Hawk on a Tour to Bangalore: Yercaud - Madurai - Rameshwaram - Kanyakumari!


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Re: Hawk on a Tour to Bangalore-Yercaud-Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari!!

i dont know how i missed this thread, but Mukesh great pics and excellent travelogue.

I must say one thing again and again - How do u manage to keep ur car so squeaky clean even in long trips!!
They say you can know about a man's personality by the way he treats his cars - btw do you keep a super white formal shirt and a suit in ur scorpio ( a la jason statham in Transporter ? [;)]).

Kudos to u for keeping the vehicle in such a condition, please share with us your practices!!
 
Thread Starter #17
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Re: Hawk on a Tour to Bangalore-Yercaud-Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari!!

Contd....

Day 2: Woke up a bit late around 8 am , had a good breakfast again at Sabarees.

Then we parked the car near KPS residency, and thought to visit temple .

This time we went through Auto, it was Piaggio Ape.

A diesel auto, they charge you exhorbitantly seeing persons from outsiders.
He asked to pay 80 rs for a mere 1 km.

And he thinks we were fools, took us round on different roads and finally to the temple, the previous day we had been to temple on Hawk, and the distance was less.

We paid him 60 Rs as we were 6 members.
A cop came to our rescue and grilled him, as my dad new Tamil he spoke to the cop.

So my suggestion to visitors, park your car and visit the places nearby in Auto.
Its a best option to avoid tight parking and scratches caused by morons.

People here have absolute no sense of driving.

The moment they see outside state vehicle, they honk madly.

So the next day we entered Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple from West gate, the last day we had entered through East street.

As soon as we entered the temple, we hired a guide for 300 Rs.

He was very helpful in taking us inside, he insisted us to take Special Darshan ticket 50rs each (1 for Meenakshi temple)+50 Rs(For Lord Shiva temple).
We did it and he lead us to all another door, where we had a good darshan as against previous day for 15 Rs ticket, it was much farther distance.
This time it was just the door next to Sanctum Sanctorum.

Had a good darshan , we put 100 rs dakshina to the pandit's plate.
So we were let to have a good darshan for 10 min.

Then as soon we came out our guide told us to visit Shiva linga immediately, so we did and came out from this darshan in flat 10 minutes.

So around 9-10 am the rush is less and one can have a good darshan of both temples.

It was after this the guide took us to each idol and started briefing us about history of temple.

Goddess parvathi the wife of Shiva named here Meenakshi Sundareshwar(Beautiful deity).

The temple is 2500-3000 years old architecture.
The temple has totally 14 gopurams.
The southern Gopuram is one of the tallest upto 170 feet , from all other Gopurams.
The temple was built under the reign of Pandya Dynasty.

Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple
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The goddess got the name Meenakshi as the eyes resemble the eye lid of fish, with beautiful Nathu of diamonds(Diamond jewellery on Nose).

Tadaatagai(Meenakshi's childhood name) was trained carefully in all the 64 sastras.
In her childhood Meenakshi after coming out from holy fire had 3 breasts.
Its said that she had to wage war on the three worlds across eight directions.
After conquering Sathyaloka(Brahma's Abode), Vaikunta( Vishnu's Abode) and Amaravati(the abode of the Devas), she advanced to Kailasha(Shiva's Abode).
She easily defeated the Bhoota ganas(Shiva's army) and Nandi(the celestial bull of Shiva) and headed to attack and conquer Shiva.
The moment she looked at Shiva, she was unable to fight and bowed her head down due to shyness, the third breast vanished immediately.
Tadaatagai(Meenakshi)realized that Shiva was her destined husband.

Both Shiva and Tadaathagai returned to Madurai and the king arranged the coronation ceremony of his daughter, followed by her marriage with Shiva.

There is a temple at Thirupparankundram of lord Vishnu, who is brother of Meenakshi.

The marriage was supposed to be the biggest event on earth, with the whole earth gathering near Madurai.
Vishnu, the brother of Meenakshi, prepared to travel from his holy abode at Vaikuntam to preside over the marriage .
Due to a divine play, he was tricked by the Deva, Indra and delayed on the way.
The marriage was presided over by a local god from Thirupparankundram an incarnation of Vishnu.
After the marriage, the pair ruled over Madurai for a long time and then assumed divine forms as Sundareswarar and Meenakshi who are presiding.

