Our wanderings and perceptions

 We planned for a long trip over the year-end Christmas holidays. As a group, 3 families set out the Christmas weekend. We started in a Temp Traveller and a car on the early hours of Saturday from Chennai to our first location - Hogenakkal. We took the Krishnagiri route to Hogenakkal at 5 AM and reached there around 12 PM. Had a halt at Hotel Alankar near Ranipet for breakfast. We have been to this restaurant earlier too, they maintain the same good taste. On that day, the restaurant was flooded and we were allowed inside in a queue after giving your names and count beforehand.  There are around 20 vehicles outside in the parking giving us a glimpse of just how many of us have hit the road for the holidays. After reaching Hokkenakkal, we had pay Rs.50 to drive up the hill and park the vehicle. But the Parking lot near the bus stand up in the hill was quite far away from the waterfalls. So we discussed with the locals and went to another paid parking area. This is beyond the Tamilnadu T

 Melaperumpallam is a small village in Nagapattinam district. Near to Keezhaperumpallam - the famous temple for planet Kethu. Melaperumpallam is not famous unlike Keezhaperumpallam as its linked to planet. Having read about  Melaperumpallam, we decided to make a visit while our return to Chennai from Kaaraikkaal. With the help of google map we were able to trace this temple tucked in this small village. On the day of our visit we saw a couple of more cars with visitors. The temple priest told us that recently some one had taken video log of the temple and posted it in youtube, inviting more devotees to the temple. Its a small and old temple. Pattinathar is said to have visited this temple. We could see the Thiruvodu tree here, a rare one, next to the Panamaram which is the temple tree. Lord Valampuranaathar is the main deity and his consort is Goddess Vaduvagirkkanni. Special prayers were held that day for a family and we were also given prasadams - pongal, sweet pongal. A very tasty p