Temples of Trichy-Part 1

I would like to start a series of post on this topic.
I hail from a village near to Trichy and Trichy is always close to me.Here I would like to share the information on the temples that I visit or visited.
Please feel free to correct or share some more information on the same.


We did an impromptu visit on an evening to the below temples.


Vekkali amman temple(Woraiyur):


You can take auto from either the central bus stand or the main guard gate.As the name says,it is a kali temple.People throng to this amman temple to get the blessings of her.The sanctum of the temple does not have a roof.It is said that whenever the roof was made to built something or the other happened and so the thought of having a roof to the sanctum is left as is.The temple also has Durga and pongu saneeshwar.People get a yellow colored paper and write their issues or whatever they wish,tie it with a yellow thread,place it in Amma's leg and then tie it inside the temple.It is believed the goddess solves whatever was stated in the letter to her.


Azhagiya manavala perumal thirukkovil:


This temple is one of the 108 divya desa temples of Maha Vishnu.This temple is very near to vekkali amman temple.The deity is Azhagiya manavala perumal and goddess is Kamalavallinachiyar thayar.The thayar is in sitting posture and god in standing posture.There is no utsavar to this temple.


It is believed that the goddess Sri Lakashmi got curse from Brihu muni and was born in earth.Lord Ranganathar comes all the way from Sri Rangam to marry her. During the tamil month panguni,the temple has festivals.The goddess here has aayilyam nakshathram and so people with this star,come  to this temple and pray for their marriage here!


Ayyapam temple cantonment:


This is one of the temples that is maintained so well.Lush green saplings and tree all around.You would feel so serene while walking inside the temple.Apart from Ayyappan,you will also see Kannimoolai ganapathy,Bhagavathi and nagarajar there.


Saibaba temple cantonment:


This temple is too serene  with a vast area.You can just sit and hear your heart post your prayers.


Ukkiramakaali amman:


This is one of the kali temples near to the central railway station.


Please stay tuned for some more temples from my hometown.

Christmas holidays 2017-A trip to Pazhani!

December is a month of merriment and holidays!
It is one of the months, that I always look forward for! One of the reasons is obviously the holidays :)
The husband is a poor planner and we plan our trips only at the last minute!
I had never ever booked a proper vacation till date and wish some day,I become a good planner for our vacations :)


My son is having  looong holidays post his exams and so I decided to take him to my parent's place...I had plans of taking my parents to different temples,as I had never took them before anywhere but as always the plans did not work this time too.phew.


It was an impromptu decision ,to visit Pazhani..When we landed there ,it was already 7.30pm and we were waiting in the rope car station only to hear that the service was stopped owing to moderate winds!


And then we again went to Winch station and boarded the same..The winch ride made my mom and me too weak..Our head were just spinning and was already looking to get down.After standing in the queue finally had darshan of lord Muruga in Raja alankaram..It was already past 10pm..


I guess we boarded the last trip of the winch for that day(fortunately)...And we were literally starving for food.On our way got it into a hotel and satiated our hunger pangs.


It was 3am when we reached home...We were super tired and hit the bed!Got up late.


But the trip was just an impromptu memorable one!

God's own country-This time it is about Wayanad!

Wrote this long back.Thought of sharing here.

We did a trip to Wayanad somewhere around 2014 ,when my boy was 3 years and sharing the travelogue experience.

My boy is in his holidays and I wanted to take him out! Unaware of the destination, I casually had a chat with my husband a couple of days before Christmas. Prompt came the response and  he said “we will go to Wayanad”…A million questions then. How do we get the tickets? Book the resort? And finally I decided that this plan is not going to work. But the husband was still trying to make the plan work!

25th morning the husband finally confirmed that we will go to Wayanad and conveyed, that the  tickets had been booked through tatkal As always we are good at the last minute plans and packingL.Boarded the Mangalore mail from Chennai and reached Calicut…From there we took a car to Wayanad. Since all the resorts were full, we had a narrow option of staying in a  hotel and managed to booked an okeyish hotel.

I am not sure when my travel sickness would end. Phew! The moment the car started to move, my stomach went for a churn and then I started to puke ,least did I know that I will fall ill !It was not a good start but still I managed to refresh myself and was ready to visit places…Wayand climate was not great and that disappointed us a big time!

Day:1  Edakkal caves and Muthanga forest:

We had no clue on what we would see in Edakkal caves ,we did not even search about the place much in google! We commuted  through a car. My hunger pangs was just crying and unfortunately we could not find any vegetarian hotel. But managed to find a hotel! we had dosa, which was pathetic! We then started to walk …Just few steps and I could not budge further. I told my husband not to embark further but he was too motivating with his words! Narrow steep path and we were puffing and panting! Trekking along with a 3 year old is definitely not a joke! The husband and I took turns to carry the boy! The boy even climbed the rocks to reach the caves :)The path is just unassumingly steep and narrow! The husband and I  are slightly on the bulkier end but We managed to reach the top of the cave after what it felt like an eon :)There we witnessed the excellent panoramic views of the mountains and it was too green all around and was so soothing to our  eyes!Climbing down is an another story which requires a separate post!