It is said that still the Madurai temple is ruled both by Shiva & Meenakshi.
Shiva's reign is for 5 months in a year, rest 7 months is ruled by Lord Meenakshi.
So over the year first 5 months by Shiva & next 7 months by Meenakshi.

At the end of the term the Pattabhisheka(Changing the ruler of temple) takes place, during their reign in a year.

Lord Shiva's Pattabhisheka
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Vishnu Hands over his Sister to Lord Shiva(Kanyadaan)
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Our Guide
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More to be contd..... Interior of Madurai temple & exterior Gopuram, along with Museum at the temple with 1000 pillars and sculptures that can give sound of tabla......
 
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Thread Starter #20
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Re: Hawk on a Tour to Bangalore-Yercaud-Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari!!

Nice start for yet another super T'log from you Mukesh. Hope this trip was also full of a religious trip apart from Yercaud [;)].
Eitherways, don't worry. The Automatic Machine Gun is not here.

Hooked up to this thread.
Thanks buddy, still more coverage is left out which will be done in a phased manner.

Nice Start Mukesh, Waiting to see my native through your lens and the joy it brings in !!
Keep it rolling !!
Thanks Hamster, but weather in Kanyakumari was hottest in the month of December.
Keep the reviews and photos coming!
Yes will do it.
Mukesh.. looks like you had another good trip. Keep it up buddy !! and share more pics. I also completed my long trip and writing the blog. Will post here soon ..
Thanks Amit, more to come stay tuned.
Hi Mukesh, Nice start..Good to see the pictures. Yercaud reminds me the days I visited earlier. I used to visit atleast once in a year. Waiting for more updates :)
Yes i felt as if i visited Nandi Hills in Bangalore(I meant roads only, but not the weather of Yercaud).
Refreshing to see the photographs. Particularly liked the hotel hoardings on a hairpin. Conveys so much.
Thanks Chandranath.
I didn't get ,esp hoardings???
Mukesh, The photo looks good. Your mHawk is rocking...
Thanks.
Very nice pictures..
Thanks.
i dont know how i missed this thread, but Mukesh great pics and excellent travelogue.

I must say one thing again and again - How do u manage to keep ur car so squeaky clean even in long trips!!
They say you can know about a man's personality by the way he treats his cars - btw do you keep a super white formal shirt and a suit in ur scorpio ( a la jason statham in Transporter ? [;)]).

Kudos to u for keeping the vehicle in such a condition, please share with us your practices!!
Thanks for those kind words.
Respect a Man's car, Man will respect you.
Ha ha !!!!!
As the weather was dry the car looks clean, and with silver its an added advantage, as the dirt can be seen from the near.

Nice Pic's, ease to eyes and Good narration [:)]
Thanks.
So, we reached Madurai finally. Nice journey so far Mukesh! Not to mention - The photos are nice!!!
Yes but there is lot of time to reach Kanyakumari, stay tuned.
Pictures Courtesy : Iphone 4
 
Thread Starter #21
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Re: Hawk on a Tour to Bangalore-Yercaud-Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari!!

Contd part of day 2 @ Madurai temple.......

After having the darshan, we spent almost 1 hour with guide, he was explaining the few places of interest in detail.

I would highly recommend to hire a guide, esp 1st time visitors.

There was a painting of Shivaling on the roof of temple, which turns to your direction.

Which i have posted the pics.

Also the temple had 4 layers of pillar.

Its said that the earlier days the temple had 4 main Entrances, main entrance being the South one.
Where each entrance had 2 elephants for guarding main doors of temple, which is History now.

Its said that the Madurai City now was a forest earlier with only people leaving around temple, where the different layers of these pillars was house for the people, where they used to leave in a colony.
Some pics were restricted, but i somehow clicked it.

All the paintings were on the roof was done during the Kumbh Mela carried out in 2009.

Best of the best was Shiv Ling.

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Dance competition between Shiva(left) & Meenakshi(Right).
Both were trying to prove who is great.
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Shiva Ling on the roof, has said to be painted @ 65 degree viewing angle.
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Angle changing as i move
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I was really impressed to the painter's contribution.[thumbsup]
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Coin counting center.
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Guy inspecting.
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Thread Starter #23
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Re: Hawk on a Tour to Bangalore-Yercaud-Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari!!

Contd.....
After having darshan , we started visiting the rest of temple.

