Sunday, November 29, 2009
Tiruvannamalai - Aurnachaleswar Temple (Shiva-Parvati Temple)
This is one of the single largest temple in India. It covers almost 10 hectares. Construction started in the 11th century. The 4 gopras (towers) are 13 stories or 66 meters high. Both Shiva and Parvati are worshiped here.
Auroville Beach
About 8 km north of puducherry is the auroville beach. A real fishing community with boats and nets on the beach as well as this locally made beach head made of coconut tree trunks. Also seen below is a sea urchin photographs 2 and 3
The Ganesha Temple and Laxmi the Elephant
In front of this very nice Ganesha temple is Laxmi the elephant. If you give her a coin, she will take it in her trunk and then bless you on top of your head with her trunk. She gives you a bit of a clunk actually.
The French Quarter in Puducherry
Puducherry was a french colony until 1954. Like New Orleans, there is a very distinctive french quarter characterized by some of the architecture you see here. Also within the french quarter is the Aurobindo Ashram (last picture).
Mahabalipurum, on route to Puducherry
November 23, 2009This temple is on the beach, about 60 km from Chennai (Madras). The first picture is called the shore temple as it overlooks the waters of the Bay of Bengal. We were on our way to Puducherry for the Fulbright conference
Makedatu (Goat's Leap) close to Bengaluru
The story goes...that this place is called Goat's Leap because the locals saw a tiger chasing a goat across the rocks. When the goat came to the river's edge, he leaped across and thereby escaped the tiger. Of course, Blake thinks the goat leaped and fell in the water and the tiger thought... I'm not that hungry.
To get there, we had to cross the river in a basket boat -- see photograph with Jaggu (Blake's brother-in-law in red and driver)
Kadlekai Pershe (Peanut Festival) in Basavanagudi, Bengaluru
This annual peanut festival predates the founding of the city of Bengaluru. Its held right around the corner from Alaka's house (Arpana's sister), at the big bull temple (hence this section is called Basavanagudi - basava is bull and gudi is temple). Apparently, this area was a peanut growing area. But during the full moon in november (Kartik month), bulls would appear out of nowhere and destroy the crops. Someone sacrificed a bull which turned to stone. This bull was believed to be Nandi, Shiva's vehicle and so was worshiped. The bull seemed to keep growing in size and to stop it from growing, they put Shiva's trident in its head and built a temple around it. The bull has not grown larger since. Every year in order to appease the bull, the local farmers offer peanuts to the bull temple before going to market to sell them. What you see here are peanut eating people. Its peanuts all over!
The Snows of Kila-Manali
On the way up to Solang pass at 8000 meters, we were stopped by an early snow storm. Unable to go any further, we just got out and played in the snow for a while. Blake built a snowman and charged everyone Rs.10 per photograph (just kidding). Look at the eyes - they are made of horse dung.
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