The Atala Masjid is an ancient 14th-century mosque in Jaunpur. It is located 300 meters from the Shahi Qila and 1 km from the Jama Masjid. William Hodge made sketches of the famous mosque and also wrote about it in his books on the city.

The height of the mosque is about 100 feet, and its perimeter is 248 feet. The central dome is 17 meters high but cannot be seen from the front, as it is covered by a tall central tower about 23 meters high.

Atala Masjid and Eating Batti Chokha

The mosque was built in 1408 by Ibrahim Shah Sharki and is the premier mosque of the city. The dome on the inside is made of circular course stone. It was built on the site of the Atala Devi temple, and much of the material from the temple was used in the construction of the mosque. The mosque has a central courtyard about 177 feet in length, and the entire mosque is square in structure. The two aisles of the tower lead into cells where travelers could stay and rest for a while as they passed through Jaunpur.

The Atala Masjid is a symbol of Indo-Islamic Sharqi architecture. It was the first mosque built after the independence of Jaunpur state from the Sharqi Dynasty, which had been established in Delhi. It was Feroz Shah from the Tughlaq Dynasty who laid the foundation for the mosque.

I had a good look at this ancient structure and felt a bit sad that it was built on top of a Hindu temple. However, this is not uncommon in this part of the world, where Mughal dynasties and powerful Hindu kings and monarchs have long jostled for power. The destruction of temples has been quite frequent here. It is only now that Hindus are rising and reclaiming their ancient sites and temples as part of the rise of the saffron brigade led by the BJP.

Jaunpur is not a very well-planned city, and there is traffic everywhere. It is advisable to use a scooter to get around in this city. After the visit to the mosque, we ventured out for a tasty lunch of Batti Chokha. The local cuisine was tasty and light, and I thoroughly enjoyed the green chutney and dal with ghee, along with paneer batti, tangy onions, and thick, rich kheer that tasted almost like rabdi.

The traditional food was the highlight of my day, and I was thrilled and quite satisfied with my adventures in this ancient city with deep Islamic and Hindu traditions.

The Shahi Qila, also known as the Jaunpur Fort, was built in the 14th century and is located very near the Gomti River and the Sahi Pul. The Rathore rulers of Kanauj sent most of the materials used to build the fort, but it was demolished multiple times during the time of the Lodi and Tughlaq dynasties. Over time, it was damaged and destroyed by these rulers.

Situated on the left bank of the Gomti River, the fort was built by Feroze Shah Tughlaq in 1362 AD. It is a protected monument and is open to the public. Visitors must pay an entry fee of twenty rupees to enter the fort and explore its opulent, well-kept gardens. The fort is well-maintained and is neat and clean. One of the best things to see inside the fort is the famous Turkish Bath and the mosque.

Old Shahi Fort: Jaunpur City

The central gate is 36 feet high and was built by Munner Khan. The gate is studded with blue and yellow stones, giving it a unique texture.

From the fort, one can get a panoramic view of the entire city and a full-length view of the Gomti River as well. It is a great place to take pictures and capture the city in one frame. Visitors can easily walk around the gardens for hours. My favorite part was the Turkish Bath. I ventured deep inside and saw how the water would fall into the bath, where nobles and kings would bath, with the facility of both hot and cold water. There were also hamams where people could get steam and relax, even receive massages. There were chambers and vents that made the place airy and cool. It is like a Bhool Bhulaiya, with chambers within chambers. There are several corridors and openings that allow light to seep into the various chambers. Water channels and tubs in each room are interconnected like a maze.

Just next to the bath is the royal mosque, built by the great Ibrahim Banbak. The fort itself was built by Naib Bank, a lieutenant of Feroze Shah Tughlaq.

The rectangular mosque is the oldest masjid in the city. It is supported by 12-meter-tall pillars with Persian inscriptions carved on them.

I enjoyed my afternoon here and had worked up quite an appetite. Our next stop was certainly going to be an eating joint, so Tiwari and I decided to go to a Batti Choka restaurant for our late lunch.

The Shahi Pul, also known as the Mughal Pul, was built over the Gomti River in the 16th century. It is the largest bridge in the city and is distinctive due to the many domes constructed on it. The famous bridge was built in 1564 by a man named Munyeen Khankhana, and it was authorized by the Mughal ruler Akbar. It has a carriageway at ground level and is almost 26 feet in width. There are images of lions and elephants on the bridge; these were brought from a Buddhist monastery and installed here.

