Thursday, November 3, 2016
Sopara Stupa Site aka Ancient Buddhist Stupa and Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir are both located a couple of KM's away from each other in Nala Sopara near Mumbai.
Remember Fathima, she had accompanied me to Chinchoti waterfall, had informed me about the Stupa at Nala Sopara. I immediately started my research to gather more information on the Stupa and historical places around it which can be seen in a day's time. Click on Chinchoti Waterfall to read about it.
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| Statue of Buddha at Sopara Stupa Site |
Remember Fathima, she had accompanied me to Chinchoti waterfall, had informed me about the Stupa at Nala Sopara. I immediately started my research to gather more information on the Stupa and historical places around it which can be seen in a day's time. Click on Chinchoti Waterfall to read about it.
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| Nala Sopara Railway Station |
We decided to explore both the Stupa and Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir located a couple of Km's away from it in a day's trip.
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| Excavation at Sopara Stupa Site |
We met a Nala Sopara Railway station on the western line. Headed out on the western side and boarded a sharing rickshaw costing Rs.20 each to Gass Road. From there we decided to walk it out to both the Stupa and the Mandir.
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| Excavation at Sopara Stupa Site |
The directions to the Sopara Stupa Site and Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir are tagged on google maps. I
After walking for around 15 minutes we reached the Stupa. The Stupa can be reached by travelling on the Wagholi Naka Road. There is a rickety and rusted hoarding in blue, outside the Stupa informing you of its history.
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| Stupa at Sopara Stupa Site |
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| Stone Carving of Buddha at Sopara Stupa Site |
The Stupa can be explored in ten minutes. There is an idol of Buddha placed near a small hump in the middle of the premises. The idol of Buddha is worshiped, as we saw a scented sticks placed near it. There are a couple of stone carvings placed near it.
The small hump is actually the Stupa. Around the Stupa a couple of square and circular shaped artifacts were also excavated. These were initially underground.
There is this small structure near the Stupa. It was a small carving of Buddha on it.
A little bit of history. The historical name of Sopara was Shurparaka. The Stupa was constructed by a trader named Poorna around 2500 years ago. This Stupa was inaugurated by Gautham Buddha himself. The excavation of this site was carried out in 1882 by historical investigator Pandit Bhagwandas Indraji. A lot of artifacts were found, not sure where they are right now.
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| Fathima and Me |
There is this small structure near the Stupa. It was a small carving of Buddha on it.
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| Information on Sopara Stupa Site |
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| Diya Stand at Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir |
After exploring the Stupa we headed off to see the Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir, which is around 20 minutes away (walking) from the Stupa. The Mandir is on the Bolinj-Sopara Road just opposite the Chakreshwar Talav aka Lake.
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| Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir |
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Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir premises
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The old Mandir is located behind the newly constructed Mandir. Outside the Mandir are boards placed. This is the Akkalkot Swami Math and there is the samadhi of Mayuranand.
The Math is constructed or supported with a wooden beam. It has a tiled roof above it. The temple premises is neat and clean.
There is a blue colored diya stand near the Mandir premises. It was quite impressive. Another impressive and big diya stand is the one at Shankaracharya Mandir in Vasai.
The Math is constructed or supported with a wooden beam. It has a tiled roof above it. The temple premises is neat and clean.
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| Stone Carvings outside Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir |
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| Stone Carvings outside Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir |
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| Stone Carvings outside Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir |
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| Stone Carvings outside Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir |
There are plenty of old stone carvings in the compound of the temple premises. I am not aware of the names of the Gods on the stone carvings. I was most impressed by the statue of Brahma. This one is currently locked down in a grilled surrounding. They should have locked the other stone carvings too. As these are very valuable. The stone carvings brought back memories of my trips to the temple near the Tural Hot water Springs on the Mumbai Goa Highway.
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| Stone Carvings outside Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir |
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| Stone Carvings outside Chakreshwar Mahadev Mandir |
After exploring both the Stupa and the Mandir we headed over to Nala Sopara Railway station in a sharing rickshaw. Again a a cost of Rs.20 each. Just outside we decided to have some snacks in the form of Chinese Bhel and Vegetable Manchurian, dipped in Schewan sauce. Though spicy, I enjoyed the street food.
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| Veg Manchurian outside Nala Sopara Railway Station |
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| Chinse Bhel outside Nala Sopara Railway Station |
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