat, symbolizes the divine mount of Lord Indra, the king of heaven. The temple, located in Kumbakonam, was built by Rajaraja Chola II and is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list of Great Living Chola Temples.

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I consider myself privileged to have been able to travel to so many remote and unexplored places, especially of religious significance, which are totally uncharted. One of them is the Kiramchi Temple in Udhampur (Jammu & Kashmir) which lies hidden in the lap of the Pir Panjal mountain range. It is believed that the Pandavas stayed here for some time during their exile. The untouched beauty of the Kiramchi Temples will surely leave a deep impression on any new visitor. They are so secluded that most people may not have even have come across their names.

From Udhampur, you can reach the temple by car, and be master of your own adventure on the unfamiliar road. It can be a joy for people who love trekking. You will enjoy the scenic euphoria of the place by reaching there through the winding tracks, and get a truly mesmerizing panoramic view.

One afternoon, my husband and daughter made a plan to visit the temple, as many of our friends who had cycled and trekked to the temple were all praises for it. We drove in our spacious Mahindra Marrazo to this small village that lies 12 kms north of Udhampur on Udhampur Lander Road, about 67 kms from Jammu.

Reaching Kiramchi village, we parked our car on the main road as ahead was an unfinished road. We started walking towards the temple on meandering tracks. Along the hill we could see the rivulet Birunala flowing down. On reaching the temple premises we had to buy tickets costing Rs 5 each. What surprised me most was that due to Covid-19, we had to procure our tickets online, and that too in this remote and offbeat place!

Nature was at its best in and around the temple premises, which reminded me of a quote that I had heard: “No place can be better than this temple; no heaven can be better than this temple. Whoever visits Kiramchi Temple shall find peace.”

The temple premises are believed to be over a thousand years old. The Kiramchi complex consists of five temples and two small shrines. The group of temples is also known as the Pandava Temples. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), they were constructed during the 8th or 9th century. The valley amidst green mountains is located at an elevation of 730 metres above sea level. Two rivulets, Birunala (also known as Bhutesvari) and Kiramchi, drain the area.

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