The recent unveiling of Swami Vivekananda’s statue in Seattle, WA makes America home to not only the growing Indian immigrants community but also their revered ideals, like Dr. Ambedkar. The United States hosts North America’s largest Dr. Ambedkar statue which was unveiled in October 2023 in Maryland. Located in a 13-acre memorial center near the US capital, the 19-foot statue further democratizes the nation by sharing space with the Statue of Liberty and the Statue of Freedom in the East Coast.

The world’s largest Ambedkar statue outside India is the primary attraction in the ongoing Dr. Ambedkar Memorial Center project in Accokeek City of Maryland, about 20 miles from Washington DC. To be built for $1.5 million, that is a mere 1% of the total cost of the world’s largest BAPS Akshardham Temple, the Ambedkar Memorial, Maryland will memorialize the Indian visionary of the modern world and spread his ideals on the American soil, where many Indian immigrants including Kala Bagai have been subjected to racism.

A beacon of equality in the land of the American Dream, the statue of Ambedkar in Maryland depicts Babasaheb holding the Indian Constitution in his left hand. It is designed by India’s renowned sculptor Ram Vanji Sutar who breathed life into the world’s tallest Statue of Unity in Gujarat and India’s tallest statue of Ambedkar (108 feet) in Hyderabad, Telangana. The Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee also sculpted the 108-ft tall statue of Kempe Gowda at BLR International Airport, among 90+ sculptures in India, the US, France, Italy, Russia and other countries.

Other than the Statue of Equality to be unveiled in Maryland this October 14, the Dr. Ambedkar Memorial will feature Buddhist sculptures, a memorial hall, a residential center, a library, fountains, beautiful gardens, and a souvenir shop among the facilities and attractions celebrating the father of the Indian Constitution. If things fall in place as planned, the project will be completed in 2025.

Among the highlights of the Ambedkar Memorial near Washington DC is Buddha Garden featuring a 6ft Buddha statue as the Symbol of Peace and Humanity. The statue made of white marble will be seated against a replica of Sanchi Stupa. Buddha Garden, also known as the Garden of Enlightenment, will be adorned with sculptures, statues, and murals mirroring the Buddhist art and architecture. The garden will be landscaped with rocks whereon the spiritual lessons of Lord Buddha and Dr. Ambedkar’s inspirational quotes will be engraved.

Another attraction is a replica of the Ashoka Pillar harking back to the Mauryan era when propagation of the Buddhist ideology reached its zenith in India and abroad. A mile-long ‘wisdom trail’ meandering through the Garden of Enlightenment and featuring statues of spiritual reformers on both sides will take visitors on an enlightening walk. Nalanda Library, among the state-of-the-art facilities, will be designed as a treasure of Buddhist literary works and Babasaheb Ambedkar’s thought-provoking works for research enthusiasts from across the world.

In Maryland’s Dr Ambedkar Memorial, the main building spanning 3000 sq. ft will house innovative exhibits related to the life of Babasaheb, one of the founding fathers of India. Equipped with massive display screens and advanced sound systems for presentations, the building can accommodate 150 members during a conference or event. The memorial is envisaged as a ‘center for social change initiatives, learnings, cultural and economic developments, conferences, celebrations, and the propagation of Ambedkar’s philosophy throughout the United States’.

The post From Ambedkar Street to Ambedkar Statue in USA: A 13-Acre Memorial Center near Washington DC first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post From Ambedkar Street to Ambedkar Statue in USA: A 13-Acre Memorial Center near Washington DC appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

President Draupadi Murmu officially declared Amaravati as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh 12 years after the foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Soil and water from 16,000 villages in the state, prominent pilgrimage sites from across the country, and some foreign countries were used for the foundation ceremony, attended by around 4 lakh people. Located between Vijayawada and Guntur, Amaravati is easily accessible because of its central location. The new Andhra capital has a great deal of economic, geographic, cultural and historic value. Travel Beats, your favorite Indian Diaspora portal, gives a sneak peek of Amaravati’s history and culture.

Andhra Capital Amaravati History: Facts

The history of Amaravati dates from the 2^nd century BC. If the 2000-year old history is believed, it was a thriving capital of the Satvahana Kingdom in ancient India just as Patliputra (modern-day Patna) was the capital of Magadh during the Maurya era. The rulers of the Satvahana dynasty were in power from 3^rd century BC to 2^nd CE between the Maurya and Gupta eras, which are considered golden times of India. Evidently, Amaravati has rich history for being the yesteryear capital city of the Satvahana Empire.

Amaravati traced its history till the fall of Nizams in the princely state of Hyderabad. After the fall of the Satvahana Kingdom, the Pallava Dynasty annexed the Krishna River valley where Amravati is located. Then the region was ruled by the Chalukyas and the Cholas subsequently till Amaravati was made part of the Telugu Empire by the Kakatiyas in the medieval times.

