Gingee aka Chenji Fort (Villupuram - Tamil Nadu)

My First Ever (proper) Travelogue!

Well, ever since I was a school kid, I used to write about the places I visit (with my parents, at that time, ofcourse!) in a notebook. I wouldn't term those as travelogues. They were just pointers of what I saw in those places written in, well, bullet points! So what was the first ever decent travelogue that I wrote? No, its not the first post of this blog. Its this!!!!! 

I wrote it when I was in 11th grade about the trip to Chenji along with my entire batch for school excursion! It was published in the Tamil Magazine called Gokulam by the house of Kalki Magazines a decade ago!!!!

 Here's the coverpage of the magazine and the actual article! Its in Tamil.... 

Click to enlarge the image and read the article!!!

Srirangam Musings (Trichy - Tamil Nadu)

Well, this post wraps up the Srirangam series and this is all about the musings on the trip! Remember I already mentioned about the 'Turkish' Fish Spa in Cauvery! Btw, below pic is  of me getting off the river, carrying the entire huge skirt of the traditional outfit of Tamil Nadu, Pavadai Davani! Lolz!

Cats were everywhere just beyond the 4th compound wall of Srirangam - the wall beyond which is purely only temple! Actually there was a mom cat and some 6-7 kittens!

 I shot this pic at night, when I went for Tirumanjanam (making the Lord, sleep) and returned by after 10 at night and shot this kitty at that time. Somehow the lighting in this pic, reminded me of Rembrandt's paintings!

The beautiful flowers tied up as strands and circles, ready to Lord's decoration!

Btw, travelling within the temple is especially made easy for elder citizens! Thanks to these recently introduced cabs!!!

The best part of Srirangam was food!!! Food at the Prasadham counter was so yummy. Esp. the Puttu (sweetened rice powder) and Puliodharai (tamarind rice)... Another factor, of what made food so special was this hotel in Srirangam called Sri Ragavendra Annapoorani Homely Mess. Its run by V.Gopala Iyengar & Family. Here's their ph.no: 0431-2432001; 9442040606. Make sure you have food there. Food is simple south Indian but very very yummy! Its very small and can accommodate only 12 people at a time. But the wait to eat is absolutely worth!!! How cute is this message on the board, outside the hotel!!!

Btw, here are the links to the entire series:
Srirangam Ranganathar Temple:
Overview Part 1
Overview Part 2
Vayyali Festival
Thaer Festival
Vellai Gopuram & Seshagiri Rayar Mandapam
Ayiramkal Mandapam & Chakrathazhwar Sannidhi
Venugopala Sannidhi
Mettazhagiya Singar Sannidhi

Around Srirangam Ranganathar Temple from this trip:
Gopurapatti Amaleeswarar Temple
Srinivasanallur Kuranganathar Temple
Allur Temple Tour Part 1
Allur Temple Tour Part 2
Andanallur Temple

Around Srirangam Ranganathar Temple from Earlier trips!
Pallava and Pandya Cave Temple
Trichy Temple Tour Part 1
Trichy Temple Tour Part 2
Bhoologanathar Temple
Mukkombu Dam
Pettavaithalai Temple
Thirupparaithurai Temple
Kulithalai Kadambar Temple
Manathattai Agraharam

Well, on the other hand, I'm holding a Summer Spl. Skincare Giveaway on my other blog, Fashion Panache. Don't forget to check that out by clicking the image below!!! :)

Thiruvanaikkaval Jambukeshwarar Temple (Trichy - Tamil Nadu)

On the last day of Srirangam trip, in the evening, at about 6, while the sun was almost setting down, with a couple of hours for our train, a couple of us decided to atleast just visit Jambukeshwara Temple, if not see it in detail! And so we did! 

 

Why did we want to visit it? Well, remember my post on Chidambaram Nataraja Temple? Remember I told you its one of the 'Pancha Bootha Kshetra' or the 'Temples of 5 Elements', and that it was the 'Aagaya Sthalam' or the 'Temple of Sky'? Well, this Jambukeshwara temple is another one of the 5, this being 'Neer Sthalam' or the 'Temple of Water'. 

Well, here's the legend behind the temple. Once goddess Parvathi, made fun of Lord Shiva and that made him angry. So he cursed her to go to earth and perform penance. She did so here in the Jambu forest, in the banks of river Cauvery, after making a Siva Lingam out of that sand! Since it was beside Cauvery, it was wet and was called Appu Lingam.

Pretty similar to Srirangam, this temple too has a few compound walls, though not as extensive as Srirangam.  The sanctum sanctorum is located lower than the ground level. There were 9 holes on the granite ground. Water keeps oozing out of them throughout. However since when we went, since the Cauvery was relatively dry, the ground was not watery, but just wet. I was said, that during monsoon when the Cauvery is full, water level here rises high too! 

This temple too, like Srirangam Ranganathar temple, was built in various era by various kings! The sculptural aspect of the temple was just mind blowing! The reliefs on the pillars were not just shallow, it was almost like sculpture with a small portion at the back, stuck to the pillar! But there were certain reliefs that were so 'not - intricate' that made me think they were done in a much much later era. 
Well, sadly I couldn't see much as I hardly spent half an hour at the temple, so not much about temple history and details. So let the pics say the story!

One of my favourite - a bull and an elephant in one!

Hanuman carrying Sivalingam - a scene from Ramayana which happened at Rameshwaram

A very Chinese looking man!

Assorted scroll designs everywhere!

Musicians in creepers!

Would you believe that's just a pillar relief!!!

Srirangam Mettazhagiya Singar Sannidhi (Trichy - Tamil Nadu)

Another important shrine in Srirangam is Mettazhagiya Singar Shrine. This is basically the shrine of Lord Narasimha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. This is the one of the only 2 shrines that are elevated from the ground level, apart from the shrine of Dhanvantri. Its located in the northern side as soon as the wall beyond Thayar Sannidhi is crossed. This is said to be built by Cholas. The best thing about this shrine is the frescoes all over. They are most probably painted by Nayaks.

Sarabeshwarar

  

Lakshmi Narasimhar

Ceiling

Dwarapalaka

Vishnu in Anantasayana

Pandurangan

 Coming back with more shrines of Srirangam...

TO GET THERE:

Refer my earlier post

Dedicated to Prof. Swaminathan & co...

Srirangam Venugopala Sannidhi (Trichy - Tamil Nadu)

Continuing with some more of my favourite shrines at Srirangam. This time its Venugopala Sannidhi. This is located enroute to Andal shrine, as soon as you enter in through Ranga Ranga Gopuram. The Shrine is built by Hoysalas. Remember Belur, Halebidu & Somnathpur built by Hoysalas? Their sculpting is so astonishing!!! This Shrine is another standing example for the same!!! However, there's also a speculation that this was built by Vijayanagara or Nayak rulers. Here's more photos of the shrine!

Lady holding a creeper

Lady holding musical instrument Veena

Lady holding mirror

Lord Vishnu as Venugopala

A couple. He's holding her around and he has kept on hand on her breast. The finger tips of the hand that goes around can be seen. Similarly she too has her hand around him. Her palm & fingers can bee seen behind him. That's called attention to detail!!!

Kalinga Narthanam / Kaliya Marthan

Village scene with men, women & cattle!

More intricacy with baby Krishna at the centre!

Spot the lion replacing the curved mini pillars???

That's a mighty elephant.... in a micro mini size!!!

TO GET THERE:

Refer my earlier post.

Dedicated to Prof. Swaminathan & co...