There is also a mosque near the bridge, located on top of a water reservoir. The place is 2 km from the Jaunpur bus depot. The bridge was designed by the great Afghan architect Afzal Ali, and it took four years to complete.

Shahi Pul: Jaunpur

The bridge has twenty-eight colorful “chhatris” (domes), which contain shops selling various goods. The bridge was damaged during the Nepal and Bihar earthquake, and seven arches had to be rebuilt.

The bridge is recognized as the most significant Mughal structure in Jaunpur. I managed to take a full round of the bridge on a scooter and would often stop to take pictures from various angles. It was a delight, and in a small city like this, it added a lot of flavor and texture. It gave the city a soul and a history. Jaunpur is deep in Hindu heartland and is near Ayodhya, making it not only a city of historical significance but also a place linked to the city of Ram and the saffron brigade.

The Pul had great military significance and also facilitated trade between the city and the Mughal Sultanate.

It is a heritage and protected monument and has been declared a structure of national significance. The bridge is very robust and sturdy and has stood the test of time, including a massive earthquake. It is a brilliant tourist spot, and every-one can take a leisurely walk around the bridge, taking breaks and capturing pictures.

I was up early, before five in the morning, as we had a train to catch. We were headed for Jaunpur City, about 228 km from Lucknow, in a region of Uttar Pradesh called Purvanchal. I have always loved traveling by train in this region, and once again, we had to take a two-hour ride to our destination. It was early morning, but the train was on time. There were lots of Europeans on the train. Varanasi, where we boarded the train, is a hotspot for spiritual travelers from around the world. Just the other day, I saw a Jewish rabbi standing on the road, watching the city traffic along with his wife. I greeted him and even had a brief chat with the friendly Jewish man who had come to explore God and spirituality, Indian-style.

Jaunpur City: Purvanchal

I, for one, have a deep connection with this city, and I was determined to travel further into the Purvanchal region. That’s why we decided to first visit Jaunpur City. I arrived at the Jaunpur railway station within two hours. It was a very modest station with just one main shop selling cold drinks and chips. The station was small. My first observation about the city was that it is a small town, but it has very crowded markets. There are enough cars and scooters on the road to cause a traffic jam anywhere. Gomti and Sai are its main perennial rivers. Besides these, the city also has smaller rivers like Basuhi, Varuna, Pili, Mamur, and Gangi, which divide the entire district into four distinct halves.

When we reached the hotel, I caught up on some much-needed sleep. By late afternoon, my friend Tiwari and I decided to venture out into the city. We wanted to see the Chhath Puja festival that was going on that day and take a scooter ride across the rivers and bridges of Jaunpur. We passed through busy marketplaces, mosques, and riverbanks. The sunset brought with it a bit of a chill. It’s November, and the winter has almost set in.

I was dying to taste the most famous sweet of Jaunpur, called Imarti, but I had to wait. Tiwari wanted to take me to a famous chain of restaurants that served Batti Chokha. It was wonderful and gave me a real feel of rural Uttar Pradesh. I sat down on a charpoy and then had a matka kulfi with lassi. It was delicious, and I was beginning to get the first real feel of this city, where we intended to spend the next three days exploring many of its wonders.

Jaunpur City and district are famous for their many ancient forts, qilas, bridges, and mosques. That is what we plan to explore during our stay here.

The Atala Masjid, the Shahi Qila, and the Shahi Pul are must-see attractions, along with the Jama Masjid, Sheetala Mata Chukiya, and Masjid Lal Darwaza. There is a lot to see in this city, and I’m looking forward to exploring it.

Anuj Tikku: Offering A Dynamic And Accessible Platform For Readers

In this digital age, authors and publishers have utilized the digital potential to reach out to a diverse and global audience breaking the barriers of geographical and logistical constraints. Physical book distribution posed lots of impediments that have been resolved by digital publishing or e-book business models.

And even for readers, this has become effective in accessing digital books and content that could be downloaded in a few minutes. Now, the dissemination of information, ideas, and stories has new means to travel across geographical boundaries. We recently came across a rising star in this world, anujtikku.com, which is an e-commerce book blog posting platform that sells its own literary works.