The rulers of several dynasties added to the history of Amaravati from the medieval times of India till the end of the Mughal era. The Delhi Sultanate, the Bahmani Sultanate, the Golconda Sultanate, the Vijayanagar Empire, and the Mughal Empire possessed Amaravati successively till the first Nizam of Hyderabad occupied it. Even Hyder Ali of Mysore possessed it for a brief period. Amravati was colonized by the French in 1750 and by the British in 1759, too.

Among the foreign pilgrims to ancient India, Chinese traveler and Buddhist monk Hiuen Tsang visited Amaravati in 640 CE.

Andhra Pradesh Capital Amaravati’s Cultural Facts

Being part of several different dynasties over centuries, Amaravati has a miscellaneous culture, rich and diverse. It used to have great cultural impact on the people of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra during the post-Mauryan period. The Satvahana rulers preserved Hinduism and patronized Buddhism with equal care. It enriched the culture of Amaravati with enlightenment and rationality.

Many historical facts bear a testimony to the Buddhist influence on the culture of Amravati in the bygone years. The valley between the Krishna and the Godavari River had been a prominent site of Buddhism since before the Satvahana rose to power. A stupa and a monastery were built when Ashoka was the Mauryan emperor in the 2^nd century BCE. It is said that the stupa at Amravati, measuring 50 meters in diameter and 27 meters in height, was one of the biggest Buddhist stupas in Andhra Pradesh. The panels carved on it depict the story of Lord Buddha.

The Andhra capital, Amaravati is known for its own school of architecture influenced by the Buddhist art and culture. The Amravati school of architecture has unique features, which is evident from the sculptural work on the Buddhist monastery of Amaravati.

According to art historians and art critics, the Amaravati art is among the major three ancient schools of Indian art. Many works of the Amravati art are preserved at the Government Museum in Chennai and the British Museum in London. The Southeast Asian arts including the art of Sri Lanka are found to be influenced by it.

Amaravati, a sacred confluence of religions

According to some sources related to ‘Vajrayana Buddhism’, Lord Buddha himself visited Dharanikota, a place adjacent to Amaravati, and preached there. If this legend is believed, the history of Amaravati dates back to the 500 BCE. After the Emperor Ashoka, the Satvahana rulers contributed towards developing Buddhist culture by building imposing stupas in the Krishna River valley.

The famous Amaravati Stupa is said to have been built in presence of presence of the great saint, Acharya Nagarjuna.  Besides, Amaravati is home to some Buddhist relics dating 2000 years back. Evidently, the upcoming capital of Andhra Pradesh is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists.

Amaravati is a seat of pilgrimage for not only Buddhists but also Hindus. It is home to several Shiva temples, of which the most famous being Lord Amaralingeswara or Amareswara Swamy Temple. That is why the new capital of Andhra Pradesh is also known as Amararamam.

Of the legends of Amaravati, one says that when the demon Tarakasura was killed, a shivalingam in his throat broke into pieces which fell out of his mouth in five different spots. The most significant of the five spots is Amareswara at Amaravati, and this is the place where Indra and the other gods are said to have worshiped Lord Shiva.

Jainism used to coexist with Buddhism and Hinduism in Amaravati during the bygone eras following the decline of the Satvahana Dynasty. Therefore, Amaravati is also known as ‘City of Tolerance’ or Sridhanyakataka. Being a center of pilgrimage for Hindus and Buddhism, Amaravati is also known as ‘Punyakshetra’ (holy land).

The nearest airport to Amaravati, the official capital of Andhra Pradesh, is Vijayawada International Airport (VGA). The new capital city is a 310-km road drive from Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. IndianEagle.com, your trusted travel-booking and air ticketing partner, books cheap flights from Dallas to Hyderabad, Vizag, Vijayawada, Tirupati, and the rest of India. 

The post It’s Official; Andhra Pradesh Capital is Amaravati: Interesting Facts of Amaravati History & Culture first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post It’s Official; Andhra Pradesh Capital is Amaravati: Interesting Facts of Amaravati History & Culture appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

Millions of Indians’ profound devotion to Lord Hanuman connects India with the US, other than airlines. America not only harbors Indian talent but also one of Indians’ favorite Hindu deities. Both the countries have hilltop temples and giant statues of Lord Hanuman in common, including the 90ft tall Hanuman Statue of Union in Texas. Indians in the US are now gearing up to install another massive statue of Hanuman that reached the Baltimore Port following a challenging voyage from India amid the ongoing Middle-East conflict.

Lord Hanuman, who is also revered as Visa God for granting visa boons to Indians aspiring ‘American Dream’, will soon get a new address in the DMV area. Carved from a monolithic granite rock, the 36ft statue from India will be consecrated to Hanuman as Vishwaroopa Anjaneya at Sri Bhaktha Anjaneya Temple in Maryland. The existing idol will be replaced with the massive statue under a rajagopuram (monumental canopy with intricate carvings, a salient feature of South Indian temple architecture).

