Me: Daddy I want to go on a solo trip (place still undecided)
Dad: More excited than I am, let’s go to Sri Lanka ⚓
Me: Solo Daddy. I want to go solo
Dad: NOOOO!!! ( that’s the typical curse running across generations )
(Just this time, they are very sweet actually)
Whenever I talk of a trip everyone wants to tag along
Daddy wanted to go to Rameswaram and Kerala for a long time now. Not so willing, I packed my bags.
I love train journeys since childhood. They are exciting, sometimes homely and always warm This was my longest journey of 31 hours from Secunderabad to Trivandrum. Heavy rains, scorching heat, rivers, mountains and picturesque landscapes, I have been through all of it across Telangana, Andhra, Tamilnadu and Kerala. Heavy rains in Trivandrum welcomed us in all its beauty. We hired a cab from the station and took off to Rameswaram on an overnight journey.
Rameswaram
Arulmigu Ramanatha Swamy Temple.
When we set off in the cab, I usually tell the story of the place to my parents and the driver. Whatever I learnt, read and know. Our Travel partner, the driver, Mayoof was more than interested to know about the history of the place. We hit off quiet well, sharing the history, food , and few common interests.
Lord Rama reached Rameswaram island after killing Ravana in Sri Lanka. He wanted to offer penance to Lord Shiva for killing Ravana (should I say Ravan for the larger audience )He asked Hanuman to get a linga from Kailash. Meanwhile, Sita made a Linga out of sand. Both the lingas are placed in the sanctum sanctorum and worshipped since then. It has the world’s largest corridor with 1212 pillars and 24 teerth kunds out of which 22 are inside the temple(sacred water bodies). After visiting 22 teerth kund and totally drenching ourselves, we go to visit the Shiva temple(water has more receptivity to soak in the divinity of the space). We had darshan of one of the four char dham* . Blessed and blissed out we started visiting other places around.
Noble Land, Noble soul
This island town is also famous for the most respected Politician cum scientist, a visionary and a noble soul. He is the only Indian to get all the National awards and has many firsts to his credit. The most humble, modest yet successful scientist, He is known for his work in science and space which has paved way for many more achievements even after he left. APJ Abdul Kalam’s museum and Residence.
Abandoned Ghost Town /Dhanush Kodi / Ram Sethu
Dhanush kodi is an abandoned ghost town on South Eastern tip of India. It is 24 kms away from Sri Lanka on the Gulf of Mannar. White fine soft sand blinding us and the gushing wind deafening us, it had an eerie feeling justifying its name as ghost town. Thatched huts, perished churches, no concrete habitation and endless ocean made it the most beautiful.
Trivandrum
We visited Kanya Kumari enroute Trivandrum and visited Kanya Kumari temple(Bhagavathy amman kovil), Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Sunrise at the beach, Thiruvalluvar statue, Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam and a church.
Sree Padmanabhan Swamy Temple
Our first visit in Trivandrum was the very famous Anantha Padmanabhan Swamy temple. I cannot justify the experience in a few words. The fact that it is the richest temple in the world is already established, but the tradition and sanctity of the place has to be experienced to believe :) A very strict dress code, strict timings, protocols and procedures are duly followed. The Diety, Lord Vishnu is in Shayana posture on Adi Shesha. There are 3 doorways, one showing his face resting on Adi Shesha, one his naval through which Lord Brahma emerges out of a lotus, and third, his Lotus feet :) When I was trying to see him from 1st gate, I was trying hard to find him. I could only see Adi shesha in gold. Suddenly I see a blue graceful face shining and smiling. My head started reeling with that sight. Boundless grace!
It is a huge temple complex. There was a katcheri* outside Krishna temple which drew everyone’s attention. Katcheri is a common sight in South Indian temples. The music, the old temple architecture, the fragrance of the flowers, petrichor, the temple adorned with lamps, the sight, the smell, the sounds, the feel and the drizzly wizzly weather added so much beauty to the temple making it the most memorable sight.
Backwaters, Beaches and more beaches
Even if I am planning a trip to beaches or mountains and plan it to the T, I get drawn to Temples, local sight seeing places, roadside food joints, local food, important buildings and villages. We covered the complete coastal line of Trivandrum. Saw the fishermen fishing and selling the varieties, had chaaya and pazham pori at a local joint and enjoyed the rain, visited the church nearby, walked along the beach roads, visited a nearby mall until our driver was completely vexed by our untouristy behavior.
He took us to Atukula Bhagavathy amman temple, a famous shrine in Trivandrum. It is a local temple with utmost importance. Backwater rides in Poovar river, golden beach walk, mangroves with exotic birds, house boats, floating restaurants. Kovalam beach, Shanmugham beach, Varkala beach and cliff, local markets, vizhinjam beach, light house, mosques.
I had fatigue and high fever all through the trip but I dint want to miss any place(turned out it was jaundice). We infact covered more places than expected and all other local places. Packed our bags with lots of banana chips. However, I did not take as many pictures I as would usually. I soaked in every bit of the place but did not capture much of it. Except train tickets, nothing in this trip was planned including my fever but everything just fell in place and that’s the beauty of travelling.
Travel Tips: TamilNadu was hotter even in August so carry light cottons, good shades,comfortable shoes for beaches. I usually carry slippers, easy to travel and convenient on the beaches. All kinds of food are available at all times even in remotest part of TN. Coconut water and other local energy drinks can be handy in the scorching heat.
*Char dham – 4 pilgrimage sites in 4 directions. Badrinath in the North, Dwaraka in the West, Rameswaram in the South and Puri in the East.
*Katcheri – An assembly of musicians in the context of Carnatic music
On a lighter note, please crowdfund this little Columbus to travel the world and make a small difference, one smile with each mile :)
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