Thursday Challenge- Burst of Orange in Karaikudi

A few beautiful patterns from Karaikudi - The aachi house, the Bangala and from one of the streets...It is amazing the kind of things you come across during your trips- beautiful experiences... ‪#‎travel‬ ‪#‎experiences‬

"ORANGE" (Fruit, Vegetables, Flowers, Signs, Clothing, Vehicles,...)

Skywatch Friday..Jal Mahal Palace, Jaipur

It was a beautiful Sunday morning, the sun was shining bright but we were always on the lookout for the sudden downpour. Our past few days in Jaipur had proved that the weather was quite unpredictable, not that we are complaining. We quite loved the showers as they cooled the weather down.. This particular day we were on the road since 9am. We had just visited the Gaitore and were heading towards Nanhargarh fort and had plans of exploring few other places around. On the way, we spotted the Jal Mahal Palace on our right. It was beautiful. 

A palace of sorts in the middle of the large water body surrounded by nothing but water, mountains and emptiness. Wow. Our cab driver told us this was once the summer palace of the Raja as the main palace would get very hot. 

Jal Mahal (literally translates to "Water Palace") sits majestically in the middle of the Mansagar Lake. The palace and the lake around it went through a renovation sometime in the 18th century by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Amber. He also made the palace bigger, by adding more rooms and halls. Traditional boat-makers from Vrindavan were brought in to craft the Rajput style wooden boats. 

As I look oh yonder, all I see are the vast Aravalli hills dotted with temples and forts and on the other side is the bustling city of Jaipur. When the renovation took place, the lake went through the biggest transformation. The drains were all diverted, about 1-2 million tonnes of toxic sludge was removed, new eco system was created and local vegetation & fish were introduced back into the waters.  The wetlands around also welcome migratory birds every year. 

Since it was a Sunday, the whole world and sundry were there. There were children running around, street performers who were being chased away by cops, hawkers selling camel leather products and little trinkets and then ofcourse the men standing with a small table selling jhal muri.. The entire place was alive and buzzing... It was nice, but I did wish for some peace and quiet... 

Suddenly we heard a commotion and noticed that all the street hawkers were being asked to leave by the cops! They were all rushing to pack their stuff, and leave the area before the Cops got to them.But there was no sign of the crowd moving away from there. In fact, we saw quite a few go near the edge of the water and throw chips and biscuits and sev at the fish... We left there wondering what a lavish life the Royal must have led back in the days!! 

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday

Krishnapuram Palace, Kayamkulam

The four of us decided to do a holiday a year, and the destination for this year was Kerala. The place was finalised, resort was booked, and train tickets were on their way. We were headed to Allepey. After spending 2 days soaking in the sun and enjoying a long relaxing houseboat ride, we decided to head out and explore the town around. We hailed a cab and the first stop was going to be at Krishnapuram Palace in Kayamkulam, 47 km from Alappey.. 

This palace is said to be a replica of the Padmanabapuram palace, Trivandrum. Situated in Kayamkulam near Allepey, we were told this palace was built in the 18th century by Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma  of the Travancore kingdom. The architecture is typical of Kerala, the gabled roof, narrow corridors, rows of windows and nearly all rooms are interconnected.  There is also a temple nearby, the Krishnaswamy Temple at Krishnapuram where the King used to go say his daily prayers and where special festivals were celebrated.  It was built quite small, and later expansions were done by Ayyappan Mathsnada Pillai. 

What we see today is a three storied structure within the complex, which is after the renovations done  in the 1950s by the Archaeological Department of Kerala. As we wandered the vast palace, we were in awe of the small windows, narrow corridors and how natural light streamed in from every corner. There was also a spot where a few steps led to a door, which we learnt was to the pond and held an underground escape route to the outside roads. 

There are quite a few art pieces adorning the walls, the one that caught our eye was the  mural painting titled “Gajendra Moksham” . It is 154 square feet in size, the largest of such a kind in Kerala. There was also a double edged Kayamkulam Vaal (sword) on display within the palace museum. here.  Through one particular window we got a full view of the pond outside where I spotted a lone turtle happily swimming around. The beauty of the palace was the cool temperature across the rooms and levels. The underground pond is said to have provided natural air conditioning to the place.  