At SBA Temple Maryland, the upcoming Vishwaroopa Anjaneya is the second tallest Hanuman statue in the US followed by the statue at Delaware’s Hindu Temple of Hockessin. Unlike the Delaware Hanuman statue blessing devotees with the right hand, the Maryland Hanuman statue has both hands joined in supplication. The Sankat Mochan statue in Delaware stands under the open sky, while a rajagopuram will be sheltering the Vishwaroopa Anjaneya statue during adverse weather in the east coast.

Transporting the 36ft statue to Baltimore from the carving site in India had been a logistical challenge and a Herculean task. A specially designed heavy truck with 100 wheels transported it from the carving site in Karnataka to the port of departure. Since the Vigrah was classified as a “super load”, shipping from India to the US took a few months due to hefty expenses, delayed clearances, and a number of approvals. The Sri Bhaktha Anjaneya temple website has a note, “We are deeply grateful to the State of Maryland, Baltimore City, state police, safety inspectors, state bridge authorities, and state structural engineers.

In the last week of March 2026, Vishwaroopa Anjaneya was transported from the Baltimore Port to SBA Temple at Ijamsville, Maryland by deploying heavy machinery and specialized teams for nearly $400,000. A grand welcome ceremony is scheduled on the first weekend of April – which devotees can attend only after successful registration through the temple website. The ceremony comprises Maha Pushpanjali (from helicopters), Suddhi Abhishekam, Padha Pooja, and Maha Annadanam.

• Suddhi Abhishekam: 4 April, 9 AM
• Pushpanjali: 4 and 5 April, 11:30 AM
• Padha pooja: 4 April, 11 AM to 7 PM | 5 April, 12 PM to 7 PM
• Maha Annadanam: 4 and 5 April, 12 PM to 3 PM

The post Vishwaroopa Hanuman Statue Arrives in USA from India; Indian Americans to Welcome It in DMV This Week first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post Vishwaroopa Hanuman Statue Arrives in USA from India; Indian Americans to Welcome It in DMV This Week appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

Temples – sacred places where faith in the divine flourishes and artistic creativity finds expression. Many Hindu temples in India are known to have existed since time immemorial, yet the genius of ancient Indians as evidenced in the design and architecture of these temples leaves us baffled to this day. Perhaps the fact that their painstaking perfection was unaided by any sort of advanced equipment known today, makes their creation even more charismatic.

Thousands of miles away from India and its great architectural heritage; Hawaii is home to a mighty Lord Shiva temple on the serene islands of Kauai. Untouched by modern-age construction technology and machinery, the San Marga Iraivan Temple of Hawaii is akin to ancient stone temples of India. It is said to be North America’s first temple architecture of white granite stone chiseled and carved with traditional hand-held tools preserving the ancient stone carving techniques in the process.

Hawaii Iraivan Temple: Inspired by millennia-old Chola Architecture 

Iraivan Temple, whose foundation stone was laid in 1991, has taken the shape of a beautiful Chola-style temple with architectural grandeur and intricate carvings over more than two decades. The 4-foot-thick foundation bearing this 3.2 million pound temple is made of a crack-free formula involving coal ash. The temple is designed with great precision of art, science and engineering so that it lasts one thousand years in the seismically active region of Hawaii. Moreover, the spacing within the temple, as guided by Vaastu Shastra, elevates the vibration of the place and you cannot help but feel mystified here.

Musical Pillars & Other Architectural Highlights

Elaborate carvings, sacred motifs, and amazing structures meet your eye at this temple. Two massive elephant sculptures stand at the entrance. As you go further, you can see a large stone bell, long stone chains, finely carved pillars, eight stone lion pillars that come with a rotatable stone ball in their mouth.

Huge sandalwood doors lead the way to the main sanctum, where 108 bronze statues of Nataraja in various dance positions are placed in dimly lit shelves surrounding the main Shiva lingam. One of the many stunning features of Hawaii’s Iraivan Temple is its two “musical pillars” encompassing 16 carved rods that produce classical Indian musical tones when gently struck with a mallet.

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and his vision of Iraivan Temple    

The seeds of Iraivan temple in Hawaii were sown in 1975 when American Hindu guru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami visioned Lord Shiva walking along the place where the temple sits today. This vision inspired his decision to transform the place into a pilgrimage site for Shiva devotees from across the world. He named the temple after an old Tamil word, Iraivan, meaning, “He who is worshiped.”

Soon, the directions were in place. The temple has been hand-built following the traditional temple architecture principles mentioned in Agama Shastra (an ancient Sanskrit text with guidelines for temple construction, worship, etc) and designed in such a way that it survives 1000 years or more. The design of San Marga Iraivan Temple, Hawaii, is credited to V. Ganapati Sthapati.

Also Read: This temple in USA to get 10 millions lingams from India

Construction began in the 1990s. Required amounts of stone were primarily quarried in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu regions and the handcrafting of white granite stones was done by 70 local sculptors in Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka. More than 4000+ carved stones were transported from Bengaluru to USA’s Kauai temple monastery, where craftsmen assembled them block by block.