The pond is always filled with Water, but now it is reported that the tiles are having leaks, so with the mud as base they were reconstructing the pond.

So there was no water in the pond.

Which would have been altogether different view if water was there in the Pond.

The Kumbh mela is carried out once in 12 years it seems.

The last Kumbh Mela was carried out in 2009, so the painting in the temple.

This is carried out by the ruling Govt of TN.

So after seeing this, we entered 1000 Pillars Museum.

So guys if you have taken 50 Rs ticket for Photo at the temple, same is valid for Museum visit also.

Many others had to buy it again as they threw the ticket.

A guy would inspect the ticket red hand, while you start clicking pictures, else they will fine you.

So here goes the next set of pics.

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Pattabhishekam of Meenakshi(Old painting that was restored a few years back).
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The sculptural Ribs were also carved.
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Re: Hawk on a Tour to Bangalore-Yercaud-Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari!!

Nice T-log Mukesh , keep them coming , it just refreshed my memories of these places!

And as i said before one clarification these local buses not only honk for KA regd vehicles but TN regd vehicles too!
 
Thread Starter #25
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Re: Hawk on a Tour to Bangalore-Yercaud-Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari!!

Next set of pics......

So its good bye to Madurai meenakshi temple......

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Farewell to Madurai...
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Stay tuned for more.....
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Thread Starter #26
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Re: Hawk on a Tour to Bangalore-Yercaud-Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari!!

Contd......

After the farewell to the temple, we had a good lunch at Sabarees.

It was a good experience to travel in diesel auto, this time it was Mahindra Alfa.

It gulped potholes, as if they weren't any.

1st time i came to know Mahindra has Auto's too.

So after a wonderful meal @ Sabarees.

We headed to Nayakar Palace.

And i couldn't have Jigirthanda, though we asked it in Sabarees.

Outside myself had some Hygiene issues.

In Madurai you will forget which month you are in, i don't drink too much of soft drinks, but there automatically you like to drink Sprite , Mountain dew.

Here goes the next set of pics.

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Spelling gone wrong.
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Delicious Guvava
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More to come...... Farewell to Madurai, Welcome Rameshwaram...........
 
Thread Starter #27
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Re: Hawk on a Tour to Bangalore-Yercaud-Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari!!

Contd.....

Then it was farewell to Madurai.

Packed the stuff's vacated room.

Off to Rameshwaram, So it was time my bro drove Madurai to Rameshwaram.

And me in the co-driver seat started clicking on pics.

The road was a good 2 way lane State Highway from Madurai, excellent roads.

Took us 3 & half hours to reach Rameshwaram.

Unfortunately we were on Pamban bridge around 5.50 pm, we missed the beauty of this bridge.

So it was halt of the 2nd day @ rameshwaram.
Went very well according to plan.

We stayed in Kashi Matt of our community at Rameshwaram, just in front of West Gate of Rameshwaram Temple.

Had food there at Arya Bhavan, crashed to bed that day.


Leaving Madurai
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This guy suddenly from white 2 wheel lane comes to right with indicator to left, does his zig-zag stunt and goes to left.
It was free surprise to us.
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Pamban Bridge Toll
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Only pic of Pamban Bridge
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Our plan @ Rameshwaram
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Thread Starter #29
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Re: Hawk on a Tour to Bangalore-Yercaud-Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari!!

Nice T-log Mukesh , keep them coming , it just refreshed my memories of these places!

And as i said before one clarification these local buses not only honk for KA regd vehicles but TN regd vehicles too!
But the body language of these people was evident, they say Po Po.....
Pinadi po......
Lest it happened only in Madurai, people at Kanyakumari are calm and friendly.
Hi Mukesh!

Nice Photos [thumbsup]

Waiting for more updates[:)]
Thanks sir , more to come.
Good set of Pics,

Keep it coming..
Thanks appu.
Yes more to come.
 
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Re: Hawk on a Tour to Bangalore-Yercaud-Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari!!

Contd.....

Day 3: We woke up a bit late around 8.30 am, So obviously the darshan at Rameshwaram temple took more than 2 & half hours.

Pond @ Rameshwaram.
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Front side of Rameshwaram Temple, in front of Sea.
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On the way to Dhanushkodi.
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Hawk Waiting patiently...
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Which Vehicle??(Any Guess ???)
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Unknown territory of Dhanushkodi.
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More to come....
 
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