The impact of Anuj Tikku’s innovative platform has been applauded across the industry and many OTT Platforms like Netflix have been associated with them in terms of collaborating for their literary works. In a talk with Anuj Tikku who is leading the platform as the CEO of the company, we explored many aspects of his journey and the passion that fuels his present-day endeavors.

A glance at the journey

anujtikku.com is an e-commerce book blog that not only sells its own literary works but also caters to OTT platforms and audio services. Anuj shared that his journey comprises nine years of experience in this realm where his journey has been nothing short of remarkable. He is seen as a great storyteller who has a distinct approach to digital content distribution. His innovative journey has garnered him global recognition in the industry.

Today, Anuj has successfully published over 57 books on his e-commerce platform. It is an impressive feat by any standard and the achievement that set his journey apart in this world. However, it is not just the volume of work but the milestones he’s achieved along the way. A few of his works have become standout accomplishments including selling the rights to his book “Yes Sir, I Killed My Dad” to Netflix. This book is now being used to create the plot for a threepart web series that will be produced soon.

In addition to this, his collaboration with the Internet Radio Platform Nine Ex Radio has now become a new avenue that allows his platform to distribute thrilling stories through the audio medium. He is particularly proud of his achievement of selling his book rights to Netflix which speaks volumes of his work’s quality and appeal of his storytelling. Moreover, he has also collaborated with brands like Eat On Biryani and the Clean Kumbh Mela drive showcasing his ability to merge content creation with impactful brand promotions.

The inspiration that led to the inception

anujtikku.com is a result of Anuj’s great fervor for writing. His favorite genres in writing are mysteries, horror, dark themes, etc. His great inclination towards these genres drives him to create stories that captivate audiences and provide a gripping experience to the readers. Though he faced many setbacks in his journey as a writer, he believes these roadblocks only honed his skills and shaped his success.

“I have made mistakes throughout my book blog journey,” he reflects, “but I always learn from them, which helps me understand my reader’s needs better and improve my offerings.”

A Mission of Storytelling and Impact

The mission of anujtikku.com is clear: “EK Kalakar Ki Kahaniyan” (The Stories of an Artist), where Anuj offers a kaleidoscope of fascinating narratives. In this journey of storytelling, he has created many marvels that are evident in the variety of genres he explores from thrillers to spiritual books and travel writing. His diverse portfolio of work allows him to resonate with people from all walks of life.

Standing Out in the book industry

anujtikku.com has a unique reputation in this competitive marketplace. Not only its standout content but also robust marketing strategies allow it to promote the brand across the globe. Their diverse and robust pool of network that is of bloggers has helped Anuj’s venture to build a community of reviewers who co-promote his books on their respective platforms. He avidly participates in several blogging events that have solidified his presence in the literary world and helped him expand his networks.

Apart from conventional marketing strategies, Anuj relies on several innovative strategies like barter promotions and periodic offers on his blog to enhance his brand’s visibility and generate revenue. All these initiatives allowed him to establish a deeper connection with his audience and grow his readership base day by day.

Technology is the key

As a business owner, Anuj is very well aware of the fact that technology has seeped into the publishing industry where AI has been a key differentiator. This tech inclusivity in the publishing world has revamped the content creation and editing procedures. These AI tools are quite effective in enhancing the quality of blog posts and improving images. Anuj mentions that the way the digital content creation has evolved is quite enticing.

Now, with new ways of content distribution like the Rent a Book feature allowing readers to rent books to read for a nominal price. These new ways of book reading have been possible owing to tech inclusivity that is setting new standards in the digital book industry. Anuj asserts that in the future he wishes his platform to become a “Netflix for books” as a dynamic and accessible platform for readers to enjoy his work.

About the team dynamics

For any entrepreneur, operating a successful business doesn’t just emerge from any idea or vision but from cohesive team building. Though the team Anuj has involves five members, his team dynamics are worth our applause.

They all handle SEO and blog management for anujtikku.com and collaborate with freelancers for translations, book covers, and various creative tasks. To maintain a friendly and productive work culture, Anuj values input from his team and ensures regular meetings, where they strategize and celebrate milestones.

