Madhurendra Sinha
UNION Minister for Tourism and Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched a book, Temple Tour, by social activist Rajiv Agarwal in New Delhi recently. Speaking on the occasion, he said that India boasts of a rich heritage of temples and congratulated Agarwal on his meticulous work.
The book takes readers on a fascinating journey through the historically and culturally rich temples spread across 28 states and 8 Union Territories of India. Comprising 1,600 pages and divided into four segments, the Minister said the book will inspire readers and help boost tourism to the newly- recognised and culturally significant sites across the country.
Former Union Minister Harsh Vardhan also congratulated Aggarwal and suggested that he consider writing a subsequent book on Hindu temples located around the world.
Former Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who was also present at the event, commended Aggarwal’s work, noting that it will help people gain a deeper appreciation for India’s rich heritage.
The book highlights 5,500 temples, selected from over 10,000 sites across the country, and includes photographs of 3,700 temples.
Aggarwal began writing the book during the COVID-19 pandemic, a process that took him more than two years. He said that Indian temples have historically served not only as places of worship but also as centres of learning.
Prominent attendees at the event included MP Krishna Patel, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, and former MP Vivek Narayan Shejwalkar, among others. The book has been published by Raj Kamal Prakashan Samooh.
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