Trip to Tamil Nadu

MY JOURNEY TO CHENNAI

It did felt different for me. kind of an odd sense of familiarity and similarity as I was turning out from the railway station to the hotel. And that continued to my journey through CHENNAI.

When I drop-in from Bangalore to the Chennai railway station, the day was almost over. It was too dark(almost night). However, I managed to get accommodation.

However, it felt so good to be in a different state where it has a different culture, tradition, varieties of cuisines, language, etc. The first I observed are the signs, the sign-in every shop was in Tamil which is the heart language of the state. The Tamil font resembles those illusion puzzles which gave me a headache even then I managed to take up my journey to explore the place.

Here is my first visiting site from the trip.

MARINA BEACH, which is one of the second-longest beaches in the world. The most famous landmark in the city "Marina beach" which is home to several iconic buildings and statues. You can get to watch amazing sunset and sunrise, there are many street shops; some shops are meant for the statues where you can take pictures with the stars. Many adventure activities are available.

There are so many statues on Marina beach. Chennaiites used their creativity - constructed the immortalized historic statues.

The best time to visit Marina beach is between November to February.

I was been their at noon which was not a good idea. Couldn't stop in for a longer period. I recommend visiting during the evenings.

PONDICHERRY

If you have heard about pondicherry, I'm pretty certain that you would have heard about auroville - a little township that is dedicated to the philosopher, Aurobindo. The site founded by his spiritual collaborator and devotee Mirra Alfassa, also called ' The Mother'

Auroville is a fascinating little place that at almost belongs to nobody in particular. it only belongs to humanity as a whole. it is a place of an unending education, of constant progress, and a youth that never ages.

heading to Auroville

Auroville is around 165 km from Chennai and 13 km from white town in pondicherry. After a quick breakfast, I was already in white town pondicherry; I took a two-wheeler bike for a day to visit Auroville. it cost you around 300 - 350/day with petrol being extra. With pleasant drive, it took around half an hour to reach.

Matrimandir (the soul of the city)

Matri mandir was high on my list of things to do in Auroville because it is literally quite the heart and the soul of the place.

on entering the premises, visitors are allowed to a gallery comprising 3-4 rooms where displays of the monument, paintings, quotes of Aurobindo, books, brochures of the monument are put up. Another small room plays a short clip about Auroville, Matri Mandir, the construction, architecture, and more. after completing all these you can request a free pass for entrance to mantirmandir. when you get a free pass you can begin your walk towards MANTIRMANDIR. it takes 2km long way to reach. inside the mantrimandir; on the first available day, interested people can register to do meditation.

As I walked along the dusty, red path, the matrimandir rose up in front of me. Sadly, one cannot get close to the monument and experience the viewpoint closest. Apart from this, many visitors clicked selfies and the pictures, some even doing video chat with their loved ones who are far away from matrimandir.

"The Matrimandir will be the soul of Auroville.

The sooner the soul is there, the better it will be

for everybody and especially for the Aurovilians".

- THE MOTHER

"A place...for trying to find one's consciousness.

It is like the force, the central Force of Auroville, the cohesive Force of Auroville".

- THE MOTHER

Learning about the mantrimandir's architecture to attributes of each garden brings you to understand that how the mother's ideas are preached and implemented.

CHURCH (BASILICA OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS)

The basilica of the sacred heart of Jesus is a beautiful magnificent building in the former French colony of pondicherry. As a more believer in Christianity, when I visited it was a breathtaking moment for me.

It is made of the gothic-style 100-year-old church with several stained glass images of the saints, where one can spend beautiful moments with the lord.

FRENCH BAKER STREET

In the evenings while I was walking around I came to cross this place which really caught my eyes. I was really impressed by the interiors, so thought of tasting something. By their menu, I got to see there were not many french dishes, was a little disappointed. Even then I ordered pizza, macarons, and escargots chocolate, the taste was yummy😋

the walls of this place were filled with Japanese geisha art copies. The seating is made of simple wood.

It is a good place but I felt it is far overpriced than the normal ones!

PROMENADE (ROCK BEACH)

According to me, this place is considered absolute heaven on earth, it takes your heart out!

It is well maintained iconic beachside walk-in main Pondicherry, free from the eatery, shoppers, etc.

It is exclusive for a cool breeze stroll, definitely, a must-visit for sunrise or sunset.

A good place to spend time with your loved ones:)

COIMBATORE

Blessed to touch down to this place:)

If you want to explore Coimbatore, I would recommend "ADIYOGI STATUE - THE SOURCE OF YOGA".

An overview of Adiyogi

Adiyogi Shiva statue is a 112ft (34m) statue of Hindu deity shiva designed by sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, founder of Isha Foundation. it was built by the foundation and weighs around 500 tonnes. Sadhguru said that the statue is for inspiring and promoting yoga and is named "Adiyogi" which means " the first yogi" because Shiva is known as the originator of yoga.

Adiyogi Shiva was inaugurated on 24 February 2017 by the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, on the occasion of Maha Shivratri a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honor of shiva. The Indian Ministry of Tourism has included the statue as a consecration destination in its official Incredible India campaign.

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