Legend of Iraivan Temple’s 700-pound Shiva Lingam

Behind the intricately carved sandalwood doors of Hawaii’s Iraivan Temple is a rare 700-pound Shiva Lingam of quartz crystal (sphatik). Estimated to be 50 million years old, this sphatik lingam represents sky – one of the five elements called pancha bhuta. Legend has it that this sacred shiva lingam was found enclosed in mud, in its exact form and shape, by Sivaya Subramuniyaswami during his quest for it in Arkansas following his dream. This naturally formed lingam is anything unlike rock-cut structures created for worshiping purposes at temples.

This article is part of the series – Hidden Gems of America – by Indian Eagle, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indians and Americans. Travel Beats, a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, is a one-stop portal for US-India travel news, Indian Diaspora stories, and US visa and immigration updates. Subscribe to Travel Beats for more such stories.

Location of Iraivan Temple in Hawaii

The temple is a part of Kauai Aadheenam (Hindu Monastery), a 458-acre temple-monastery complex located on Hawaii’s Garden Island, i.e. Kauai. This vast property sprawls next to the serene Wailua River. As you approach the Wailua River, you can see the shimmering golden towers of Iraivan Temple rising against the backdrop of the lush green Mount Waialeale. The distance between this Hindu temple in Kauai and Mount Waialeale is around 8 km.

Hawaii’s Iraivan Temple is considered one of the most elaborate Hindu temples ever created in USA. Travelers are allowed to take a tour of Kauai Aadheenam and its temple. You can walk along the serene trails weaving through the monastery’s forests, unwind by a beautiful pond, and explore the architecture of this beautiful temple, which transports you back to ancient India’s Chola era when temple architecture flourished to great heights.

The post All about Hawaii’s Iraivan Shiva Temple with 320kg Crystal Lingam, Chola-style Architecture, Musical Pillars first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post All about Hawaii’s Iraivan Shiva Temple with 320kg Crystal Lingam, Chola-style Architecture, Musical Pillars appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

Amid the improving US-India strategic relations, India Gate – a landmark memorial in the heart of New Delhi – has become an inspiration for President Donald Trump to build an arch of triumph in Washington D.C. Recently, Trump took fancy to India Gate, praised the monumental architecture, and announced his plans to build the world’s largest triumphal arch in the US capital. The proposed monument is expected to commemorate America’s 250^th year of independence in 2026.

On Truth Social, a social media platform in the US, President Trump described India Gate as “beautiful triumphal arch”. His admiration quickly turned comparative when he added, “Ours will be the greatest of all.” He hinted at the absence of an arch-like war memorial in the US capital and proposed a new national monument. Needless to say, Americans went gaga over his plans. India Gate, a 138-foot-tall arch, commemorates 74,000 Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in the First World War.

Among the few Indian monuments inspired by foreign landmarks is Mayapur Chandrodaya Temple near Kolkata with its design modelled on the US Capitol building.

Reportedly, the proposed arch in Washington, D.C. could rise as high as 250 feet, aligning with the 250^th anniversary of July 4, America’s Independence Day. Trump wants the 250-foot arch to be the biggest and tallest of all ceremonial arches in the world, surpassing the 220-foot Monumento a la Revolución in Mexico City (the tallest arch, at present).

To be named the Memorial Circle Arch or Independence Arch, the monument could be a landmark on Columbia Island in Washington, D.C. The memorial traffic circle near the Arlington Memorial Bridge across the Potomac River could be the potential site for the world’s biggest arch in D.C. It would enrich the architectural landscape where the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument stand tall.

The article titled “Washington Needs an Arch” that a publication carried in April 2025 made Americans feel the absence of a monumental arch in the national capital. In October 2025, President Trump floated his idea of the arch and showed a model to reporters in the Oval Office before the beauty and majesty of India Gate catalyzed Trump’s urge to build a triumphal arch as a gateway to Washington D.C.

Triumphal arches have long been symbolic of a nation’s power, victory, identity, and imperial ambitions. Paris’ Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte, is often revered as the gold standard of ceremonial arches. Standing at about 164 feet, it remains an everlasting epitome of military glory and wartime history. It not only inspired the design of India Gate in New Delhi, but also Trump’s vision of Washington D.C. arch, “the biggest one of all” in the world.

The Washington D.C. Metro Area (DMV) is dotted with magnificent memorials honoring wars, presidents, and civil rights leaders. Yet, it does not have a traditional triumphal arch, unlike many global capitals. This is why Trump amplified the call to fill the long-standing gap in the nation’s capital with a 250-foot-tall arch that America, he said, waited 200 years for.

The post Inspired by India Gate, President Trump Calls for World’s Tallest Triumphal Arch in Washington DC first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post Inspired by India Gate, President Trump Calls for World’s Tallest Triumphal Arch in Washington DC appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

Other than the wealthiest temples, India is known for some of the tallest, largest and grandest structures in the world. Now, India is home to the world’s tallest Shiva lingam in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Eclipsing the tallest Shiva Lingam temples across the country, the Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple of Chenkal near Thiruvananthapuram has entered the Limca Book of Records and the Guinness Book of Records for its astounding 111.2 feet height and and 50-feet diameter in breadth.

