Trip to South India

I & my wife thought of visiting Rameshwaram, Tamilnadu which has a rare distinction of being one of the twelve Jyotirlings & one of four Dhams (as enunciated by Adi Guru Shankracharya). So we decided to travel in the beginning of 2012 as the weather would be fair during that period. On enquiry we found that visiting Tamilnadu through Kerala would be the best option. Accordingly bags were packed with summer clothes. Assistance of Ocean Color Holidays was taken for booking hotels (in Tamilnadu & Kerala) and taxi.

Arrived  Alleppey ( or Allappuza), Kerala at 2am through Rajdhani Exp. from Delhi. Driver Suresh was there with taxi (arranged by travel agent), we checked into Keraleeyam Resort. The resort was small but neat & nicely located in the backwater by the side of Vembanadu Lake (in more than 60 km area) which is perhaps the largest inland water body in Asia. Lake touches four distt. of Kerala namely Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kollam, Kottayam and Ernakullam and ultimately merged with Arabian Sea at Kochi. Annual snake boat race takes place in this lake for Nehru Trophy on 2^nd Saturday of August. We took nap and bath before breakfast at resort. Unending water is the soul of Alleppey.  Considering location, ambience, service, food, accomodations are rated on the scale of 5. Thus resort is rated at 3.

Houseboat named Pulickattil picked us at 12 noon from resort itself. This one bedroom houseboat was equiped with all necessities such as air conditioner, generator, television, attached washroom, refrigerator, kitchen, dinning table and good seating place outside B/R. On board we were welcomed with fruit juices by Salil and Hakim cook and boat driver respectively. During our voyage they also exchanged their roles. Our boat crossed by a Church known as Chitti-ra-Church on an island reportedly built in 1950. We saw another island (named as Chitti Ra) is being built in the lake by blocking water with cement slabs through crain. In the lake there are two existing man made islands known as R-Block, Rani Uttack. Houseboat halted at Marthanda for lunch. We informed the staff that we are vegetarian and the food should be without spices. The food served was very tasty even without spices. At this place crew took rest upto 3 pm. It was  told that during this period fishermen throw their fishing nets in lake. Thereafter houseboat left for onward jouney in the lake. The crew informed us that there is one species (reportedly only 3 in number) in lake called as Karunaya reportedly not created by Lord Brahma (the creator of universe), but by his son, Karunaya excrate through mouth. Karunaya are stated to be very dangerous as they eat whatever comes in their way, even took away the flesh/part of body inside water. They also told us that the wound created by these species do not heal. During boat ride, we saw Mango, Coconut & Palm trees, Rice cultivation on the islands. Some trees similar to Mango tree were introduced to us as Odalam or Arali, reportedly poisonous fruit similar to Mango but it’s leave are good for the ground.  Around 5pm houseboat halted for the day as fishing nets are again out in waters. It was told that during fishing time no boating is allowed upto 8 am. Dinner was served in dim lights to escape mosquitoes. Watched TV till we went to bed in the night. In the morning our voyage cotinued after breakfast. It was an unique experience to be in moving houseboat for the whole day & night within a big lake.

 Around noon, our houseboat journey was over with sweat memories. Considering food and everything we rate houseboat at 4

