A Visit To The Konark Sun Temple, Orissa

It is true that India is the land of many gods. From Vishnu to Shiva, the number sums up to 3,00,00,000 gods. They worship the Sun, the Moon and planets. They also pray Vaayu (Wind god), Varun (Rain god), Agni (Fire god) for good harvest and balance in nature.

They worship numerous deities in animal form as they believe that god resides in every living creature on Earth. Hinduism cannot actually be called a religion but science. Only in Hinduism there is a clear reference of how life evolved on Earth.

They worship Hanuman (the Monkey god) and also believe that he is existed in 2nd century BCE which is clear proof of Darwin's theory of evolution.

I love visiting temples in India as they are magnificent and ancient. One of the best remembered trips was to the Konark temple, Orissa. The oldest monument built exclusively for Sun god, who is, the soul of life on planet.

The beauty of Konark cannot be described in just a few words. The temple is quite uncommon of the others in India. It has different style of carving (Kalinga architecture) and depiction of how Suryanarayan or Sun god may look is well portrayed through the stone art.

The powerful Sun god sits in a massive golden chariot driven with 7 horses. At the entrance of Konark temple you find the stone horses and carved wheels of the chariot. The Shikara or tower is symmetric and the overall alignment is in the east west direction (rise and set of the Sun). The temple is about 70 kilometres from Orissa's capital Bhubaneshwar.

Other sightseeing spots in Orissa include Udayagiri caves and Chandipur beach. 

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Coorg, Karnataka's Popular Hill Station

The glimpse of Cauvery taking birth from the fertile mountains of Kodagu and flowing thousands of kilometres to join Bay of Bengal is simply out of imagination. The greenery is up to the mark, the smell of spices makes anybody feel fresh after an early morning walk. Welcome to Coorg!

Kodagu or Coorg has always been known as the place of warriors as most eminent Indian army persons came from this chunk of Karnataka. That's why they are more modern, urban and stylish.

The Kodagu women are quite popular for beauty and brains. They are well educated, set trends in Bangalore (the state's capital) and cook authentic non vegetarian food.

The Coorg people speak Coorgi language although they are also well versed in Kannada. Their way of wearing sarees is quite different from the rest. They love Red sarees as that's the general colour code in their weddings.

I have Kodagu friends and have always appreciated their organic lifestyle. Most of the Coorg families are related and close knit. They mostly are into farming and some even own Coffee and Tea estates.

The hill station of Karnataka has many sightseeing places. Travellers start their day by visiting Tala Kaveri (the birth place of Cauvery river) and trek to falls like Abbi, Iruppu, do some rafting in the river, enjoy Elephant ride at Dubare, taste traditional food in Madikeri and capture photographs of Sunset at the Raja's Seat.

People are friendly and helpful. There are popular 5 star and 3 star hotels/ resorts in Madikeri for a comfortable stay.

Tourists never miss to purchase variety of Spices, Honey, Coffee and Cashews here. Some even purchase souvenirs sold near Raja's Seat and other Handicraft stores to remember the pleasant time spent with the Kannada people.

How To Go: A flight to Bengaluru International Airport and then rent a Car directly to Coorg. Takes about 2-3 hours time. There are many restaurants and Cafes on Bangalore Mysore route.

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Mystic Caves Of Ajanta And Ellora

If you wish to visit the oldest and finest art and sculpture remains of India, you should visit the Ajanta and Ellora Caves. About 30 rock cut Buddhist caves can be seen in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, all belonging to 2nd century BC.

A Visual Treat!

Travellers can view beautiful Buddha sculptures in Ajanta and Hindu, Jain Sculptures at Ellora. The caves are protected monuments and are taken care by the Archeological Survey Of India. The site is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is simply imaginary for any human to come up with such masterpiece without the modern day tools or construction equipments. One can say that despite the technological revolution, people of those times lived comfortably and luxuriously.

It would be hard to believe that the Ajanta caves are actually cut into a cliff in the shape of U. The caves are situated on the banks of river Waghora.

How Was It Discovered?
The story is quite interesting. The caves were totally lost in a vast Jungle. During the British rule in India, one of the officers accidentally came across these massive caves while he was on a hunting party.

What More?
The caves contain the largest corpus of early wall paintings. The Indian art is highly rare and contemporary of 5th century and the Ajanta tradition.

What Are They Referred In History?
The caves actually belonged to the Satavahana dynasty and that is why they are also referred as Satavahana-period caves.

What Was The Purpose Of Caves?
These were the Buddhist Monasteries. They contain Vihara halls for prayer and living, Chaitya halls (Ribbed Roofs and Stupa),  small square dormitories, Verandahs and the main central square hall with large windows and multiple entrances.

How To Reach?
Take a train from Mumbai to Jalgaon Railway Station (Mumbai - Delhi Line).

Ellora Caves:
For Hindu, Jain architecture and Mural work, you must take a tour to Ellora caves that is just a few kilometres away from Ajanta. According to history, this belonged to the Rashtrakuta dynasty.
The Epitome of rock cut architecture of India is also the 'World Heritage Site'.
Although there are many caves in Ellora, the Vishwakarma cave (Carpenter's cave), Kailashnatha cave, Dashavatara, Jain caves, Indra Sabha are most important ones.

What to carry?
Carry fruit drinks and fruits as you may feel exhausted touring numerous caves.
Top 3s: Mineral water, sunscreen and eye wear is must.