Future Plans and Vision

Reflecting on his future plans, Anuj shared that he would like to expand both his writing and his platform. He aims to create even more exciting and diverse content, appealing to readers of all ages.

With the integration of AI tools on his blog, he hopes to increase sales and extend his reach to a global audience. His vision for the future stands firm on continually pushing boundaries by bringing fresh and innovative content to the literary world.

Today was to be an exciting day as we were about to travel to the city of my birth Fatehpur. Yes, this was the city where my mother Rekha gave birth to me on the 10th of May 1974 at 8:30 am in the morning. I would be returning to the city of my Birth after almost fifty years. This was going to be a significant ad very emotional part of my journey though Uttar Pradesh.

We took a train from Prayag Raj Station right to Fatehpur Railway station and I enjoyed the travel and slept all though the two-hour journey. The train had a powerful ac and thus the rail journey was very comfortable.

Luckily, we got a small room in a laical hotel just near the station. Fatehpur is about 120 km from Lucknow and 90 km form Allahabad, it is very well connected by rail, road and a robust bus route to all major Vila’s and cities in Uttar Pradesh. The city is based on the banks of the river Yamuna and Ganga. In one of the Ghat’s called OM Ghat the great sage had mediated and also Witten many of his great works.

I was born in this city in the old Government Hospital my grandfather my nana was the CMO of the Uttar Pradesh and was posted in Fatehpur when my mother conceived me. I spent the first two or three years of my life in Fatehpur and Allahabad. There was a nurse by them name of Raj Rani who looked after me as a nanny, she would bathe me, clean me up and even rub mustard oil on my legs and body to make my joints strong. The lady tends to me very well and I spent a lot of time in her acre in Allahabad as well where my Nana moved to later. But it was Fatehpur where I first took my first breath, and I have a certificate to prove that as well.

The city got its name form Babu Fateh Chandra who helped Rani Laxmi Bai in her freedom struggle.

It has two famous ghats that of Bhitaura and Asani are sacred places in the city and have also been mentioned in the Puran. The total population of the district is 26 lakhs, and it covers an area of 4152 square kilometer. This city proudly stands between to major cities Prayag and Kanpur. Textile and weaving are a major industry of this place but most of its population are into agriculture. Farmers grow wheat, corn and other staple crops here which grow well in its fertile soil enriched by the waters of the two great rivers that flow through Fatehpur City.

The Northern region of this district is influenced by the Awadhi culture and the southern region shows influence of Bundelkhand. This region had a rich culture of dancers, musicians, artists and singers and the region was famous for its Nautanki as well.

In the 17th century Fatehpur was under the control of the Maratha’s till it was taken aways form them by the Pathan’s. The city has a deep and rich history and this is exactly what I want to explore and above all I want to connect with the city where I was born.

Finally, I got to see the very hospital in Fatehpur where my mother delivered me as an infant boy the District Hospital at the centre of the city. I even ventured inside to see the wards and the operation theatre, and I was really very happy to chat with the nurses, I told them that I was born here in the hospital in 1974. This was a novel experience as I meandered through the old City of Fatehpur on a electric rickshaw, which we had hired for the benign from our hotel The Pushpa Raj Hotel.

Fatehpur District Mens Hospital

Then I wandered out to see the Om Ghat which is almost ten kilometers from the main city centre. This is a ghat on the banks of the Ganges where the great sage Bhrigu prayed and mediated. One has to go through many villages and real enter the interiors of Uttar Pradesh to get to the Om Ghat. We crossed villages like Lal Gang, Chandipur, Khatoli and many more this was backward and beyond. Most villagers are into farming staple grain crops the rest hear buffalo’s, cows and sheep. There are water reservoirs that feed water to the huge agricultural farmland.

It was late evening when we arrived, and I got some good shots of the ghost as the sun was setting. Fatehpur is a small town and not a lot of development has taken place there are no facilities near tourist spots and a lot of the city looks run down and broken. Most people run shop and live in half-baked houses. But this as the place of my birth and I was thrilled to be here after fifty years.

The Kali Khoh Impel is situated in Harare near Mirzapur. The temple is built-in honour of Ma Kali who killed the demon Rakht Beej here. It was said that the demon would would come back to life as another demon wherever his blood fell on the earth. Ma Kali chopped the demons head and drank his blood directly not letting a single drop fall on the earth.