Unveiled in February 2020 just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Shiva lingam of Kerala’s Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple is adjudged as the tallest Shiva lingam in India. It has already entered the India Book of Records for not only its height but also its unique cylindrical structure. Travel Beats, a leading overseas Indian community portal by Indian Eagle, shares some interesting facts about the Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple and the tallest lingam of Chenkal in Kerala.

Surprising facts about India’s tallest Shiva lingam

Since it was unveiled, the Shiva Lingam – which is equal to a 10-storey building in height – has been fetching attention from all quarters to the Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple of Kerala. The Shiva lingam is neither hollow nor stuffed a piece of sculpture like the erstwhile tallest shivlings in India. Rather, it is a piece of architecture in the form of cylindrical structure.

“The top of India’s tallest Shiva lingam in Kerala is accessible to pilgrims through eight floors inside the cave-like structure. Six of the 8 floors represent six energy centers in the human body. The top of the lingam features a larger-than-life replica of Mount Kailash (the Himalayan abode of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi) with snow-clad idols of the presiding deities. The inside of the lingam features several marvels,” said Sourav Agarwal, Senior Editor of Travel Beats. 

The pathway from the base to the top of the tallest Shiva lingam in Kerala is decked with eye-catching murals and statutes of meditating monks in a cave-like environment. The passage is designed and constructed in such a way so as to symbolize seven hills of Himalayas. The first floor of the lingam is consecrated to 108 Shiva lingams, where devotees can offer ‘abhishekam.’

India’s tallest Shiva lingam is a seat of meditation 

India’s tallest Shiva Lingam at Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple has become popular as a haven of peace and meditation. The cave-like inside of the lingam houses six meditation halls for pilgrims, devotees and tourists to meditate on human body’s energy centers. The topmost floor features a grand lotus with 1000 petals symbolizing ‘sahasrara chakra’ or pure bliss in terms of yoga.

The construction of Kerala‘s Sivaparvathi temple lingam began in 2012. It went on for 6 years. Water, sand, and soil from various holy places like Kashi, Gangotri, Rishikesh, Rameswaram, Badrinath, Gomukh, and Kailash were mixed with the construction materials. The 108-feet-high Shiva lingam at Kotilingeshwara Temple in Karnataka was the tallest in the country until the Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple of Chenkal unveiled the 111.2-ft-tall lingam in February 2020.

Reportedly, the temple authorities have approached the central government to confer the status of a national pilgrim center upon the temple where India’s tallest Shiva lingam represents spiritual energy preservation.

Maheswaram Sivaparvathi Temple of Chenkal is just a 45-minute drive from Thiruvananthapuram and a 6-hour road trip from Kochi. IndianEagle.com, the most trusted travel-booking partner of Indian Diaspora, books cheap flight tickets to Kochi from USA. Indian Eagle’s phone-only budget flight deals (available at +1800-615-3969 from USA) keep NRIs flying to and from India.     

The post India is Home to World’s Tallest Shiva Lingam with a Replica of Mount Kailash Inside; A Must Visit in Kerala first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post India is Home to World’s Tallest Shiva Lingam with a Replica of Mount Kailash Inside; A Must Visit in Kerala appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The fervour of building the world’s tallest statues has spread from India to America. After the beauty and enormity of America’s largest Hindu temple in New Jersey stunned everyone, the world’s tallest Lord Murugan statue is coming up in North Carolina. It is highly anticipated from the project details that the statue will surpass the height of not only North America’s tallest Hanuman statue, but also the Statue of Liberty. The 155-foot Murugan Statue project has gained a great deal of attention for its cultural significance and architectural scale.

North Carolina to home the world’s tallest statue of Murugan

North Carolina is an emerging spiritual destination for Indians away from India. The state is a second home to the growing populace of South Indian immigrants from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka where Lord Murugan – another name of Karthikeya – is highly venerated for wisdom, prosperity, success, and victory. Many Indians from the US and Canada take their visiting parents and friends to Somesvara Temple atop Mouth Soma, also known as Mount Kailas of America, in North Carolina. The Venkateswara Temple of North Carolina, with the tallest Gopuram in the US, is nicknamed the Tirupati Balaji Temple of East Coast.

Carolina Murugan Temple project details

The world’s tallest statue of Lord Murugan is being planned in Moncure in Chatham County, NC. 130 acres of land will be converted into a lush green, spectacular temple campus in phases. A short road trip from Cary and Raleigh takes to Moncure. The statue will be standing on a pedestal of about 35 feet in height and command an astounding height of 190 feet from ground to the top. This is a new project, not an extension of any existing temple.

Carolina Murugan temple and 155-foot statue: Key features

Apart from the statue as a central landmark, the Carolina Murugan Temple campus will be developed as a cultural hub and a spiritual hotspot.

