Nara Archives - Viki Pandit

Fall at Nara Deer Park

One of the most amazing places to enjoy fall is at the Nara Deer Park in Nara in Kansai. The lavish park contains many momiji trees that begin to turn red and impart vivid red colors to the area. The roaming deer adds to the already beautiful canvas created by nature.

It is said a criminal eventually goes back to their place of crime My crime is that I fell in love with the heritage city of Nara Nara was the first capital of Japan and has a rich history that has kept me captivated since I first set my foot here in the fall of 2015 Nara Park is the central attraction of the ancient city and also one of the most amazing places to enjoy the fall season in the Kansai region The lavish park contains hundreds of Momiji trees that turn into red, brown, and yellow imparting a vivid range of colors to the area The roaming deer adds a touch

Photowalk to Ukimido Pavilion

While on my evening walk today, I dropped in at Ukimido Pavilion. Ukimido is a hexagonal gazebo over the Sagiike Pond in an aloof area of Nara Park. During summer evenings the floating pavilion is illuminated and it feels very relaxing sitting in the center of the pond surrounded by enchanting lights.

Ukimido is a hexagonal gazebo over the Sagiike Pond in Nara Park The park is generally crowded with tourists all through the day, but they usually stay away from this area The airy structure in the middle of the pond, surrounded by herds of deer, is one place where I can find peace at any time of the day I have been to Ukimido in Nara several times before but never during the evenings A few days before I came across a flier at the Nara Tourist Information Center that had a cover photo of the pavilion at night It looked so immersive that I couldn’t miss photographing this lovely gazebo

The moonlit Kofuku-ji Pagoda

I walked down to Kofukuji today in the evening to catch the huge Pagoda with the moon rising behind it. The five-story structure(Gojunoto) is the second tallest Pagoda in all of Japan. Built in 725 AD by the Empress Komyoh and last rebuilt in 1426, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage listed site.

I walked down to Kofukuji today in the evening to catch the huge Pagoda with the moon rising behind it The five-story structure(Gojunoto) is the second tallest Pagoda in all of Japan Built in 725 AD by the Empress Komyoh and last rebuilt in 1426, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage listed site The walk to Nara walk is generally entertaining Street Performance on Sanjo Dori leading to Nara Park Sarusawa Pond Kofukuji from Sarusawa Pond Kofuku-ji Pagoda from the front Kofukuji Pagoda Kofuku-ji Pagoda Kōfuku-ji Five Storied Pagoda Petting the

Exploring the Horyu-ji Temple

Hōryū-ji is one of the seven great temples of Nara. Today we investigate the Pagoda at the grounds, said to be one of the oldest standing wooden structures in history. The tree used in the construction of the Pagoda dates back to 594 A.D. Can wood even survive that long!

Hōryū-ji (法隆寺) is one of the seven great temples of Nara The temple is a central artifact in the history of Japan and just invoking its name is enough to bring a sparkle in the eyes of most Japanese The original temple was commissioned by Prince Shōtoku in 607 CE and even though the complex has been hit by fire more than a few times, it still boasts the presence of the world’s oldest wooden building known to man Summer was upon us On a lazy Sunday, Me & Mani, left our dorm for Hōryū-ji at around noon In the steaming hot weather, with only the occasional breeze providing some relief, we walked

The secret world of Kasugayama Primeval Forest

The Kasugayama Primeval Forest hides many interesting flora in its midst. I go for a hike around the forest to Manyou Botanical Garden discovering an array of colors among the dense prehistoric forest of Nara.

I had a great time in Hasedera the day before The temple grounds were lovely but what struck me most was the abundant hydrangeas blooming all over the garden I had been to Nara Park several times, but each time I always used to miss visiting the Manyou Botanical Garden, located near Kasuga-Taisha shrine bordering the Kasugayama Primeval forest The garden contains a Wisteria Garden, Camellia Garden, Iris Garden, Ajisai Garden and a Five Grain Garden With the Ajisai blooming all over Nara, I decided it was the perfect time to check out this garden The garden can be easily accessed by entering Nara Park and walking on your right towards Kasuga Taisha shrine Invalid Displayed Gallery The Manyou Botanical Garden (萬葉植物園) opened in 1932 and contains

The Ajisai Garden of Hasedera Temple

We pay a visit to the ancient temple of Hasedera where the Ajisai is in full bloom in the monsoon season. The 1300 year old temple is also known as Ajisaidera or Hydrangea Temple, because of the hundreds of hydrangeas splashing the temple gardens in vibrant colors.

On a lovely sunny day, Mani & I left for Hase-dera Temple in Nara It had been raining incessantly for the whole week and we were lucky to have caught a break over the weekend Hase-dera is not very far away from Nara but we had to change a couple of trains to reach the Hasedera Station From Kintetsu Nara Station we took the train to Yamato-Saidaiji Station, then from there, another to Yamatoyagi At Yamatoyagi we changed to a semi-express train for Hasedera Catching the train from Kintetsu Nara Station On the train Mani explained to me how the original Hasedera was founded in 686 AD when a

Lights of NaraRurie

We go for late night stroll along a path shining with a sea of blue lights. Nararurie referred to as Corridor of Happiness, is held in early spring in Nara. The Park is covered in a beautiful world of azure blue, ushering in happiness into everyone’s lives.

Nara Rurie, a winter illumination festival is celebrated in early spring in Nara The Park is covered in a beautiful world of azure blue, believed to usher happiness into everyone’s lives The deep blue Rurie, has been held sacred as a supreme color by the Japanese people since being introduced via the Silk Road This year Nara Rurie marks its 5th anniversary Once I started to discover Nara, the first thing that impressed me about this city is its amazing historical highlights Nara is an ancient city with thousands of historic treasures It is most noted for the many ancient Japanese Buddhist buildings and artifacts in and around the city, including the Seven Great Temples

Hike to Uguisuno-taki Falls

Today I went on a hike to Uguisunotaki Falls, into the deep end of the Kasugayama Forest, surrounded by tall Pines, where even the Sun doesn’t dare to peep through.

I have been to Nara Park several times The ever popular Tôdai-ji temple and Kasuga-Taisha shrine are always crawling with inquisitive tourists, but today Mani & I wander beyond these cultural landscapes into the Kasugayama Primeval Forest The natural environment of Kasugayama is an integral yet invisible part of the shrines and temples in Nara Park The park is so large you could easily wander into the Primeval Forest, without even knowing it Kasugayama Primeval Forest is a primeval forest spread over 250 hectares, near the summit of Kasugayama It contains around 270 different kinds of trees Hunting and logging have been prohibited in the sacred forest since 841 CE As a

Ringing in the new year at Todai-ji

We decided to do something different this new year eve. We walked down to Todaiji at midnight to usher in the new year with the blessings of the great Daibutsu. For it is only during New Year eve that the upper doors, in front of the face of the Great Buddha, are opened so all can witness the eyes of the Daibutsu.

We decided to do something different this new year eve We walked down to Todai-ji at midnight to usher in the new year with the blessings of the great Daibutsu Todai-ji is the largest of the Seven Great Temples of Nara and one of the “Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara“ The roads were lit and the streets were empty Nothing new for someone who has lived in Nara even for a short amount of time Once we reached the Nara Park area, we could see some families walking towards the temple A group of deer were gathered under the street lights We came across some deer while walking towards Todaiji The narrow

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