Next we reached Thekkady (195 km from Alleppey) and stayed at Hotel Grand Thekkady on the main road to Periyar Lake. It was a very spacious accomodation i.e. bedroom, living room with attached toilets and balconies. In the evening watched Kathakali show organised by Sargakshethram School of Dance. This was one hour show during which different mudras of dance were explained through hand movements and facial expressions. Stories from Epics like ‘Ramayana’, ‘Mahabharatha’ and ‘Bhagavatha’ were taken for Kathakali performances. In the morning at 5.30 am joined the queue for visiting Periyar Tiger Reserve  more popularly known as Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary in more than 900 sq km area set in Cardamom Hills of Kerala. This evergreen forest has been declared as a protected ssarea by the Govt. It was an exciting experience to smell mixed fragrance of spices and various other plants in air during our stroll on road while waiting for entry. It was informed that there are various types of elephants in the sanctuary, beside tigers, birds and reptiles. Entry ticket to the Tiger Reserve was @ Rs. 25/- per person. Entry was allowed at about 6 am. Tiger reserve is around Periyar Lake in about 25 sq km area so one has to take a boat for going inside the forest to see the animals from close ranges. Bought ferry tickets @ Rs. 40/- per head with Rs. 25/- for camera. First batch of three boats, each with capacity of 60 persons, left at 7.30 am. No animal could be sighted all throughout our cruise in the lake, except one baby elephant was seen before boarding the boat. Visited a Spice & Ayurvedic Garden by the name Deepa World. The entry fee was Rs. 200/- including a guide well conversant in Hindi and English. He showed & explained about Ayurvedic medicinal plants such as  Stevia,Cardamom, Cinnamon, Brahmi, Nutmeg, Insulin etc along with other plants e.g. cofee, coco plant and of spices.

It took us 3 hrs to cover 110 km arrive at Munnar and stayed at Grand Plaza hotel. Weather was nice and no airconditioner was required. View from the hotel room was a picturesque. Visited Tea Emporium of Kanan Dewan Hills Produce of Tata’s. Entry was @ Rs 75/- per person and Rs 20/- for camera. First a documentary was shown, thereafter tea (leave) making process was physically explained. We purchased two tea plants from the emporium. According to documentary, Munnar is inhabited mainly by tea estate workers and visitors.

Floriculture Center

Floriculture Center (developed and maintained by Kerala Forest Development Corporation)  by the side of Mattupatty Rd was also visited. Here a large number of plants and flowers were on display & sale. Brahmi, Stevia and Insulin plants were also purchased from them. Further stopped by Anayirankal Dam

Tea Plantation

to see lush green forests with water reservoir. It presented a beautiful view. Hotel at Munnar is rated at 3.     

Travelled 170 km to reach Madurai and checked into hotel Madurai Residency. This was a moderate hotel at a walkable distance from centuries old Meenakshi Amman Temple

Meenakshi Amman Temple

in about 6 hectares. Hotel staff informed us that camera not allowed in temple which opens at 4 pm. The temple has more than 30,000 sculptures of Gods in brilliant and bright colours. At the time of our visit there was huge rush of devotees and everybody got good darshan of Goddess Meenakshi (consort of Lord Shiva known as Lord Sundareswra i.e. beautiful deity). His temple is also in the same complex. Beside these, there is a Temple Art Museum in 1000 pillar hall with entry ticket for individuals alongwith charges for camera. Next morning visited Thirumalai Naicker Palace. Light & sound programme is also conducted in evenings. Entrance fee is charged. Vishnu Temple is also very near to Meenakshi temple. Gandhi Museum is also in 2 km range from hotel. Visit to this place revived our history lessons. Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam is a garden within pond which is square in shape. One can reach this place through boat but the service was not available at time of our visit. Spent two nights in Madurai, the hotel is rated as 3.   

It was a wonderful drive from Madurai to Rameshwaram (about 185 km) by crossing more than 2 km long  Pamban Bridge (new name Indira Gandhi bridge)

Pamban Bridge

 over the sea. Rail and road bridges run side by side over the sea. We stayed at Hotel Vinayaga. In the evening visited Rameshwaram Temple (about 3 km from hotel) located hardly 500 mts from sea shore. We were surprised to learn that the temple was closed as the Idols of LordShiva, Parvati and Gangaji had gone to Ramarpadam Temple (a temple which has Lord Rama’s foot prints) for the day, so visited Ramarpadam temple (about 1 km from Rameshwar temple) as guided by the local persons. Here with the blessings of our Lord Shiva we were able to get unimaginably beautiful darshan of idols of Lord Shiva, Parvatiji, Gangaji alongwith foot prints of Lord Rama from a close distance of hardly 4 ft. We remained there for more than 45 mts and were able to capture the moment on camera.  Visited Lakshmana Teertham while returning to hotel. Panch Mukhi Hanuman Ji Temple is also closeby. Here we saw floating stones

