Saturday roadtrip

Made a day trip down the coast line of Tamil Nadu to visit some places I have been recommended to see before I leave India.

Started 6 AM from Chennai and reached Pondicherry in two hours. Ate two omelets with onion and green chili just before Pondicherry and had to find a toilet pretty quick after that. Luckily I've been in Pondicherry before and could easily locate a toilet at HiDesign Hotel down by the beach. There's one thing you learn pretty quick in India; always keep track of the closest western hotel in case of emergency.

Freedom fighters below the statue of Gandhi at Pondicherry beach walk

Continued down the coast to Pichavaram were you can find a backwater area which is protected by the government. Took a motor boat for a 40 minute ride but didn't see much of interest. Got some good picture though but it wasn't really worth the 1.5 hour drive from Pondicherry.

Skinny fisherman in his boat

Like mushrooms the trees emerges from the murky water

Falcon hiding in the tree.

Left Pichavaram pretty quick after the boat ride and went to town nearby called Chidambaram. They have a well maintained temple devoted to Shiva called Nataraja Temple. The temple is most famous for its impressive gopurams (gateway towers) which you can see in the picture below. I wasn't allowed too take picture inside the actual temple, you normally aren't allowed, but they had one roof which was coated with gold; reflecting the burning sun into the temple poja room.

I did the mistake of taking of both my shoes and socks this time (no shoes inside any temple) which was a BIG mistake. The stones outside on the temple court yard was burning hot at 12 PM and I had criss cross the yard to find the a suitable area for my poor feet. BTW, mosquito bites are gone.

Close up of one of the gopurams. Figures displayed on the gopurams tells a hindu myth which is impossible to understand without someone explaining it for you

Woman sitting below the might walls of the gopuram.

Went back to Pondicherry and headed for Auroville and the matrimandir which is displayed in the 'Picture of the Day' in the post below. I got a Goa feeling when entering the outskirts of Auroville. A lot of hippie influenced western people riding two wheelers on the small roads trying to dodge the speeding Mahindras and Tatas with Indian drivers behind the wheel.

Overall a good day but everytime you want to go somewhere in India it requires a lot of time for travelling in between the sites. Luckily I had Srinivasan (my driver) along with my who knows Tamil Nadu inside and outside. Came home at 09 PM and feel a sleep pretty quick.