Ma Kali Khoh Temple

The opening time is 4;00 am and the closing time is 10:00 pm, one can take an electric rickshaw to the temple complex. One has to walk a distance to get to the Ma Kali temple. It is also a tantric temple as I saw many goats inside the temple complex no doubt waiting to be sacrificed the goddess is then given the blood of the animal as an offering.

The Kali Khoh temple is around 2 km form the Vindhyavasani Temple. The temple is situated in a densely forested area and thus it has a unique mystical and spiritual charm. One has to pass through large farm and agricultural land to get to the temple. The pope of Mirzapur rely on farming as a source of income and staple crops like Wheat, rice and corn grow here in the plenty.

The goddess is seen as a protector of their crops and the forest land as well, it protects the animals and the people of the village.

The temple at the entrance has a fierce looking female form with two large eyes which stare at the devotee. The temple walls are painted red and there are shlokas and images from ancient stories of the purina’s and vedas inscribed on its wall.

The inner sacrum has a large black stone depicting Kali with large eyes marked in white the goddess has her red tongue sticking out.

This temple is the centre of Tantric worship and Tantra. There is a inner courtyard with a pond and there is also an idol of the Kamakhya Devi, the goddess is offered blood here. The festival of Navratri is celebrated with gusto here and devotees are encouraged to drink and bathe with the water of the pond in the centre of the courtyard.

One can take sweets and flowers to offer to the goddess from the nearby shops of which ether are in plenty. There are tea shops selling samosa and poori as well for visitors.

The temple has three large domes painted in gold paint. One dome is circular, and the others are shaped like a triangle. Images of the goddess are carved on these domes that can be seen from the inner courtyard, they stand tall and majestically stare at the Vindyachal hills.

At the doorstep of the temple below the orange and red coloured steps sits a pandit beating the drum, he sings hymns to please the goddess.

The inner temple sacrum also has stone sculptors of lord Hanuman, but it is the black stone image of the fierce goddess that stands out and stares one in the face. On the side of the temple there is a place next to the courtyard where Havan’s take place and people perform antic rituals to please the goddess.

One can ring the large brass bells and pray for prosperity and good luck form the goddess. As we walked out of the temple, I meet a very interesting man called Sumant Prasad Mishra who had been dressing up as load hanuman with a large golden mace, his face painted orange. He told me he has bene sitting under the tree dressed as hanuman for over thirty-two years, almost a lifetime. I got some great pictures with this unique Bhakta of lord Hanuman who has been sitting on the steps of Kali Khoh for almost eternity. Now that is real Bhakti and devotion. This was like meeting the mannequin of Lord Hanuman and I was thrilled to have a chat with this great and patient man.

The Fort Chunar is located thirty-two kilometers northwest of the District of Mirzapur, it is located in the town of Chunar.

The fort os situated at a 40 Kim distance to Varanasi and has seen the rise and fall of many dynasties and kingdoms in the region. Akbar age Mughal Emperor visited the fort area while hunting in 1575 and decided to capture the fort, he saw it as a strategic location as the fort was situated on top of a hill, overseeing the Ganges River along with all they major trade routes to Eastern UP.

The fort was attacked by Emperor Humayun in 1532 AD. Sher Shah Suri also took control of the fort for some time. The Chunar Fort was also under the control of Maratha Rulers in the latter part of the 17th century. The fort is also known with the name of Chandrakanta Chunagarh and Charandari.

Chunar Fort

The fort is at an elevation of 250 feet above sea level and one can see the vast expanse of the Ganges River form the fort. One has to pass through the lush green Chunar Hills which run parallel to the river Ganga to get to the fort. This part of the Mirzapur district is heavily dependent on farming and one can see paddy fields and corn plantains all across the hills.

There are many legends that are mystical and magical about the fort and one is of its legendary ruler Vikramaditya. The king’s brother Bharthari decided to live the life of a hermit and started living in the Chunar fort area. Realising that the king Vikramaditya visited the fort and found the whereabouts of his brother through another saint Gorakhnath. He then built a house for his brother to live in. It also believed that the soul of another saint and hermit Bhatinath remains trapped in the fort and roams the fort area formless.

