Murudeshwar - The more I see ...

Murudeshwar is a small town in Uttara Kannada district that is situated around 465 kms away from Bangalore the state capital of Karnataka, India. This place is closely bounded with the Arabian Sea and hills of Western Ghats which makes it an attractive tourist spot.

My travel experience to this place is totally different in many ways, starting from the travel plan till returning back to my pad, everything. I may have surprised myself when I planned it less than in an hour and the mode of communication was the State run local buses, I switched 5 buses to reach at that place. Frankly, the people out there wouldn’t have appreciated so much for a person holding a camera, writing pad and asking them so many questions not in the language that they can easily understand, but they did and everything according to me was part of the memorable trip :)

"Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen."

One of the main attractions of Murudeshwar is the Lord Shiva idol which is visible from a long distance from the Arabian Sea. The length of the idol is 123 feet into the sky and considered as the tallest Shiva idol in the world.

You can visit Murudeshwar any time in the year and it is well connected by Roads, and trains (Konkan Railways). There are many places of tourist interests near murudeshwar, some of them are Jog Falls (90 Kms), Udupi (100 Kms), Gokarna (65 Kms) and Karwar (120 Kms).

Dhauli - There was never a good war or a bad peace.

Dhauligiri is located on the banks of the river Daya, around 10 km away from the city of Bhubaneswar. One of the quietest place I have ever visited so far. It helped me knowing many hidden things from the past and a quick scan through the pages from the history is just good enough to learn the importance of this place. I was surprised by the reasons behind the beginning, the end and there after the transformation of a war to a lead ways to peace, that untimely changed the views of King Ashoka as he renounced his sword after the Kalinga war probably in 261 BC.

A sign board indicating the way to Dhauli, from Bhubaneswar - Puri Highway you need to take a right turn and travel around 3.2 K.Ms on the hills to reach near the Shanti Stupa. For more detail information do click here.

Vishwa Shanti Stupa, the Peace Pagoda at the top of Dhauli Hill was built by Indo Japanese collaboration in 1972. The shining white structure is built in the form of a massive dome with lotus petals as its crown. The five chhatris (umbrellas) placed on its flattened top represent the five important aspects of Buddhism.

The War memorial. Not exactly what was written on there, Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without. - Buddha

Rock edicts of Asoka

It was a bright sunny day, and I decided to walk alone, never did I realize that I would be witnessing one of the amazing trekking experiences, in a peaceful and serene environment, and yet again a different kind of exploration for me. It wasn't the first time I was there but perhaps the first time holding the clock all by myself and identifying that life can't be an empty promise. Every war made an entry to the history has shown people many paths, what is called searching for the life and in the end the peace without any terms & conditions. So does that mean somewhere a war’s ultimate destination is peace? Sometimes its better not to understand things, however, rather easy to forget them while trying to simplify it with many unknown questions of life, and as said there is no way to peace, but peace is the way. I believe it has the power of a miracle transformation.

Chettinad Palace

Chettinadu Palace/Mansion is a heritage home located at Sivaganga district of southern Tamil Nadu state, India. It is situted 90 K.Ms from Trichy town and 5 kms before Karaikudi which is also known as the capital of Chettinad that includes Karaikudi and 74 other villages.

Chettinadu mansion was built in 1902 and it is now one among the spectacular palace in this reason.

Chettinad is also known as for its spicy and tasty food. Now that is one of the many reasons why people get to know Chettinad. The picture shown here is the kitchen inside the palace as told by our guide.

