Our wanderings and perceptions

Our Belur onward journey started early morning around 7 AM from Srirangapatna, We get into a rural landscape as we drove for half an hour. The early morning sun and dew fills the road with quiet a few vehicles. We stopped by a road side shop to have breakfast. Ate Thatte idlies, vada, sambhar and chutney for Rs.80. Simple but delicious food particularly one that satisfies your hunger prangs. Drove further towards Belur as per google maps. In the last leg we had to redirect from the highway towards a small path that leads to Lakkunda. This is where we have booked our home stay. Lonely path with coffee estates on both sides leads to this area. The home stay is on the first floor with the owner and family on the ground floor. Sunil became a hit with us in the first meet itself. He along with his mom, aunt and kids took care of us for the next few days. We were given filter coffees and left to settle down in our room. It was a simple queen size bed and a clean rest room attached. Internet ...

Mysuru Palace. Chamundi, Brindavan, Balmuri falls on Sunday morning we woke at the Saviruchi hotel, had tea there in their ground floor restaurant, got ready and went for the breakfast. This restaurant had typical Kannada breakfast - thatte idly, Mysore masala dosa, ghee rice bath, vada, etc. Had sumptuous food and set out to Chamundi hills. After reaching the bottom of the cliff we saw some vehicles but never thought we will have to face traffic up hill. With 4 kms to the temple, vehicles were stuck and many were tourist buses. So decided to go back. We reached our rooms near the Mysuru palace and checked in. Got into our uniform dresses we brought for this trip and left to the palace. Here again there were many tourists. From the start to end we were pushed around and found it hard to stick together as a unit. We went into the palace  till the first floor, covering the courts and gallery. Once out by 2pm we walked in search of restaurants around palace and came back to our accomm...

 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 our names and count beforehand.  There were 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 to 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...

 Melaperumpallam is a small village in Nagapattinam district. Near to Keezhaperumpallam - the famous temple for planet Kethu. Melaperumpallam is not famous unlike Keezhaperumpallam which is  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 Vaduvahirkkanni. Special prayers were held that day for a family and we were also given prasadams - pongal, sweet ponga...