Stories by Arpit

A few years ago when I happened to visit Gujarat, our driver took a wrong turn on a deserted state highway in the outskirts of Patan (Google maps had not graced my cell phone at that time). Our driver was fanatically looking for someone who could guide us towards the main town and after treading a short distance, we came across a gentleman who offered to help us as he was heading towards the same destination. He boarded our vehicle and directed the route to the driver. Although the gentleman was in his mid-sixties, he seemed quite fit for his age and his banter continued non-stop which was quite annoying, given the fact that we were strangers moments ago. As we were about to reach the town, his excitement suddenly arose when I mentioned that we had come from Kolkata. He started recollecting something very earnestly and his eyes glinted as he announced that he also knew a great humanitarian from Kolkata. He proudly continued that this noble gentleman from Kolkata was deeply com

When I started this blog in 2015 to pen down my thoughts, little did I realise that it would grow to nearly 50 posts with a family of more than 1.2 lac readers (of which 35k readers were from the United States!). Although some have considered it to be a travel blog and some believe it to be a collection of write-ups on spirituality, I think it as a  haphazard diary - a medium to express my experiences. The Inspiration! While the above stats may seem minuscule, I feel that this blog has turned me into a storyteller- from penning a recollection of my spiritual experiences to my travel diaries, from voicing my opinions to writing amateur poetry, this online diary has seen it all. Thus it became imperative to go a step further by registering this webpage as www.storiesbyarpit.com ! From the post "Where Earth Breathes"- November 2015. Recollecting the journey from where it all began, I started writing about my thoughts, but gradually moved to my

Travelling to a foreign country is definitely an exciting experience but it can quickly turn into a financial disaster if not managed properly. There are a handful of tips that can help you save a whole lot of money while you make the most of your trip abroad. Hostels Hostels have garnered a lot of credibility via word-of-mouth among travelers over the recent years, and rightfully slow. Hostels work out to be 80% cheaper than hotels, especially in Europe. They also allow you to book in advance. Avoid tours Elaborate tours usually cost a lot of money. They are well planned but moving around with a huge crowd dampens the experience while slowing you down significantly and wasting your precious time. The cheaper and better alternative is to travel individually to popular tourist destinations and create your own experience. Fly economically There is an art to booking flight tickets to get the cheapest rates in the market. Many apps now lets you compare prices across travel

Surrounded by the exotic backwaters of Arabian Sea, lies a century old Jain tirth situated in the Mattacherry area of Kochi (Cochin) housing beautiful Jain temples which are not only renowned for their heritage but also for the hundreds of pigeons which have made this complex their home. The temple complex Jainism was spread in Kerala in the 3 rd century BC soon after the Mauryan King Chandragupta along with Acharya Bhadrabahu Swami travelled to Shravanabelagola in Karnataka. Disciples of Acharya Bhadrabahu Swami journeyed further south, into present day Kerala and Tamil Nadu to spread the message of Jainism. Later, however it declined and was revived only with the rapid influx of spice traders from Kutch and Gujarat in the 19 th century. As these Jain traders needed a place of worship, these temples were constructed by society stalwarts in the port city of Cochin. Temple dedicated to Shri Chandraprabhu Swami The first temple dedicated to Shri Dharmanath

A sk any Calcuttan the names of prominent landmarks of the city and one can expect an instant reply - Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge, Shahid Minar, Science City, Indian Museum, Birla Temple, Eco Park etcetera…etcetera… But the fact is that this city holds much more treasures built before such marvels. This is what inspired me to pen this series through which I would try to explore some of these hidden secrets that the city beholds!  The Marble Palace First on the list is a grand palatial mansion situated in the bustling area of Burrabazar- The Marble Palace ! Situated in a narrow lane known as Muktaram Babu Street in Burrabazar’s Chorbagan, the Marble Palace is one of the most beautiful palatial houses that represent the grandeur and extravagance of the city in the early 19th Century.  Side view of the palace Built in 1850 by an extremely affluent Bengali businessman named Rai Bahadoor Raja Rajendra Mullick , the mansion is widely known because of it

At a time when the entire Jain community remains divided in sub-sects viz. Shwetambar's, Digambar's, Terapanthi's etc.; at a time when large disputes have occurred between these communities regarding ownership of ancient idols like Antrikshji and Keshariyaji )  a rare picture of harmony can be witnessed in the ancient city of Agra where a beautiful idol of Shri Shitalnath Bhagwan (probably having Digambar origins) can be found installed in a Shwetambar Temple. This unique temple, situated in the bustling Roshan Mohalla was built centuries ago in the reign of the Mughal emperor Akbar and is dedicated to Shri Chintamani Parshwanath Bhagwan. Read on to know more about this divine wonder. Antiquity of the Temple Once when the Mughal Emperor, Akbar saw a procession in the honor of Champa s hravika’s (a Jain lay woman) six month fast, he was greatly intrigued at this feat and asked the royal servants to welcome her to his palace. From his ministers he cam

What if I tell you that Lord Mahavir’s placed his last footsteps in Rujuvalika and not in Pavapuri? You would definitely disagree. Therefore, before you correct me, read on… I vividly recall that during my first ever visit to Rujuvalika, the Kevalgyan Kalyanak bhumi of Lord Mahavir, I was deeply excited for some inexplicable reasons. Further, when I heard about the beauty of the Rujuvalika river, my curiosity levels knew no bounds. Wasting no time, I headed off to this magnificent land to follow the footsteps of Lord Mahavir and to feel the deepest vibrations of Lord’s footsteps that Rujuvalika beholds. The way towards the Jinalay During the entire course of journey towards the tirth , I kept on wondering how beautiful the river would be! Would its shores be sandy or lined with boulders? Would I be able to see the Sal tree under which the Lord attained Kevalgyan ? Seeking answers to such innumerable questions in mind, I reached the town of Giridih (in Jharkhand) an ho