Here is some more information that I found maybe useful for people how are planning to visit this place anytime, I added this peace of note after cuckoo’s comment for asking some details about it. So here you go …

This palace is converted into a museum and considered as the heritage home. It is now under the care of Archaeological Survey of India (I suppose), there were no one to give us the actual information. I don’t have much of the history to share from this place but overall its a different experience visiting the interior part of Tamil Nadu. The palace is open for public all the 7 days though I am not pretty sure about the timings (probably 10 Am to 6 PM). The good thing you will find here is that there is no entry fee :) This place is quite clam and close to it you will find another Chettinad Mansion which is operated as a Hotel now, so you can plan for a stay if you wish. Just to highlight a thing about this part of the world is that the food is really amazing, typically southie, spicy and tasty. The best time to visit this place maybe in the winter time say from nov to feb, otherwise anytime will be fine as long as you have things to fight with the hot weather out there :)

Shri Krishna Matha, Udupi

I was on my way to somewhere aimlessly and all of a sudden I blessed with something that I realized later is nothing but miracle. It so happened with me again that I was landed in place where I could discover the meaning of peace and happiness together. I was left alone, with all unknown faces around me, completely clueless, no idea whatsoever to where to go and what to do but my journey was never so meaningful ever. As said - god had HIS own plans and after a travel of 6 hrs I reached Udupi, a place well known for its temples. I welcomed by one of the pleasantly weather that one can ever imagine in that region. It was a sunny and bright day outside with a breeze of relief. I jumped out of the bus quickly to take the walk and then searching for the destination that brought me here from so far ...

Now putting those memories in words here is something I really wanted for long time but it seems to be a not so easy task for me, whatever it maybe I made an effort not to show off it. Those are the moments or I can say the memories that drags you back and when you find that you are completely lost with it, again there is this thing known as miracle happened to you and put everything right on its place. Nevertheless, you see life is as beautiful as before and thank every single thing around you for making it so blissful for you.

Udupi Krishna Temple, otherwise know as Udupi Krishna Matha is a very popular Hindu temple in India. I have copied the information from Wikipedia that gives a good insight about the temple and the history associated with it.

The Krishna Mutt was founded by the Vaishnavite saint Shri Madhvacharya in the 13th century. He was the founder of the Dvaita school of Vedanta.

Legend has it that once Kanakadasa, a worshipper who was so pious and devoted to Lord Krishna, was not allowed entry into the temple. It didn't upset him, but instead made him pray with intense devotion. Lord Krishna was so pleased that he made the statue of himself turn around to allow the disciple to gaze upon his heavenly form through a small window at the back of the mutt (matha). Till today, devotees still worship Lord Krishna by praying through the same window that Kanakadasa was blessed with a view.

The daily sevas (offerings to god) and administration of the Krishna Mutt are managed by the Ashta Mathas (eight temples). Each of the Ashta Mathas performs temple management activities for two years in a cyclical order. These eight Mathas are Pejavara, Puttige, Palimaru, Adamaru, Sodhe, Kaniyooru, Shirur and Krishnapura.

Here you go with few of the pictures that I have taken in that short stay near the temple. Since cameras are strictly not allowed inside the temple I didn't miss any chance of clicking the pictures from the outside.

The main entrance to the temple.

The chariot used for the bi-yearly festival, I spotted it just outside the temple.

Walking around the temple was a different experience for me and exploring the shops near the temple brought me a renewed sense of a happy customer.

Kesava Temple in Somnathpur

Somnathpur is small village located around 130 kms from Bangalore. This place is particularly famous for the Chennakesava Temple (also called Kesava temple) built in 1268 under Hoysala king Narasimha III.

The architecture of the temple is one of the finest in the history of Hoysala dynasty. Its beautifully carved sculptures, amazing art work are beyond any comparisons.

Form inside out view of the entrance .

A wide view of the temple.

The pillars outside the main temple tell a different story of the history.

Black & white tells the story of the amazing architecture of this temple ...

A closer look of the delicate art works on the stone ...

The six bands sculptures around the temple consisting of elephants, horsemen, floral scrolls and demons etc...

