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Karaikal

The following day dawned in Karaikal at AVS Imperia. We decided to have early breakfast get energized for the day. After having enjoyed a good ambiance at the room we walked in to surprise at the dining hall. Typical Tamil breakfast was laid out. Very well cooked food filled our taste buds. Idly, pongal, upma, kesari, vadai, sambar and 3 types of chutneys were all up to the mark. After enjoying the breakfast we moved out. Visited Kailasanathar temple and Kalyana Perumal Temple both near the Karaikal Amman temple. 
Kailasanathar temple is an old and well maintained temple. You don't see the priest but the temple is cleaned, lite and the main deities are secured inside locked gates.

There is a cow shed and stock of feed. On a Sunday morning we saw only few men devotees in the temple. This temple has 4 gopurams and one can enter through any of the four streets to the temple.

Opposite to the Sivan temple is the Perumal's abode. The nithya kalyana perumal is just next to the Kairaikal Ammaiyar temple. A temple tank stands between these temples. This tank brims with water and is tidy too. The Perumal is in sayanam  behind and the moolavar is with Sridevi and Boodevi. Here again as part of the morning ritual, temple is cleaned and lite up while the priest has left after locking the gate of moolavar.
As suggested by our friends, picked up halwa's - damroot, badam, paruthi, from the near by Nagore Halwa shop and headed straight to the Beach to see it in broad daylight. With all the fishing boats lined up it was a sight to behold. Colorful boats make a formation while this place is also into building new fishing boats. As there are jelly fishes in the water near shore, visitors are asked to stay away from the waters.

We were told by the locals that the Karaikal beach was all different before Tsunami and now it is in a totally different color. Rocks have been arranged near the shore were Tsunami had struck. Adjacent to the beach is a park flanked by locals especially kids. This park and the light house is hosts seem to have been huge before tsunami. There are ponies in the beach to take children on a ride.
There was also a camel and kids get on top of with the help of a ladder. Looks like camel is at home with the scorching heat in Karaikal. At an entrance ticket of Rs..5 each we can climb up the light house and have a better view of the place. The park area is surrounded by many eateries catering to a range of snacks; looks much hygienic to marina.
Mosque on the way
On the way we made a quick visit to the Uzhavar sandhai. Vegetables were invitingly fresh but price was same as we would buy in Chennai. Quite a busy site, vegetable sellers in temporary setups selling all local produces and small time sellers selling butter milk and koozh to them. A huge exhibition ground has been turned to a veggie market. So public can park their vehicles inside and carry their bags easily to the parking space. 
With that Uzhavar sandhai visit we wrapped up and started our journey back to Chennai. It was 12pm when we left Karaikal, reached here by 7pm owing to Sunday evening traffic of city returning population.
See you in the next trip :)
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Location: Karaikal, Puducherry, India

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