I for one managed to take pictures of a dilapidated area of the fort which had huge Pipal trees with roots falling from the sky. It did remind me of the first scene of the serial Vikram or Betal. It was really eerie and I felt the formless soul of the hermit around me floating up in the air, I almost saw the spirt fly form one tree root to the other.

We managed to get a local guide for Rs 200 who showed us some unique symbols carved on the sandstone walls of the fort.” These are key words like passwords, which were sued to get to the treasures the kings had hidden deep in the walls of the fort.” The guide informed us. One could get the glimpse pf the entire gangs flowing through the region form this fort and that was magnificent.

The most fascinating thing that I saw was the tomb of a great mediator and baba. This was the tomb and samadhi of Raj Yogi Bharat Hari. He was a great hermit and a devotee of the gods a great Sanatana, who lived by Dharma and through worship. I managed to see his samadhi and even meditate in his chamber. The inner room of his Samadhi has walls full of images and photographs of almost all Hindu God’s and Deity, it’s as like a wall of Fame for all Indian and Hindu Gods. The walls of his samadhi had all the images form Krishna, Durga, Ram, Hanuman, Durga, Ganesh, Laxmi and many more. The inner sanctum of the Samadhi housed the idol of Lord Shiva with a huge trident. This was a spiritual place where people could get the holy man’s blessings. I for one really loved the images of all the gods the man was really in love with his maker it seemed to me.

I even managed to take a look at the square holes on the fort walls these were used by archers to shoot arrows, the holes in the wall were made in a zig zag fashion, so that one could shoot arrows but the enemy arrows would not harm the solider protected by the fort walls. There were barracks meant for soldiers and even a jail a dungeon deep inside the fort. The exist where covers so that the prisoners could not get any sunlight and would have to remain in the dark all the time.

It was once said one who rules Chunar Fort will also rule India. There is also a stone slab where shade is provided by the Pipal Tree. It is said that God sits here under the Pipal tree for nine hours in a day and shifts to Varanasi for three hours. There is a Bawdi about 200 feet deep where the queen and their helpers would bathe, and there would be flowing water there at all times. In the lower area of the fort there are Astabal’s which were built to house the king’s horses. It will ate a few hours to see fort completely and observe it intricately.

It took us about one hour to reach the Chunar fort form our hotel, and we did the journey by car, but it was worth it and a learning experience.

After my adventures at the Chunar Fort I decided to venture towards the famous Sri Durga Mandir in Chunar not very far away from the fort area itself. It is the temple of Goddess Durga who is seen sitting on a tiger at all times. On route to the Durga temple, we passed through small town and village roads, this area is also famous for its clay murti’s of gods and Hindu goddesses.

Sri Durga Dham Chunar

These mud and clay idols are much in demand during the festival months of Deepawali, Dussehra and Navratri. The clay oils of Laxmi and Ganesh are used during Pooja’s in almost every home, as people celebrate Diwali. The street’s where full of shops on either side selling these lavishly painted clay idols of Hindu sides and goddesses. I managed to chat up with a few shop keepers who demanded money for taking pictures of their idols and shops. But I managed to get my pics free of cost.

We were soon at the Durga Temple and before we entered, we bought some raw coconut, garlands and flowers along with a red chunni, which where our offerings to the goddess. One has to go down a considerable flight if steps and then climb up a bit to get to the entrance gate of the Durga temple, but the walk is worth it. One has to enter through a small gap in the wall, the inner sacrum of the temple is fully painted with saffron colours. One can see the large statue of the Tiger own the left and there are brass bells dangling from the ceiling of the temple.

To get to the main Durga idol one has to bend very low and enter through a very narrow gap at the bottom of one of the temple walls. Not everyone manages to get through and many people have been known to return as they were too fat to get through the narrow entrance. But images I slithered through the gap like a serpent and came out in the other side just in front of the feet of Durga the mother goddess.

The temple floor is made from marbles and there are tridents kept all over the Durga temple. There is also a place where another poojari sits, that’s the Nariyal Bali Sthal, that is the place where one can crack the coconut that are meant to be offered to the goddess as a sacrifice. It is like an offering to Durga.

On the steps of the temple priest offer flowers and blessings to the devotee by putting a red tick on their forehead. The temple is small but looked very ancient. It was indeed a place where one could seek the blessings of the divine goddess Durga Maa.