Explore

About me

Am a contradiction of sorts. i love going out and having a good time with friends, and i can also stay home chill out over a book or a movie..

Am very passionate about writing, so give me a topic and watch me float away into wonderland... Love reading books- sometimes i read 3books simultaneously, crazy about music- need it all around me, all the time and ofcourse, i totally am ga ga goo goo over my 7yr old naughty brat- Floppy!! errr, Prince Floppy!! :)

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Skywatch Friday -- St Stephen's Church, Ooty

Was taking a break from work and glancing through my photo albums when i stumbled upon the one titled "Ooty". Its been 2years since my last visit and i sure hope i get the chance to revisit the hill station. 

Back in school when i had visited Ooty 1st time, the toy train had us all in squeals, laughing and cheering on.. And later, when we visited Ooty during my MBA days for a holiday + workshop, we were enjoying the sights and scenes that came along with us. We were 4 close friends who wandered the town, took off on our own looking for hidden treasures, got into trouble for being late to the workshop sessions, but at the end we had FUN! 
The most recent trip was just me.. I travelled by Bus both ways, a good 12hour journey made easy thanks to music, book and decent company... 

Many who visit Ooty only know of the usual tourist spots.. But during my last trip, while i aimlessly roamed the winding path, i stumbled upon this magnificent church. Asked the cab to pull over and decided to explore a bit...




 The Church is a Gothic church and is one of the best known colonial structures in Ooty.  The church was apparently constructed and carved totally from wood. The interiors are beautiful and it was cooler than outside..probably because of the wood. Stories around the Church say that the wood was brought from Tipu Sultan's palace and was transported to Ooty through elephants.

The Stained glass images were beyond beautiful.. Words dont do justice...
There is also a life size portrait of the Last Supper near the doorway...

Info from the net:
The pulpit is on the left of the chancel and attached to it is a small flight of steps. A pleasant surprise awaits one in the attic of the third tier of the church. Here, instead of the big metallic bell, one comes across novel but antique hammer like structures (four in number) tied on to inverted "V" Shaped planks, with ropes. There are four thick iron bars on the Eastern as well as the Western side screwed on to thick wooden beams and they hang from above at different heights in a slanting fashion, and face each other. There are pulleys attached with solid wires, which operate the hammers, and which reach the ground floor through the gaps in between the planks on the floor. The entire structure is housed on a tall, sturdy stool, which is open on all the fourth sides. When the wires are pulled from the floor, a rhythmic musical sound is produced..  [Source: http://www.tamilnadu-tourism.com/tamil-nadu-temples/st-stephens-church.html]

I walked around the campus, taking in the beautiful architecture when suddenly the security guard came over and asked me to leave as it was closing time....

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday

4 comments:

  1. Thanks for introducing this to me. Beautiful pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oooh. that looks very old and interesting. Beautiful architecture...

    ReplyDelete
  3. I captured this beautiful church in my recent trip to Nilgiris.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Interesting post. We have been planning an Ooty trip for so long. Good to have your write up on it.

    ReplyDelete

Leave your footprint so i know you visited.. Thank you..