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| Near Ariyanoor - 1008 Lingam Temple |
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Travel Postcard - Salem
On our way back from the 1008 Lingam Temple in Ariyanoor we found this field. Thought it was really beautiful so click went the camera.
1008 Lingam Temple
This 1008 Lingam Temple is located at Ariyanoor near Salem. At first I could not believe there could be that many lingams in one place.
The main temple is surrounded by 107 lingams ( they are numbered ) and I presume the main linga is the 108th one amidst all these at the main temple, It is a huge linga !!! Really big.
I found the temple beautiful and the colors on the lingam gopurams vibrant. The people at the temple guided us too. At first we are asked to enter the temple area and give our names and money for the archana. After that a very small puja and aarthi are done and we get to see the main big lingam. Then we take the aarti ( buy the red cord if we want ) and come out. Then we are free to see the entire temple at our leisure.
There are 1008 Shiva Lingams present in the temple with the holy cow Nandi in front of them all over the hill on which the temple has been built. There is an enormous Ganesha statue at the foothill too.
Another old lady showed us the temple at the top where we took another darshan and then explored the temple. We found the temple peaceful. May be b'cos it is a big one or there were not too many devotees - I don't know. We sat near the main temple for quite sometime soaking up the calm serene atmosphere. From the area around the temple one has a view of fields and coconut groves - so can linger there for a while too.
The main temple is surrounded by 107 lingams ( they are numbered ) and I presume the main linga is the 108th one amidst all these at the main temple, It is a huge linga !!! Really big.
I found the temple beautiful and the colors on the lingam gopurams vibrant. The people at the temple guided us too. At first we are asked to enter the temple area and give our names and money for the archana. After that a very small puja and aarthi are done and we get to see the main big lingam. Then we take the aarti ( buy the red cord if we want ) and come out. Then we are free to see the entire temple at our leisure.
There are 1008 Shiva Lingams present in the temple with the holy cow Nandi in front of them all over the hill on which the temple has been built. There is an enormous Ganesha statue at the foothill too.
Another old lady showed us the temple at the top where we took another darshan and then explored the temple. We found the temple peaceful. May be b'cos it is a big one or there were not too many devotees - I don't know. We sat near the main temple for quite sometime soaking up the calm serene atmosphere. From the area around the temple one has a view of fields and coconut groves - so can linger there for a while too.
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| Main temple gopuram |
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| Lingams at the top of the hill |
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| More lingams |
Mettur Dam
Mettur Dam was not as developed as I expected it to be. The main highlight was being able to walk on the dam itself and see the gates. The reservoir itself was far and the area for bathing was behind the dam. Did not look inviting so we skipped it.
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| Mettur Reservoir |
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| We can walk on the dam that can be seen from this vantage |
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| Place where people bathe |
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| Place where people bathe |
Hogenakkal Falls
I had seen the circular boats that are used in this place eons back in some travel mag. Ever since I had been keen to experience the same !! These round boats are made from bamboo and are carried by the boatmen.
In monsoon Hogenakkal is not open to the public because it seems all the rocky areas are covered with water. We went in December and we could enjoy the boat ride.
We were lucky in that - we did not meet obnoxious touts. In fact I was beginning to wonder if we were in the wrong place for a while before I saw the boats ! :) It took just one talk and we got a boat.
Similar to Dubare - the first stop by the boat can actually be reached by a small bridge and as expected the boatmen are to be found before that. If you do go in further - you can find the bridge that can take you to the first hop where you can get fish fry / chips / drinks etc and a boatman too if you have not already booked one.
You will find masseurs and a place where you can stand so the water comes on you with some force to wash away the oil - if that is your interest.
The boat man will then take you to the actual Hogenakkal falls area - "Hoge" in kannada means smoke and "kal" means rock - so literally smoking rocks. There is a lot of spray from the falls.
The boat man will do the following
We enjoyed the boat ride. This is not well known but there is a way to this water way from the Karnataka side too. However this not developed and I am not sure boats ply in the opposite direction. They mention that the entire ride takes about 1 hour.
You can get fish fry on the boat to eat too ! :) There are boats which sells items like soft drinks / chips etc too :)
Tips :
In monsoon Hogenakkal is not open to the public because it seems all the rocky areas are covered with water. We went in December and we could enjoy the boat ride.