• Main Sanctum for Lord Murugan: A traditional South-Indian-style garbhagriha where daily rituals, abhishekams, and special pujas will be conducted.
• Temples for Other Deities: Separate shrines for accompanying deities to support complete worship traditions in one campus.
• Meditation and Learning Halls: Quiet indoor spaces for yoga, meditation, scripture learning, sloka recitals, and spiritual workshops.
• Cultural and Festival Event Areas: Open and enclosed spaces to host Tamil and Hindu festivals, community events, music and dance programs.
• Walking Pathway for Devotees: Dedicated paths will be laid leading to the statue, the main temple and other shrines, offering a calm and reflective experience.
• Community Gathering Zones: Areas designed for families and groups to meet, connect, and celebrate their cultures.
• Ample Green and Open Space: The campus layout will preserve natural surroundings to maintain peace and serenity.

What is estimated cost of 155-foot Murugan statue in North Carolina

The Carolina Murugan Temple project will be developed in phases, thereby allowing the community to accumulate the fund for both the statue and the campus. The Phase 1 construction is already underway and is estimated to cost approximately $3 to $5 million. The site preparation, the main temple, three gopurams, and a road surrounding the campus will be completed in the first phase. The 155-foot statue installation and the full campus development will take place in the later phases. This long-term project is expected to cost more than 10 million dollars by the time it will be completed. The work is being helmed by a registered non-profit Hindu religious entity in the US. There is no government funding involved, except donations from:

• Indian immigrant organizations across the US
• South Indian communities in North Carolina
• Tamil diaspora families across the USA
• Donations from devotees worldwide
• Cultural fundraising events
• Sponsorship and square-foot donation programs

Brought to you by Indian Eagle, the leading travel-booking partner of Indians in USA; this article is part of our continued series on new attractions in America for Indian Diaspora. Travel Beats, a subsidiary of Indian Eagle Inc., is a one-stop portal for US-India travel news, transit visa guides, community stories, US visa and immigration updates.

The post The World’s Tallest Lord Murugan Statue & Temple is Coming up in USA; It would be Taller than Statue of Liberty first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post The World’s Tallest Lord Murugan Statue & Temple is Coming up in USA; It would be Taller than Statue of Liberty appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The Ramayana trail that runs through five Indian states – Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu – is going to have a landmark in Bihar. After the Ram Mandir of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, a Ramayana temple is coming up in Bihar, some parts of which fall in the historical Mithila region. Said to be a tribute to the Ramayana, one of the most popular Indian epics, the Viraat Ramayan Mandir in Bihar is one of the largest under-construction temples across India.

Viraat Ramayan Mandir to surpass the height of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat

The upcoming temple in Bihar is not only being modelled on the architecture of Angkor Wat Temple, but also going to transcend its height. While the tallest tower of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat reaches 215 feet, Bihar’s Ramayan Mandir will rise to an astounding height of 123 meters or 405 feet. It will also vertically exceed the 369-foot height of the world’s tallest Shiva sculpture – the Statue of Belief in Rajasthan.

Viraat Ramayan Temple: Cost, area, location

Located in the east Champaran district of Bihar, the temple construction is estimated at a whopping ₹500 crore. Janaki Nagar in north Bihar is the exact location of the under-construction Ramayana temple in the Mithila region. It is funded by the Mahavir Mandir Trust in Patna, the capital of Bihar. The temple complex will as large as nearly 100 acres (2800 ft in length and 1400 ft in width), with a built-up area of 3.76 lakh square for the temple buildings.

Bihar’s Viraat Ramayan Mandir to be larger than Ayodhya Ram Mandir

To be three times larger than the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, the upcoming Ramayan mandir will be spacious enough to seat up to 20,000 devotees in its prayer hall grander than that of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium at ISKCON headquarters in West Bengal.

Dedicated to Sri Ram, Devi Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman, the temple complex will have 22 sanctorum, including for Lord Ganesh, Lord Shiva, Ma Durga, and other Hindu deities. All the sanctum sanctorum will be crowned by intricately carved shikharas (spires), embodying the majesty of Bharat’s traditional temple architecture.

Among the attractions of Viraat Ramayan Temple in Bihar, there will be a gigantic 33-foot tall black granite Shivling weighing around 200 tons. In addition to being modelled on the world’s largest non-functioning Angkor Wat temple, the architecture of Bihar’s upcoming Ram-Sita mandir is somewhat inspired by Rameshwaram Temple and Madurai’s Meenakshi Temple.

Book flights to Patna and travel to Bihar

With the tentative opening of Viraat Ramayan Mandir in 2026, Bihar would make it to India’s Ramayana tourism map. Bihar, the cradle of Madhubani painting art and the land of equal significance for Hindus as well as Buddhists, may become part of a spiritual triangle that the Ramayan Temple may form with Ayodhya and Varanasi.

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India’s largest Ramayan temple: A fusion of science and spirituality

Headed by Acharya Kishore Kunal, a retired IPS officer, Bihar’s Ramayan temple project would be a study on powerful combination of science and spirituality. Modern construction techniques to make the foundation earthquake-resistant are being followed to every minute detail, and selection of materials that can withstand adverse forces of nature are being done under his supervision. A massive steel-concrete framework, along with glass and stone finishes, is being used to combine aesthetics with durability.