The man in charge told us that during Onam the place was known to come alive with festivities, feast and the Royal family filling all the rooms. As we made our way out, we stopped to admire the neatly manicured gardens and the giant buddha sitting under a canopy and wondered what the story behind this statue was.

 If you are visiting this part of Kerala, you should consider staying at Club Mahindra’s Property in Munnar, which is just about 3 hours away.

This post was featured on Club Mahindra's blog recently!

If wishes were horses...

This was taken at Dakshin Chitra on ECR nearly a year or more ago. A lamp inside one of the model houses.. :-)

Submitting this for Wordless Wednesday theme by Chennai Bloggers Club

Skywatch Friday... Going back in time

There we were in the crowded area in Hyderabad, Charminar. After walking around the monument, we spent about half an hour in the Choodi Bazaar [ my friend even convinced me to buy a few pairs of glass bangles, some that wore with the help of moisturiser]. Proud of herself, we walked away from the jam packed alley towards the car park but not before picking up a glass of chai and some boiled peanuts from a street side vendor. She then suggested we visit Chowmahalla Palace, which was nearby. 

The place looked deserted, we parked her car and made our way to the gate. The watchman said the place was open and we were free to roam. The first step into the gates and all I saw were open spaces, lush gardens, and a huge palace of sorts at the very end of the road. It was almost beyond eye range. We walked towards the side column of buildings and noticed it was a row of rooms that were probably used by either soldiers to stay in or as storage rooms. Most of them were open, but empty. And then there was the garden in the middle with a clean water way. There were also a few fountains, and friend mentioned they turned on the lights and fountains later in the evening. Soon, we spotted a gentleman strolling and went over to say hello. Turns out, he was part of the group that was maintaining the place. He took us under his wing and promptly showed us around the palace. 

He explained that the palace building in the front was just one of the many. It housed the Durbar hall, a majestic room with a throne flanked by beautiful chandeliers. The lights came on in a few minutes and it looked like we were standing in a room made of gold. Similarly, every corridor, every pillar, every chandelier looked so grand. I was quite curious to know how they were maintained, they looked good as new. He told us they were cleaned regularly, and time to time were polished as well.  

The palace also called Chowmahallat (meaning 4 Palaces) belonged to the Nizams of Hyderabad. It was once the seat of Asaf Jahi dynasty and the official home of the Nizam. When I probed on the story behind the name, he went on to explain that in Persian language, Chahar meant 4 while in Arabic Mahalat meant palaces, and therefore the name Chowmahallat or four palaces. As we were walking out of the building, he shared that the palace was once spread across 45acres but today only 14acres belonged to the palace.

Submitting this for Skywatch Friday and for Flower Friday theme by Chennai Bloggers Club [why? the chandelier reminds me of a flower :D] 

The title made me smile- why? Cos the post is about going back in time with respect to two things- 1. it is about a place soaked in history and 2. it brought back memories of my hydie visit [which was back in 2006 and since then, every time I plan a trip since then, it has fallen flat on my face]

White walls of St. Teresa’s Church, Chennai

The three images were taken a few seconds within each other. The skies changed, the tempo changed and the chapel looked so different.

This is St. Teresa’s Church in Nungambakkam, Chennai, bang opp Ispahani Center.  It has been a landmark of sorts from my college days and recently got a face-lift. The St. Teresa’s Church was established in 1912, houses a school within the walls helping the underprivileged  A few years ago, I also noticed a small prayer spot come up near the main entrance. This Parish was under the control of the Mill Hill Fathers until 1929. Later, it came under the control of the Diocese of Madras. The people at this parish are engaged in uplifting the poor through education.

You can read about the renovations here- The Hindu

Submitting this as part of Wordless Wednesday theme from Chennai Bloggers Club and to my Celebrating Chennai series. :-)

Flower Friday...You are a survivor!