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Spelunking In Ayakudi, Tamil Nadu

Ayakudi is a small town in the Tenkasi taluk of Tamil Nadu and quite honestly, there is not a lot to describe. Until I decided to visit this place I had not heard of it at all. My work in Ayakudi was with an NGO called Amar Seva Sangam and that is how I even knew such a place existed. I had accompanied my father to this NGO, by way of which I got to see a little of the town.

Ayakudi is well on its way into becoming a fully developed town. The place is one of the most serene that Tamil Nadu can offer. Supplies and other essentials for the NGO come from Chennai, Thirunelveli or Dindigul.There is greenery everywhere and the wind is bent upon sweeping you off your feet. This town therefore harnesses wind energy through wind mills. There is a river that runs by the town which meets its irrigation and water requirements to a minimum.

What is evident from the time you set foot there is its pristine waters and landscape, not to mention very strong winds. It is a very sleepy town from the outside, but upon interaction with the people there you'd see it is very industrious. I had a great time at the NGO and also visited other schools and organizations.

One of the most interesting things I did was, exploring caves. Ayakudi is a very hilly area and has many caves hidden in its folds. We got a local to help us and we hiked along the river, climbed a small hill and got to see some caves. The hike along the river was fantastic. The cool waters and the greenery around was too mesmerizing for a girl from the city. Back home, cool water meant water from the refrigerator and most of the greenery was potted plants. This though, was awesome. 

The caves were located very precariously near an edge and we were advised not to make an attempt scaling the boulders to make it in. Following which we were also told that these caves were once used by saints and hermits for 'tapas' or deep meditation. Apparently some made it out,some did not and some were still inside attempting to attain enlightenment. This last bit of information spooked me just a wee bit, enough to make me race down as fast and carefully as my feet would permit.

In spite of getting the 'heebidebajeebies' it was a great experience. We visited temples close by which included the Vishvanatha temple of Tenkasi. For those wanting a quite time off, Ayakudi is recommended. Although it does not have hotels and lodges, one may stay at Tenkasi or Thirunelveli and make it to Ayakudi for a day trip. This place put me in a meditative state upon entry till my exit and remains to this day, a special memory.

Lots of coconut palms around

Tips for travel to Ayakudi:

• Carry shades, an umbrella, sunblock and plenty of eatables and water.
• There is only one train to Tenkasi and at the most two to Thirunelveli. Check schedules and book well in advance.
• From these stations buses ply back and forth to Ayakudi, but a taxi may be more comfortable.
• Not many good hotels are available here so plan a stay at Thirunelveli or even Trichy perhaps.
• Wear cotton clothes and sturdy shoes.
• Use the help of a reliable local who knows his/her way around and who can speak Tamil.

Here are a few more snaps of this scenic place.
Happy exploring!

Windmills : View from a small hill

Caves

Entry to a cave

View of windmills from near one of the caves

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Vishvanatha Temple Of Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu

625 kms from Chennai is the town of Thenkasi (Then/Ten-South Kashi), located in the Thirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. The town is well known for the Vishvanatha temple of Shiva, Ulagamman temple and also the Coutralam falls located a few kilometers away. Situated at the foothills of the Western Ghats, Thenkasi offers breathtaking views and sights of awe-inspiring Pandiyan architecture. The best time to visit would be between June and September. One would experience 'saral' or drizzling during this period.

The 'Mahagopuram' of Vishvanatha temple and the musical pillars offers one an insight into the genius of the Pandiyan craftsmanship and thereby the power and wealth of the rulers that built these monoliths. King Parakrama Pandiya was instrumental in bringing Thenkasi into the limelight by making it his capital. He is known to have poured massive funds and endowments towards building these temples. It is here that Parakrama Pandiya and his successors were crowned kings.

Many scriptures in Tamil and Sanskrit bear testimony to these facts. The courtralam falls located a few kilometers away from Thenkasi attracts people from all over the district. The cool falls offer a very pleasant respite from the otherwise hot weather.


I managed to take a few snaps of the Mahagopuram from the outside. The light inside was insufficient and so were my skills in photography. Inside are many sculptures and idols of supreme beauty and craftsmanship, that refuse to leave my amazingly meager memory. In the land of temples, the ones in Thenkasi definitely form a class apart.

Tips for travel to Thenkasi:

• Carry shades, water, an umbrella and sun block for travel in the town during the day.
• Hire a cab for local conveyance.
• Trains & buses ply between Chennai & Thenkasi and Chennai & Thirunelvelli. Check up schedules and book well in advance.
• Reasonably good hotels and lodges are available in and around the town. Some research may be required before booking.
• the waters at the falls are turbulent so bathing under the falls is NOT RECOMMENDED.

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Delhi - The Ultimate!

So here we are with more visual treats! And this time it's frozen frames from the capital of India, New Delhi! Delhi was once the hot seat of the Mughal emperors and hence, the Mughalai buildings and architecture make up for most of it's historical attractions and perhaps is many an artist's muse. The minars, the mausoleums and the palaces have been witness to Delhi's progress over centuries now. While the capital city raced forward to keep up with time, these elements that make up the history of Delhi, have silently stood still, bearing within their walls, stories of love, hate, war & peace.

Here are the works of Siva Subramaniam, a close friend of mine and a great photographer in the making.

Happy browsing!

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