Floating stones

stated to be similar to the stones used by Lord Rama for making bridge over sea for reaching Lanka. Now a 16 ft idol of Lord Hanuman is being built in black stone. Next day, early in the morning took a dip in sea and came to Rameshwaram Temple. Here we were given bath with holy waters from 22 wells (believed to be from Lord Rama’s era) within the compound of Temple itself by Pandits, on some payments to Pandits without which the devotees will be deprived of water from wells. It appears that Pandits have monoply on water from wells. Surprisingly, the wells are within half km from sea, yet water of wells is not salty. We were hyonotised to be in front of Rameshwaram Jyotirling which also happens to be one of the Dhams & offered prayers in the temple. Also visited Dhanushkodi, more than 15 km from Rameshwaram town out of this about 8 km (part of which through sand and shallow sea water) has to be travelled on four wheel drive & shared transport. Dhanushkodi is the last land border of India. Distance from this place between India and Sri Lanka is just 18 km in sea. Satellite images of this area show remains of Rama Sethu (bridge) under the sea

. On way back to hotel visited Kothandaramar Temple. At this place Lord Rama and Vibhishan joined hands. At hotel we came to know that house of former President of India Sh. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam  is just at its back which has now been converted into a museum. Hotel is rated as 3 on scale of five. Next morning left for Kanyakumari about 325 km from Rameshwaram.

Kanyakumari also referred to as Cape Camorin is the southernmost tips of India on the sea shore at the confluence of Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean along with gulf of Mannar. Before checking into hotel Singaar International, we sraightway arrived at jetty to catch a ferry for Vivekananda Rock, as the place closes by 5 pm.  Ferry charges were @ Rs. 20/- beside entry fee of Rs. 10/- per head for the Vivekananda Rock

Vivekanand Memorial

 Memorial. Spent some time at this place as it was very peaceful inspite of noise from the striking waves of sea. Here we meditated in the meditation hall. Beside statue of Vivekananda, there is also a temple of foot prints of Mata Kanyakumari. Ferry took us to Thiruvalluar Statue at another nearby island. On retun to main land visited Mata Kanyakumari Temple at the shore.

Sunrise @ Kanyakumari

Gandhi Memorial is also very near to this place. Watched sunset from sunset point. Watching sunrise between 5.15 to 5.45 am from the 7^th floor of hotel was a mesmerising experience to see the golden sun coming out of sky. Considering ambience, beautiful garden, location, food, service hotel is rated at 4.

In the morning left for Trivandrum. Visited Kovalam beach (16 km from the city) in sea just to be surprised by its endless beauty. Hardly 3 km from this place is small sea Port of Vizhinjam. Various species of fish, tortise were seen at Marine Fisheries Reserch Centre near to the port. While visiting Puthen Maliga Palace Museum, found that part of 200 yr old palace of Travancore’s king has been converted into the museum which has exquisitely carved wooden ceilings, 122 carved wooden pillars of horses, Belgian glass, crystal throne, sculptures, items from Italy, China & other places beside other precious articles. Sri Padmanaswamy Temple can be seen from this palace. Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple is adjacent to the museum. This temple was built in 1733 by Maharaja of Travancore & dedicated to Lord Vishnu in eternal sleep mudra/posture on Sheshnag. This temple could be the richest temple in India as estimated value of gold and other valuables in five of six chambers  (6^th chamber has not been opened on the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India) amounts to over Rupees one lakh crore. We left Trivandrum without visiting temple as we had to catch the train for Delhi at 7.15 pm while  the temple was to be opened at 5 pm.