And then we travelled to Muthanga forest range! Was totally sick but then the husband stood in queue for 2 hours to get the tickets. We  then boarded  the jeep and was taken inside the forest. We heard that the forest has tigers ,bisons and elephants. But we managed to see only peacock, elephant and deer! We were taken till the first 10km of the forest! It was an experience indeed! The forest has routes to Mudhumalai and Bandipur forest ranges.

Day:2 Thirunelli temple, Kuruva island and Soochipara falls

Thirunelli temple is one of the temples of Vishnu and we had nice dharshan. Walking few kilometers inside the temple ,we chanced to see “Panchatheertha” where people perform”Tharpanam”..the water was just pure! The papanasini temple was just inside the rocks!We also chanced to go to the pond and touch the Vishnu padha!We did not miss to taste the banana flavoured with sugar, which was served as a prasadham.You will need to travel through the forest to reach this temple.On our journey,we chanced to see an elephant crossing the road just before our car!Have never seen an elephant cross the road so elegantly!

Kuruva Islands:

That was our first boating experience with my son!We heard that it has rare species of plants! But we did not explore much as we were too tired and could not walk! You will need to travel through boat to reach the land where you can walk and see the plants!

Soochipara falls!

The roads to this falls were too rocky and you will need to park your vehicle well ahead! Again climbing with our kid was a real challenge! We chanced to see an auto and managed to climb half of the distance through it but climbing the rest of it took so much out of us! We were happy to see the crystal clear pure water from the falls but never managed to bath.We saw the falls from distance and travelled back.

Day3: Banasurasagar dam and Calicut beach

One of the best places of our visit  was Banasurasagar dam!Such a lovely place…Cool and misty weather…I was too scared to board the boat but took a chance and it was a worth one! The motor boat took us around the dam and it covered some 2km distance! It was an experience which I could not express through words!

The last spot that we visited was Calicut beach .We had 1 hour to kill and the cabbie suggested this beach! Unlike Marina,you don’t have to walk long to see the water…Just few steps and you will be near to the water!A calm and cool beach!

A visit to Kerala is just incomplete without tasting the delicacies .But this time we had to miss the Aapam,vegetable stew and puttu kadalacurry!

On our way to the Edakkal caves,we kept on munching the juicy pineapples. Molayeri(bamboo rice) is  famous there and we chanced to eat molayeri unniyappam and payasam!Loved it!They also sell the gooseberries and mangoes soaked in brine solution!The taste of gooseberries soaked in pure honey still lingers in my tongue.

When we came out of Muthanga forest range,we got a bag full of forest gooseberries and they were slightly bitter!Converted them  to neernelli and sweet gooseberries.

On our way back from Thirunelli temple,we got forest oranges..Tangy to the core!But who cares,we loved it J

Of course a trip to Kerala is incomplete without getting  chips!of various kinds!Nendram chips,chakka chips,sweet chips and all that!

And the trip would be close to our heart as it was the first trip we went out as a family with my boy!

 

Cooking and fond memories of my Avva!

#Nostalgia#Maternal granny love#Cooking

My late maternal grandmother stayed next doors and so vacations did not bring much of a difference to me..All through my schools and college days,vacations were spent going to river cauvery,bathing in the river for say two hours and then coming back home with tickling hunger pangs and hogging the vatha kozhambu,jeera rasam and kaai kari made by mom.Noons were spent arguing and fighting with my brother,driving my mom crazy with our fights..Evenings were spent playing kanna poochi,kalla manna in the street with the friends.Life was that simple then.

Some days,I went to my maternal grandma's house,cuddled her and asked her to give me the yellandha vadai(dish made out of jujube fruit) that she made in bulk and stored for years!She was more than happy to feed me.

Majority of the days ,the mode of communication from my home to my avva's(grand mother) house was through a small window.The moment I got out of my bed,I went near  the window and did  wake my avvva..My day started waking her up,seeing her face and starting the day.

She would call my mom and give dishes wrapped in banana leaf through the window,especially for me.She fondly made menthulu pulusu for me(tangy methi gravy made with tomatoes and tamarind).

Once in a blue moon(phew),I make dishes which I love and eat it to glory.Yesterday my son was asking me,"Amma will you make morkali(dish made out of tangy curds and rice flour) for me"?In another 10 minutes I made it for him because I am happy that he is more like me :)."Would you make arisi maavu urundai for me"(vegetable rice flour ball bites) asked the husband..Dished it out in another few minutes.

Today I felt like eating varutha vaanali upma(dish made with rice flour and tangy curds) and I made it in a jiffy(the dish is just super easy)..

When I was relishing the food,the memories of my maternal grandmother dominated me and I felt very void..She was a veteran in cooking and crafting..I wish someday,I get a shred of her talents..That hope keeps me moving.

Avva a day does not pass without remembering you.I know you will bless me!

#cooking#Avva's memories#a veteran cook#every dish brings fond memories