The post All about Viraat Ramayan Temple Coming up in Mithila Region of India for Rs 500 Cr, Larger than Ram Mandir first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post All about Viraat Ramayan Temple Coming up in Mithila Region of India for Rs 500 Cr, Larger than Ram Mandir appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

A whopping budget of Rs 6500 crore. 450 million devotees. A vast area of 4,000 hectares. 45-day spiritual marathon. 67,000 LED street lights. 1.6 lakh temporary tents. 37000 police personnel for fool-proof security. India is all set to leave the world in awe of the astronomical enormity of Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. Three times bigger than the 2013 Kumbh, the Mahakumbh 2025 is the largest human congregation on the planet.

Incorporated on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage from India, Maha Kumbh is a monumental celebration of faith, culture, traditions, and spirituality. With the cultural makeover of each street leading to the Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025 is a divine Disneyland of flamboyant murals, life-like sculptures, laser light shows, grand archways, motley faces (behrupiya), mass chanting of hymns, and hot air balloons.

Check out the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 guide for new attractions and facilities before you visit Prayagraj, the destination for spiritual redemption and rejuvenation, for a sacred bath at the revered confluence of Ganga, Januma, and mystical Saraswati rivers.

Prayagraj Maha Kumbh 2025: New Attractions

After a ceremonial plunge into the confluence of Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati at Prayagraj Sangam, you can explore new attractions that have come up for Mahakumbh. Shivalaya Park on Arail Road, among the newly built religious attractions in Prayagraj, features colossal replicas of 12 Jyotirlingas and 5 Shiva temples across the country. Designed like a miniature map of India spanning 12 acres, Shivalaya Park near the Mahakumbh mela is a one-stop place for pilgrims to visit the most famous temples dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Interestingly, 400 tons of recycled waste material was used to construct the replicas of Kedarnath Temple, Somnath Temple, Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Ramnathaswamy Temple, Trimbakeshwar Temple, Mahakaleshwar Temple, Omkareshwar Temple, Baidyanath Temple, Bhimashankar Temple, Nageshwar Temple, and Ghrishneshwar Temple. Waste to wonder is the theme of the park built at a cost of Rs 14 crore. The place is landscaped with lush greenery providing a serene space for meditative reflection.

A giant replica of the Samudra Manthan scene unfolding the mythological story behind the origin of Kumbh makes Shivalaya Park a must visit in Prayagraj this Mahakumbh 2025. An artificial water body has been created around the park to offer boating. You can hop from one temple to the other while boating in the stream. The park also houses five temples modelled after Lingaraj Temple, Bhuvaneshwar; Veerbhadra Temple, Andhra Pradesh; Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram; Baijnath Temple, Himachal Pradesh, and Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal.

A 51-foot statue of Sri Ram embracing Nishadraj is among the new attractions of Prayagraj this Maha Kumbh. The statue is a part of the 10-acre Nishadraj Park in Shringverpur Dham which has recently been adjudged as a pilgrimage site in the “Ram Van Gaman Path” circuit under construction for a whopping Rs 4200 crore, from Ayodhya to Chitrakoot. Ayodhya-like developments have been planned for Shringverpur where Sri Ram is believed to have crossed the Ganga River while going for 14-year vanvaas.

Some scenes from the Ramayana have come alive through larger-than-life sculptures in Nishadraj Park, Prayagraj. A light and sound system projecting the anecdote of how Nishadraj welcomed and offered night shelter to Lord Ram, Devi Sita and Laxman will give you a rich visual experience of Indian mythology.

Mahakumbh 2025 is out and out a visual extravaganza with spectacular drone shows that have been planned to take visitors on thrilling rides through the history of Prayagraj and the spiritual heritage of Bharat. A fleet of 2000 drones will spectacularly depict popular mythological events like Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) and the emergence of Amrit Kalash (nectar pot) on the vast canvas of the evening skies.

Prayagraj Mahakumbh Infrastructure and Connectivity:

•  14 road overbridges are built to facilitate the movement of visitors to take holy dips at nine concrete bathing ghats, in addition to the extension of temporary ghats from 8 km to 12 km.
• With massive 100-foot entrance gates featuring symbols of India’s spiritual heritage, Prayagraj Mahakumbh is illuminated by 67,000 LED street lights, 2,000 solar hybrid lights, 100 digital signboards, and 80 VMDs, all powered by two new substations.
• 7,000 eco-friendly electric buses, 550 shuttle buses, 20,000 e-rickshaws, and seven new bus stands will operate across Prayagraj during Maha Kumbh 2025 for 45 days.
• 1,850 hectares are reserved for parking, divided into 101 parking sites with a total capacity to accommodate 5 lakh vehicles.
• Across 25 sectors of Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Gram, more than 4,600 organizations have set up over 1.5 lakh pandals, tents, and lavish VIP accommodations inspired by regal themes for both domestic and international visitors.
• Special arrangements like spacious changing rooms are in place for female devotees, ensuring safety and privacy at Prayagraj.

