After four days in Kumbakonam and soaking in all the sights, architectural wonders, ancient temples, the fables around them and the wonderful people, I decided to go to Gingee. It is pronounced as Senji, and I was confused. I never heard of this place before my friend asked to me visit this place. It was […]
We planned for a day trip to a place called Palaikeri, a fisheries department run fishing cooperative, during the Pooja holidays but destiny had something else in store for us. We started at about 7:30 am and drove down to Thripunithura, a suburb of Ernakulam. On the way, we decided to stop by at the […]
Vaitheeswaran Temple or Pullirukkuvelur is dedicated to the god Siva in Tamil Nadu. Siva is worshipped as Vaitheeswaran or the “God of healing.” It is believed that prayers to Vaitheeswaran can cure diseases. It is one of the nine Navagraha (nine planets) temples associated with the planet Mars (Sevvai, Angaraka). The temple is mentioned in […]
“The devotees of Lord Siva are innumerable. The Puranas abound with stories about these devotees, who faced many trials and tribulations to see their Lord. One such devotee was a man named Nandanar, who loved visiting the temples of Lord Siva. However, there was one such temple that eluded him, and that was the temple […]
The Thanjavur Palace Museum complex is just a km from the Brihadeeswara Temple. It dates back to 14th century CE built by the Nayaks and the Marathas. The Maratha royal family still resides in this palace. The complex contains the Palace, the Rajaraja Chola Art Gallery, Saraswathi Mahal Library, and the Bell Tower. Thanjavur Maratha […]
I left Kovilpatti the next day after the dream visit to Kalugumalai, but not before going to the Shenbagavalli Temple in Kovilpatti town. The temple and the precincts had an air of celebration as it was the Tamil New Year. Lots of families, children in new clothes, traders, a huge Ferris wheel, and all the […]
Alagar Koil, Pazhamudircholai, and NupuraGangai I started early in the morning to Alagar Kovil or Azhagar Koil. Mr Chandrabose was kind to drop me at a point where I can get a bus to this hill temple about 21 km away. On the way, I had a very early breakfast at a roadside eatery called […]
After the visit to Meenakshi Amman Temple and a quite heavy brunch, I went to the Thirumalai Naicker Palace close by. The legend in front of the palace says: “This palace was constructed during 1636 AD by King Thirumalai Naicker. It is said that the palace was designed by an Italian architect. It is […]
Blue Mountain Express / Ooty Train This Toy Train is an engineering marvel. The UNESCO World Heritage Nilgiri Mountain Railway in Southern India consists of 45.88 km of a 1 m gauge single-track, partly rack-and-pinion railway that connects Mettupalayam to Ooty in Tamil Nadu State. There are 208 curves and 13 tunnels, and 27 viaducts […]