Today is Friday, Today is also International Women's Day! And today was Flower Friday theme on Chennai Bloggers Club! 

Here are a few flowers that I came upon, that I think represent a Woman beautifully! 

Naga Pushpam- uncle brought it from the temple today. It has so many layers, the outer petals so thick protecting the delicate center from harm. The center too has multiple layers. just like a woman who has all these layers, an exterior that helps her deal with life and people... 

Frangipani- I love this flower, spotted this bunch on the tree in Tranquebar at Neemrana Bungalow on the beach. I spotted white and then I also spotted this pink, purple and yellow coloured flowers. They are always either in a cluster or single. Thick petals, an elegant shape and they stand out when compared to other flowers. Just like every woman, each one is unique, stands out and oozes with charm and strength..

Thirsty Thursday.... Salud ~

It was 2006, no wait was it 2007? The year is fuzzy.. but i do remember it was Oct 1st week and I was in Delhi with friends. We had just returned from our whirlwind trip to Ajmer- Pushkar and Jaipur and were staying at a lawyer friend's house, and were all headed to another friend's place for lunch and drinks. 

And I must mention that I was meeting most of them for the 1st time. I knew them all through Ryze, but hadn't met most of them [for obvious reasons, I lived in Chennai, they in Delhi] . 

Anyways, without digressing further. We reached Paddy's apartment complex, managed to find his apartment and were welcomed by quite a few early birds. Soon, the space was filled with chatter, there was some singing, lots of laughing and a few empty and full glasses on the table. We were not drunk, but getting there. There was beer sitting in a tub of ice, vodka, whiskey and just about everything else you can dream of. 

Suddenly, R came out screaming that she had found a bottle of Tequila [ unopened] and announced that we were going to do shooters. I was new to this whole shooting concept [not shot ducks, people, or tequila] and so approached R and shared this with her. She took me under her wing and taught me  how to shoot a tequila.

Shot glasses came out, arranged in a row, and she poured tequila in all of them, continuously without pulling back even once. And suddenly out of nowhere emerged a tray of sliced lemon and some salt.  This is when I knew it was bound to get interesting. 

And then we were told [ who am I kidding, not "we", but "I"] to "Lick the salt off your hand, drink the entire shot of tequila, and suck the juice from the lemon wedge"... Tried practicing it before the actual moment, and before I knew it, I had downed not 1 but 3 shots of Tequila. I was still standing, head was not buzzing and I was steady~!! From that day on, R became my guruji ....  hic hic

A few years down the road, Jan 2009, after a friend's wedding, we landed at her parent's house after a night show and pulled out this Sierra Tequila bottle and gulped it down shot by shot till we reached the bottom of the empty bottle... I had become a pro!

Both these apart, I remember an evening at TGIF in Bangalore with a friend. There was this guy in full Mexican attire, down to the sombrero ringing the bell and asking people if they wanted a Tequila Shot. He would ring the bell, ask the people in the table, take a small gulp and move on.... wondered how drunk he must have been by the end of the night... 

But it has been a while since I had tequila... even though the mere mention brings fond memories and a smile.. 

Submitting this for the Thirsty Thursday theme by Chennai Bloggers Club.. :-) 

Skywatch Friday and 275th post... Welcome to the Blue Hills

It is not often that you take a holiday that leaves you wanting more. I had one such experience recently. Even though it was a trip to a familiar destination, it was with friend and her family, which made a world of difference. I enjoyed myself, visited familiar sites, saw new things, explored unseen sites, spent nights playing card games and word games. Must also mention that this was my 1st time at a Club Mahindra property. :-) We stayed at Club Mahindra's Derby Green in Ooty... 

The temperatures were 12-18 during the day and 5-7 at night. It was heavenly, being able to walk around in a Tee shirt and capri, not worrying about sweat, enjoying a hot cuppa chai and a bowl of maggi after spending hours exploring the Botanical Gardens. It sure was a memorable vacation :-) 

 

And through the days, the clouds and blue skies kept us excited, the drama, the movements, the shapes, it was sheer magical..... sweet memories....