We were lucky in that - we did not meet obnoxious touts. In fact I was beginning to wonder if we were in the wrong place for a while before I saw the boats ! :) It took just one talk and we got a boat.
Similar to Dubare - the first stop by the boat can actually be reached by a small bridge and as expected the boatmen are to be found before that. If you do go in further - you can find the bridge that can take you to the first hop where you can get fish fry / chips / drinks etc and a boatman too if you have not already booked one.
You will find masseurs and a place where you can stand so the water comes on you with some force to wash away the oil - if that is your interest.
The boat man will then take you to the actual Hogenakkal falls area - "Hoge" in kannada means smoke and "kal" means rock - so literally smoking rocks. There is a lot of spray from the falls.
The boat man will do the following
- Take you beneath / very close a fall so you can get drenched in the water and enjoy the spray
- Do a very fast spin that makes the boat go round in circles !
- Take the actual boat ride between the rocky outcroppings
- An area where you can play in the water and have your food / picnic
We enjoyed the boat ride. This is not well known but there is a way to this water way from the Karnataka side too. However this not developed and I am not sure boats ply in the opposite direction. They mention that the entire ride takes about 1 hour.
You can get fish fry on the boat to eat too ! :) There are boats which sells items like soft drinks / chips etc too :)
Tips :
- Our boatman did not hurry us up - but we did reassure him that we would pay for any extra time we took and I think this made the difference.
- I found the people in general friendly and not obnoxious so not sure of the truth of touts in this region.
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| Round boats |
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| Round boats being carried by the boat men |
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| Hogenakkal falls |
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| The boat ride goes beneath the falls |
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| Hawker selling snacks and soft drinks |
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| The water way between rocks |
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| View from boat |
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| View from the Karnataka side |
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| Boats propped against trees |
Yercaud
I had been to Yercaud long time back. It had been an office trip for a day. I remember it being very green. Perhaps it is my hazy recollection that caused me to be disappointed this time but I did not find Yercaud green or a charming cosy hill station.
In any case Yercaud has the regular things to do - a lake, boating [ pedal / rowing / motor ], horse riding, view points for sunset, a falls [ that has about 100 - 150 steps to go down to !!! ]. There is small deer park next to the boating area which is a nice walk. There are 3 - 4 deers here and a few birds.
The view from the points also were not that great. Could see urban buildings so did not appreciate it. Had expected the drive also be to be nice but - even that was not good.
So all in all - I did not consider this a great place to go to. May be it was the time of the year - December !
The deer park has plenty of swings and they don't mind adults using them either so I liked that !
In any case Yercaud has the regular things to do - a lake, boating [ pedal / rowing / motor ], horse riding, view points for sunset, a falls [ that has about 100 - 150 steps to go down to !!! ]. There is small deer park next to the boating area which is a nice walk. There are 3 - 4 deers here and a few birds.
The view from the points also were not that great. Could see urban buildings so did not appreciate it. Had expected the drive also be to be nice but - even that was not good.
So all in all - I did not consider this a great place to go to. May be it was the time of the year - December !
The deer park has plenty of swings and they don't mind adults using them either so I liked that !
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| Yercaud Lake - Boating |
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| Yercaud Lake |
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| Deer at the deer park |
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| View |
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| View |
Monday, December 23, 2013
Travel Postcards - Orange flowers on the road Pune to Bangalore
We were travelling from Pune to Bangalore in the month of October 2013 - fourth week of the month. And I was amazed at seeing the orange aster flowers that were so abundant on the sides of the roads. There were many places where the entire hillside would be this vibrant color due to these bountiful flowers.
I did not stop the first few kilometers thinking it would get over soon enough and we were in a hurry so just enjoyed the view until finally I could no longer stop myself. We stopped at one point and would you know it ? Ofcourse it was the place where the flowers were not that abundant !!! :)
Anyway took a couple of snaps and thought to post them here. And as the way life happens - just at the next bend when the car had started to move fast - I found a huge hill full of the flowers ! :)
I did not stop the first few kilometers thinking it would get over soon enough and we were in a hurry so just enjoyed the view until finally I could no longer stop myself. We stopped at one point and would you know it ? Ofcourse it was the place where the flowers were not that abundant !!! :)
Anyway took a couple of snaps and thought to post them here. And as the way life happens - just at the next bend when the car had started to move fast - I found a huge hill full of the flowers ! :)
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| Orange Aster covering hills |
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| Just rows and rows of these flowers |
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