Author: Sweety Vyas
I always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon. Recently my wish was fulfilled when my family and I went to Arizona to spend a few days there and also in Sedona which is relatively close. My family naturally gravitates towards places of natural beauty such as national parks etc. for short vacations. This time we went for a vacation for three days.
The Grand Canyon in Arizona is a stunning natural formation with layered bands of red rock. It depicts millions of years of geological history. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is also one of the seven wonders of the world. The canyon is carved by the Colorada River. The river was so strong that it carved out this really wonderful rock formation. The canyon is huge – it is 18 miles wide, is a mile and a half in deep and 277 miles in length. Millions of visitors come to visit the Grand Canyon each year. It is the most visited national park in the United States.
Our hotel was just outside the Grand Canyon area. We arrived in the evening. Immediately we had dinner. We then proceeded to the Grand Canyon. There we witnessed the most incredible and breathtaking sunset. When you see the Grand Canyon there is an immensity and serenity that is indescribable. It is one of the few places I have visited where the pictures do not do justice. You have to be there to witness its immense grandeur and beauty. The next day we took a tour bus so that we could see the Grand Canyon from different vantage points. It was cloudy and drizzling; even then it was a truly amazing experience.
One of the highlights for me was the Vishnu Temple which is a natural rock formation named after Lord Vishnu. It was named by Clarence Dutton in 1880 because the shape of the formation reminded him of Hindu temples. It is located in the canyon’s North Rim and has an elevation of 7533 feet approximately. According to Frederick Samuel Dellenbaugh, Vishnu Temple is “without doubt the most stupendous mass of nature’s carving in the known world.” Its top part is made from a cream-colored rock called Coconino sandstone. Even though it is not an actual temple, I was reminded about Lord Vishnu and His grandeur. We saw the structure several times during our trip from various locations and each time this reminded me of Lord Vishnu and His immense grace.
After the visit to Grand Canyon, we drove to Sedona which is also in Arizona. The physical beauty there is spectacular. Sedona is known mainly for its red rock formations. There is a very pleasing energy about the place. It is attractive to those seeking spiritual enlightenment. Sedona is famous for its vortexes. These are not just ordinary red rock hills but their unique features actually amplify the energy of the earth and this creates a vortex effect. Here the earth’s energy emanates from all around and has a swirling effect. It is believed that these areas are like a bridge between man and nature. People are attracted to vortexes for healing and meditation. Though the whole of Sedona area is considered a vortex, there are few places where the energy is particularly uplifting. We went to the Airport Mesa Vortex. It was charged with positive energy. We hiked for approximately 3.3 miles to reach the vortex. There were picturesque sites on the way. To get to the top of the mesa there were many steep steps. There was also a thick rope attached to the railing on the side for support which was very useful for us to climb up safely. It was a truly unique experience when we reached the top of the mesa. The swirling winds created a peaceful effect. We stayed up for few minutes. There were a few other visitors. Everyone looked blissful and happy. All in all, it was an amazing experience. We felt inspired and recharged. My family also went hiking to a few other places in Sedona.
The next day, it was time to leave. We decided to visit the Amitaba Stupa and Peace Park in Sedona before leaving for the airport. This was another highlight of my trip. The stupa gets its name from the Buddhist deity Amitabha, who is known as the Buddha of boundless life and enlightenment. The stupa is consecrated. A consecrated stupa contains millions of prayers, holy objects and sacred texts. All of these are consecrated. It is referred by the Buddhists as a “wish fulfilling tree.” This is a place of prayer and meditation for people from all faiths. Spiritual practices and prayers in this area are very powerful. We went there very early in the morning. We climbed a hilly area and reached the stupa premise. We saw many colorful flags between the juniper trees on the way to the stupa. When we reached, there was no one else there. It was very peaceful and quiet. In the area there is also a Native American medicine wheel and a wooden statue of Buddha. There is also a book for writing prayers.
When we started the trip, I thought that we would be mainly enjoying scenic views and places of natural beauty. But this trip, though short, was that and so much more. What I discovered was that nature and spirituality often go hand in hand. Nature quietens the mind and sharpens one’s intuition. This trip resulted in spiritual grounding and led to calm, inner peace and connection to something bigger than the individual self.