Participating in Skywatch after long and just realised this is my 275th post on this blog!! Yayy~!!

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday ... Well, today is the last Skywatch of this year, see you all in 2013. Wish you a very Happy New year!

Skywatch Friday... Rolling grasslands

The winding path, and clear skies kept us company as we drove from Ooty towards Wellington. Why? After 3 fun days with the dogs & their owners/trainers, it was time to check out the Horse show that happens at the Gymkhana Club every year. The lush greenery, beautiful endless stretch of mountains was just breath taking.

 

As we entered Wellington, i spotted a few horses running in the wild, and thought to myself  "how wonderful it must be... to be so free.." and just as my mind was beginning to wander, the car came to a halt and i was welcomed by the sight of children all dressed in Jockey outfits, looking smart and ready for the challenge. The Equestrian track had been set, and rules were being announced. I took a few minutes to wander the vast club before heading out towards the judges tent to watch the show. There were a few brown horses, 2 white and a majestic black one. One of the riders looked like a kid, she was no more than 12yrs of age. 

Once the signal was made, off they went, jumping, skipping, trotting and running across the various obstacles. I watched them with bated breath, praying none trip and fall, or lose a point for not making the jump. Phew, it was quite an exhilarating experience.

Subsequent to the show, i wandered towards a group of children sitting under a tent, only to discover they were all students from the Equestrian club, aged between 6 and 12, and were here to participate in the show. Past them was where some of the owners were walking about while their horses were being tended to by helpers. Wow, what a day it had been.. The hours spent watching the horses jump and work their magic, the kids rejoice every time a friend achieved a medal added to the experience.

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday

Skywatch Friday...The Port city

Allowing the road to direct the journey, i found myself in the port city of Karaikal I drove along the narrow road all the way to the beach, where i found a few men bringing in fish from their fishing venture. And there were few others waiting for the catch to bid and take some to the market.Karaikal is a small coastal enclave of territory which was formerly part of French India. Together with the other former French enclaves of Pondicherry, Yanam, and Mahé, Karaikal forms the Union Territory of Pondicherry.

The stench of fish was quite overpowering, and i strolled along the water, catching a glimpse of the evening sun against the colourful boats bobbing up & down in the water. 

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday

Skywatch Friday... In the land where nature knows no end

I woke up early, and as i opened the balcony door, the beautiful morning sun welcomed me with a cheer. This was my 1st trip to Hampi and what an experience it had been. Even though i managed to scratch just the surface of this town, it left me wanting to see more and explore further... Maybe another trip or more shall happen in the days to come... 

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday

Skywatch Friday- Aayi Mandapam, Pondicherry

I've lost count of the number of times i have visited this town, back in the days we used to do weekend trips, just drive down, stay with a friend, enjoy the weekend and head back to Chennai to face Monday. The most recent visit was last year- September, around my Birthday. 

I was back in this quaint French town called Pondicherry, 4hours from Chennai and a place that welcomed me with open arms every time i landed here.  Even though it was September, the sun was blazing down with glory, no consideration for us poor souls melting away here. 

Having decided to see more of Pondicherry and gain some insight into the architecture and history, i had signed up for an INTACH walk. Armed with a bottle of water, camera and thirsty soul i was ready, i walked towards the lobby to find Mr Ashok Pande waiting patiently.

 

 

Aayi Mandapam

  Two pillars within the park

We started off with a walk through the narrow lanes, most of which looked alike, with houses neatly stacked beside each other, some sporting name plates dating back to centuries gone by, while others had been restored and put to better use today. Whilst walking i mentioned the park that i kept crossing every time i went to the beach or to Mission street, it was almost like the park had to be met at every outing.  

Ashok said "worry not, we are heading there as we speak" and lo behold, there it was around the corner. It is a Government park, that was once open with no gates and through which cars could drive straight through. Now, there are iron gates that are kept shut, and cars will have to go around the park. As we walked in, i noticed the cobbled pathways and beautiful pillars. These pillars have all been brought in from ruins around the city, they looked right out of one of our temples. 