Security arrangements at Maha Kumbh Mela 2025

A seven-tier security plan has been implemented with over 37,000 police personnel, including 22,953 officers stationed at the fairgrounds, and 6,887 in other parts of Prayagraj. Furthermore, the Parishad Armed Constabulary and water police will be available to survey water bodies, ensuring the safety of the area.

As part of the security system, the Prayagraj Mahakumbh 2025 ground has been divided into 10 zones, 25 sectors, 56 police stations, and 155 posts for maximum surveillance and quick response to any emergencies.

A specialized force of 1400 women police officers has been stationed to address gender-specific security concerns.

2700 AI-enabled CCTV cameras, and a Central Integrated Control and Command Centre (ICCC) have been set up to monitor and analyze real-time data, ensuring a safe environment for the pilgrims.

The post Mahakumbh 2025 Guide: Facilities, New Attractions, Places to Visit in Prayagraj first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post Mahakumbh 2025 Guide: Facilities, New Attractions, Places to Visit in Prayagraj appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

Navi Mumbai International Airport, one of the two world-class airports coming up in India, proved its readiness for operations through the first commercial flight validation test conducted on 29 December. With Terminal 1 and the first runway, the airport named after late D B Patil will be operational in May 2025. A Rs 17,000-cr ambitious project of Mumbai, the City of Dreams, Navi Mumbai Airport will be progressively completed by 2032. The second terminal will be completed by 2028, and Terminal 3 before or by 2032 if things go as planned. Below are some interesting facts about D B Patil International Airport in Navi Mumbai.

Navi Mumbai Airport Project Cost

INR 17,000 crore is the total cost estimate for the construction of Navi Mumbai International Airport. The ongoing construction of the first phase of the NMI airport would cost INR 6000 crore, which is anticipated to be completed and functional by mid-2025. The City & Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) allocated INR 3,420 crore for the pre-construction work. The compensation package for rehabilitation of nearly 3500 families in ten villages in and around Navi Mumbai, which have been affected due to the land acquisition, is estimated at INR 520 crore.

Navi Mumbai Airport Infrastructure

Unlike Mumbai CSI Airport, the second Mumbai International Airport will have two parallel runways measuring 3810m x 60m each. The runways will be 1550 meters apart from each other and have full-length taxiways on both sides. The terminal building of Navi Mumbai Airport will be built over an area of 2,700,000 square feet. The cargo area of the airport will spread over 1,000,000 square feet. A 90-m tall hillock at the Navi Mumbai Airport site has been demolished to prepare the land for runways and terminals. Major international airlines’ new-gen aircraft, such as Emirates’ A380 with Premium Economy and Lufthansa’s A350, operating business flights to Mumbai will be able to land and take off here as per the Navi Mumbai Airport plan.

Navi Mumbai Airport Design and Architecture

Inspired by lotus, India’s national flower, the design of Navi Mumbai International Airport has taken the aviation world by storm since the first look was unveiled on social media. Reportedly, a water terminal is being planned with high-speed ferry service from the Gateway of India, among the stunning features of the upcoming multimodal travel facility. The airport will be as eco-friendly as Cochin International Airport, the world’s first aviation facility powered by solar energy. Navi Mumbai Airport will be running on solar power.

Navi Mumbai Airport: Traffic-handling Capacity 

Unlike Mumbai CSI Airport (BOM) which handles over 900 flights a day, the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport is supposed to handle 80 flights an hour and nearly 1900 flights in 24 hours. Currently, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, which is the main gateway for flights to Mumbai from USA and other countries, is the world’s busiest single-runway facility.  

On completion of all four phases of the Navi Mumbai Airport project by 2032, the airport’s traffic-handling capacity will be more than 90 million passengers. With one runway and one terminal building which will be operationalized in May 2025, the airport will handle 20-million air passenger traffic which will go up to 40 million at the second phase in 2023 and 40 million at the third phase in 2027 and 60 million in 2031. Mumbai International Airport (BOM) has been handling over 40 million passengers per annum (beyond its capacity) since 2016.

Navi Mumbai International Airport: Location

The area around mainland Navi Mumbai across the Mumbai Harbor is the location of Mumbai’s second international airport (NMIA). Deemed as a Greenfield airport, Navi Mumbai Airport will spread over nearly 2900 hectares (7200 acres), including an area of 1160 hectares for the construction of airport terminals. Navi Mumbai Airport’s distance from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is 35kms along the National Highway 4B which will facilitate primary access to the airport in the east. There is supposed to be a 10-lane road to the new airport terminal building. The Mumbai Trans Harbor Link (MTHL), a 22-km 6-lane road bridge under construction, will connect the new airport in Navi Mumbai with the mainland of Mumbai City.

The post INR 17000-crore Navi Mumbai International Airport: Things to Know about India’s Most Ambitious Project first appeared on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.

The post INR 17000-crore Navi Mumbai International Airport: Things to Know about India’s Most Ambitious Project appeared first on Indian Eagle Blog | US-India Travel News | Diaspora Stories.