Idol of ganesh

Shivanasamudra Waterfall

On a lazy weekend I was out with friends to a near by place known as Sivanasamudra, which is around 120 Kms from B’lr. And there you go, one more waterfall is added to my trip memory. Perhaps this is the second most beautiful waterfall after the mind blowing Jog (Jog Falls) inside Karnataka. I enjoyed the trip as much as I did in that trip to Jog Falls. Now here goes some of my clicks on that day ...

The first Hydro-electric Power station in Asia.

Chavakkad Beach - God's own creation

If I can recall correctly there is this wonderful quote in upanishad; “There is a light that shines beyond all things on earth, beyond all of us, beyond the highest, the very highest. This is the light that shines in our heart”; this tells us everything about rediscovering the self by every bit of life we live.

You find, the you inside you is lost and a new you smiles every time the little power enlighten; jut because the almighty has blessed the wonderful creations around you. The every piece of nature inspires you, the wind, the trees, the mountains, the rivers, the sea, the ocean and so on … and what you really see that you are never alone when your are with them; they offer you so much that you find yourself so tiny in front of them. The realization of being with them energies you and it’s never a difficult task to see the joy of life re-creates it by its own.

It happened, so again that I was standing not far away from the sea. In continuation to the Kerela trip we reached a placed called Chavakkad, which is around 60 K.ms from the Thirssur Town. I know every beach has its own story and so do this beach. We were there just at the right time, I mean the evening time around 5.30 P.M, which made things more beautiful then expected. Intially, this place was not there in our actual plan but on the way when we heard that we were so close to a beach, then it was impossible to stop us. And what I have discovered has yet again proved to be a new experience… ofcoure my other eye (the camera) was alert enough to capture all those awing moments … so here goes ….

The weather was doing its own magic …

I know evening time is the best time when you come back from the daily work and find your clam place to re-energize yourself ... I wonder what these people might be thinking ... when I saw them seating on the boat; the quote that caught my mind was of Mother Teresa's - "We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in an ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop".

Life goes on as if it never ends … and time goes on as if it never begins …

“To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me”. - Isaac Newton.

My favorite … a picture requires no words or may be 1000 words :)

Allepey, Kerela - A treat to your eyes

The journey of life took a fresh and newly explored direction. Back from the much awaited trip and clubbed with some other events. I started following the Railways station on Thursday evening to catch the train towards Allepey (Alappuzha) with a bunch of travel enthusiastic buddies. Everything was bang on time and we started exploring a place, otherwise called as ‘God’s own Country’, truly holds its meaning.

Alleppey is the most popular place for backwater tourism in Kerala. And the best thing that you can find there are well equipped House boats for the very reason of breaking the backwater paths. These house boats are available on hire on a daily as well as longer duration basis. In general, a house boat have 2/3 bed rooms with A/C facilities (optional) and attached bath rooms. On peak seasons (Sep-Feb) the charges for a 2 bed room house boat goes upto 20000 rupees per 24 hrs. And in off-peak seasons you will be lucky enough to get one as low as 5000 rupees per 24hrs.

On the way you will find the lagoons, canals crossing the country side, the surrounded paddy fields and many more such things that your eyes find worth giving a second look. Another attraction is the Alapuzha beach, one of the neat beaches I have seen in India. Seriously this place has much to offer to all the discerning tourists out there.

Oh ! man it is so difficult to choose the set of photos for this Blog. Probably I have taken the most number of photos this time - a record for me :). So understandably I had put little extra effort to choose the best one. But I really didn’t know which one was the best; each of them seems to be the best ;) to me.

A wide view of backwater lake from the train, just after you cross the Ernakulam Railway Station.

I had some memorable moments from the trip, especially the stay inside the house-boat, a newly experienced and followed by some great Kerela Style (vegetarian) food. Oh !!! I was under a wrong impression that people there don’t know how to prepare vegi-food ;).

As the Sun climbing down the sky, every view had something more to offer. And it was rightly said –“ Sunsets are so beautiful that they almost seem as if we were looking through the gates of Heaven”.