 

Aayi Mandapam from the other side, can you spot the cannon hidden amidst the plants? [bottom left]

The park is circular in shape, and standing proud right in the center was a Monument, an arch, one that was called "Aayi Mandapam". At first glance, it looked like a smaller simpler version of the Champs-Élysées[no no, not been to France, just seen enough movies to identify the landmark monument], but then upon close inspection i learnt that it has been built in the Greco-Roman architecture. The monument was erected during Napoleon III's reign [Emperor of France] . Situated right in front of the Raj Niwas, the residence of the Lieutenant Governor, the park is quite a majestic place.

When i probed further, Ashok narrated the interesting story behind the Aayi mandapam, that goes back to a  a 16th century courtesan called Aayi. Apparently, the then king was passing by her residence, and on seeing the candle flickering, he assumed it was a place of worship and walked in.  Upon realising his mistake, he begged for forgiveness and was ashamed of his action.  The lady, touched by his humbleness and she then brought down the home and in its place brought up a water reservoir.  Back in the days there was severe water scarcity in Pondicherry and it was the water from this reservoir that is said to have quenched the thirst of the Napoleon's men. When Napoleon heard the story, he took the decision to erect a monument as a tribute to Aayi and that is we know today as Aayi Mandapam or the Park Monument... 

Wow, that was quite a story. While i captured a few photographs of the place, i noticed 2 children running around the garden, with their mother screaming at them to come to her. There was another old couple sitting on the park bench, silently, as if words were no longer needed.. The park was brimming with action, and i walked around it towards the other exit looking forward to discovering more such hidden treasures in Pondicherry. 

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday

Skywatch Friday- Temple Towers in Goa

I was just beginning to understand what made Goa so rich in history and culture. It was my 3rd day and i waited outside the resort for the tour bus. I knew we were going to visit a few churches and temples, apart from beaches that day. The one temple that i had read about was part of the itinerary. The Shanta Durga Temple. 

The day was mighty hot and i lost count of the number of bottles of water i had gulped down. But when the bus pulled up into the parking lot, i was the first one out and off.   

 

Situated at about 33 kms from Panajim, The Shantadurga temple is home to the Goddess Durga. She is said to have mediated between Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva during their raging fight. So, in this temple she is flanked on either side by the two Gods. It was quite a walk from the parking lot to the temple, and again another short one from the entrance to the main temple premises. 

 

The Shanta Durga temple as seen from the parking lot

 

Walking barefoot, i literally trotted trying to manage the heat under my foot and the sun blazing from the sky. There was a tall tower of sorts near the main building, which is a structure i heard was common in temples in Goa [the other famous temple Sri Mangeshi Temple also bears a similar structure]. 

 The majestic 6 storeyed Deepasthamba

A man who was sitting along one of the walls saw me and took it upon himself to tell me a bit about the temple. The temple was built during the reign of Maratha ruler - Shahu Raja of Satara, who had received a request of the Naro Ram Mantri, in 1738 A.D. The shivalinga here at the temple is said to belong to the Mahajans [the community with the surname 'Vorde' who are the Kulavis]. He went on to say the temple is also called Shanteri Temple. 

The main deity in the sanctum was Goddess Shanta Durga holding 2 serpents, one in each hand [representing Vishnu and Shiva]. The original place of Shantadurga devi was at Keloshi. However, during the Portuguese inquisition of Goa, the temple was destroyed forcing the trustees of the Shanta Durga temple to take a decision to shift the main idol to Atrunja taluka for safety. 

The main temple building

    

The tower i mentioned near the entrance is the 6 storeyed Deepasthambha and a Ratha (chariot), which is found in all temples across Goa.  The temple also has a dome, which is fairly unique for Hindu Temples.  This is one of the few temples where Harijans are permitted to enter the main sanctum sanctorum.  I suddenly heard someone call out my name and realised it was time to head back to the bus. I walked down the slope towards the parking lot watching hundreds of tourists and locals march up the slope chattering away. 

 A different view of the Deepasthamba

For more beautiful skies, visit Skywatch Friday