The Travel Connection

My third visit to Goa. What can be said??. As this was with family there had to be a visit to a temple and an aquarium and the very touristy river cruise!!  The temple architecture in Goa is very unique. Its a combination of Hindu, Portuguese and Islamic architecture.The dome in place of Shikara immediately catches ones eyes. One of the reasons for this unique style is cause the same artisans were constructing both the temples and churches at the same time.The arched entrances, niches and pilasters that feature in most of temples of this period display a distinct European influence. The deepsthambhas of Mangeshi  with its white washed pillars and baroque decoration show unique synthesis of Hindu and Portuguese styles.The lamp towers were influence of Maratha temple architecture. A very unique style indeed. Well, the aquarium can be best avoided as there is not much to relish in dark musty place. Please run away from the noisy , loud irritating river cruise.The only sav...

Badami Or Vatapi is in the rugged region of North Karnataka. The red sandstone outcrop greets you the minute you drive out of the train station. You feel you have transported yourself to wild west and any minute a gun wielding  outlaw or a cowboy could greet you. Our conquest of Badami began with a bumpy ride in the local stage couch or the Indian Auto rickshaw. Our stay in the Dry and Arid North Karnataka was made better by the wonderful hospitality of Krishna Heritage and its green surrounding of fields. The location was a gold mine. Gold mine for Bee eaters, Coucals, Silver bill,Brahmini Starlings, Indian rollers, Kingfishers, wagtails, sparrow larks, Munias, Bulbuls, Babblers, parakeets and many more residents and migrant visitors.  Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark Large Grey Babbler We started the exploration of Badami with a visit to Banashankari Amma temple. An incarnation of Goddess Parvathi,kuldevi of chalukyas  resides in the refurbished t...

Three distinct memories will never  leave me after my visit to Thrissur. The first one is the unusually rare architecture of a circular inner sanctum sanctorum Sri kovil. Second is the frescos that adorned the walls of these temple and thirdly the oil lamps used in various locations and for different purposes within the temple complex. Vadakkumnathan Temple is a religious complex dedicated mainly to Lord Shiva but housing several other deities . The circular Sri kovil  with painted substructure, has a conical brass plated super structure over it. The sanctum sanctorum is further divided into three chamber with Ghee adorned lingam facing west and  Parvati facing east denoting the ardhanarishvara concept. Also housed within the main Sri kovil is Ganapathy facing the complex kitchen. What was interesting the circumambulation around this shrine was in anti clockwise direction  and was only 3/4 th of the circle. Was is a temporary ritual as restoration was on? I can...

Soul stirring spell , Emotional connection, Cherished moment, Unforgettable memory!  Seeveli at Sri Krishna temple in Guruvayur is all of the above and more. Three caparisoned elephants circumambulating the internal court of the temple complex with devotees following them is a dramatic sight.The most majestic of the three elephants has the honor of carrying the deity. The elephants have on them three very stable well balanced young men each holding the tinseled silk parasols muttukuda,  swaying white tufts vencamaram and peacock feather fans alavattam. All of this is accompanied with an orchestra which  touched me almost instantaneously.  I cannot recall another event wherein I was under its spell so easily. The crescendo of different instruments is loud really loud but at the same time so musical that it touches your heart. I got to know later that the five piece orcestra is called panchavadyam and it includes Kombu, Edakka, Thimila, Illathalam and Maddalam ...