On 30th April 2010, We planned to start at 5.30 pm; But Subbu got held up in the office due to his sudden meeting schedule and we were able to leave our home at Bangalore only at 9.00 pm. By the time, we reached the outskirts of Bangalore, it was 10.00 pm. It started to rain heavily that we were not able to cross 50kmph speed. My elder son was not interested to join us for the trip and we had to drop him at Salem. When I called my mother at about 11.00 pm, she said that it was raining. But, when we reached Salem at about 12.30 pm, it was raining heavily at Salem. I should thank my mother for a good tea that she prepared in the midnight knowing our need. After a half an hour break, We started at 1.00am. We went via Attur, Vridhachalam, Chidambaram. As per our plan, we were to go via Salem, Trichy, Tanjore, Nagapattinam and Kodikkarai. But, last minute, Jothivel asked us to come via Vridhachalam, Chidambaram. This was a very bad decision and very bad experience for us. The road was very bad that we never travelled in such a road before. It was also raining heavily. There were a lot of potholes filled with rain water and we were not able to judge the road. Some how we managed to reach Vridhachalam at about 4.30 am on Saturday, 1st May 2010. Our plan was to meet our friends from Chennai at 6.00 am in Kodikakarai to see the Sunrise. We are still 200 kms away from it.
At about 5.15, after Vridhachalam, our car went in one of the potholes filled with rain water and we never realized the impact of it till the next day. After returning to Bangalore, the car had been taken to service station for a regular service and we had to spend about Rs.3500/- for the damage that had happened to body of the car.
We reached Tharangambadi at about 7.00 am on saturday and the team from Chennai had already reached there an hour before. We took a short coffee/tea break and still it was raining. We went into the road of the Dutch that leads to the Tharangambadi fort. We felt as if we have entered into an old European Country. All the houses were in their styles and most of them are still maintained well. When we reached the fort, it was a great sight to see the fort in the rain. The disadvantage was that we were not able to take our cameras out! And to our disappointment, it was a Government Holiday as it was MAY 1st. After spending about 15 mins in the rain in the beach besides the fort, we decided to come back on the next day.
We then went to Thirunallar via Karaikal and reached the traveller's Bungalow where the rooms were booked at about 9.00 am. After refreshing ourselves, we started to Kodikkarai - the place mentioned in the tamil epic Ponniyin Selvan. We began to think and talk about Ponniyin Selvan and the characters involved in Kodikkarai (now known as Point Calimere) - Poonguzhali was the first to come into our minds.
On the way, we had our lunch at the outskirts of Nagapattinam. We also stopped near the fishing harbour of Nagapattinam for a photographic session. We forwarded to Kodikkarai and reached by 2.00 pm. We had another photographic session in the beach and the fishermen there said, Srilanka is only 43 kms from there. If both the countries, would have been in good terms, we could have taken a boat to visited Bhootha Theevu & Anuradhapuram.
On the way back, we saw the board of Deer Santuary. When we went into it, we understood that this is the Mangrove forest explained Ponniyin Selvan. Our cars are allowed inside the forest. We were able to spot very few deers and horses. The maintenance and the promotion activity for this Sanctuary is very poor. A gigantic light house built by the British stands amidst the forest. There was a view point at the end of the forest besides the beach.
To our amazement, we found a brick structure and the guide there explained that was the light house used during the Chola period, 1000 years ago and this was damaged partly during the 1967 tsunami when Dhanuskodi was swallowed by water and again a portion of it was damaged in 2004 tsunami. Less than 1/4th of the structure stands still.
We were eager to see the Kuzhagar temple & Kuzhagesar worshipped by Poonguzhali. We reached the temple at about 4.30 pm and the villagers nearby said that the temple will be opened at 5.00 pm. The temple was opened at 5.00 pm and the Poojari came only at 6.00 pm. The state of the temple was very bad and the people doesn't know the value of the sculptures. They have removed the old pillars and have built with the concrete pillars in the name of renovation. The sight made us speechless. You become speechless when you find something that you don't expect! The main deity Kuzhagar is the only one who has been there for years together watching the changes happening around him.
We returned to Thirunallar via Nagappattinam, Nagoor at about 8.30 am. We had the Tanjore famous Parotta - Kurma for Dinner and went to bed as our plan was to see Tharangambadi the next day.
1 comment:
It is great to read that you went to Kuzhagar temple. I felt as though I went. you are doing a great job by registering the trips in a superb way
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