Vaigai Dam, Madurai : We were driving in andipatti in Tamil Nadu that when my uncle decided to check to take us to vaigai dam. Its was created by the state government in 1990. The water from this dam is used for irrigation as well as drinking water. This was my first visit to this place.
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The great stories of Kings and Queens have always intrigued me, so when there was a mention of the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam, Madurai, I loved to hear how the temple and the associated structures were built by the King Thirumalai Nayak. The tank or the pond is said to be connected to the Vaigal River. Towards the centre of the tank is the Mandapam or the Central Mandapam, which has the Vinayakar Temple. The temple is surrounded by lush gardens, which pleases the people who visit it. I spent considerable time there but the more I discovered about the place, I missed coming here during the Float Festival that is in the months of January and February when the entire temple premise is lit up for the occasion. The deities of the other temples are also supposedly here in large floats and that I am sure they would have been an amazing sight. Madurai as such is an amazing place with beliefs and faiths of the people that keep the people together and makes up for the culture of the land. No other city in India is quite close to the experiences that I felt here. There is peace and quietness, order and piety and people just do not visit the temples, they believe in them with all their hearts and it is the way of life for them. As I made my travel arrangements back to my city, I too felt like a part of the city. I feared that if I would have spent any more time in the city visiting the holiest temples like the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam, Madurai, I may even convert myself like the locals and be completely influenced with their ways of life. But for me life cannot be just living in this land of beliefs and temples, it also requires me to get back to reality where my job waited and my family too with their expectations. The urban city was a far cry from the way of living of the locals here and I would never be prepared for anything like this. Samanar Temple Cave, Madurai : During our Tamil Nadu trip, we heard a lot about the samanar temple cave. It is situated on the Samanar Hills as known as Samanar Malai near Keelakuyilkudi village in madurai. This hill rock complex is known for it’s picturesque surroundings. The temple is known for carved engraving and unique architecture. This place is truly worth visiting.
This was my second last day in the city of temples and ironically I was visiting a mosque this day. Since I had only one more day to go, I wished to make the most of my remainder days in Madurai. This famous mosque can be accessed from the Periyar or the Central Bus Stand and also from the Madurai Junction. With such a strategic location of the mosque, the mosque therefore finds a great place in the heart of the city. The Kazimar Big Mosque and Maqbara, Madurai is a very important religious place for the Muslims and for the believers in all religion; this place also finds great attraction. The place has a great history and is said to have been constructed in the 13th century when the Hazrat Kazi Syed Tajuddin from Oman received the premise from the Pandyas. It is huge and can hold as many as 2500 people at once. The mosque also has the maqbara or the shrine of the descendants of Prophet Muhammad within its premise. The mosque has a distinct aura within it. A certain sense of divinity and peace invaded me as I spent some substantial time in the precinct. Also, there is a Madrasah inside the Mosque, where numerous students learn Arabic. The management of the mosque is really worth mentioning because the services were immaculate and the Board of trustees that look after the mosque continues the legacy well. I tried my best to offer my prayers in the traditions of the Muslims; whether or not they were authentic in nature does not matter because I am sure the prayers must have reached the Almighty. The Kazimar Big Mosque and Maqbara, Madurai despite being the place of worship for the Muslims gave me the kind of peace that the temples provided. I felt blessed. Time was slipping out of my hands and as the day concluded I made preparations for the next day’s sightseeing to Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam, Madurai for yet another exciting albeit last day in Madurai. If only I could hold back some of the moments spent here, then it would have added to my pleasure.
The day was fresh and the weather perfect. Thankfully, it was not too sunny and any outdoor activity this day would not feel very tedious. I had made prior bookings with the rental car to go to the Madurai Kamaraj University. Meanwhile, there was enough time to shower up and grab breakfast and I started to get ready for the day. The vast expanse of the lawn in front of the hotel looked very pleasant and a soft breeze was blowing. The skies were cloudy and although there was no fear of rains, yet certain coolness had set in. My choice of breakfast this day again was South Indian. Though, the idlis in the hotel were not as delicious as the ones of the Murugan Idli Shop, yet the flavor was there. The taxi took me to the University campus. It was a treat for sore eyes. The campus seemed huge and was spread over a vast area of land. I entered it and was seriously impressed. The beauty of the impressive surroundings was that they have been providing relentless precious education to the students enrolled here since the past 48 years. The existence of the University is because of the bill passed in the Legislative Assembly which felicitated the University. It is under the Government of Tamil Nadu and has the UGC Grant too. With a prestigious inclusion in the group of nine universities in India, which has the status of University with Potential for Excellence, the University has certainly come a long way. Much of the campus of the Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai has provisions of the internet and the number of students that benefit from the University has increased tremendously. Statistics have it that there are 41 post graduates and roughly the same amount of MPhil courses being offered by the institution. There are other diploma and certificate courses too under various categories that have students applying from all over India. The numbers are mind boggling and the facility huge. I was short of words and while I returned to the hotel, I thought about my plan to go to the Kazimar Big Mosque and Maqbara, Madurai, which would require me to start the next day early.
Goripalayam Mosque, Madurai : I decided to visit the goripalayam mosque with my cousins. This mosque is one of the largest and most popular mosques in Madurai. This mosques consist the graves of mughal rulers Madurai Hazrat Sulthan Alauddin Badusha and Hazrat Sulthan Shamsuddin Badhusha. It is said that word “Goripalayam” is derived from the persian word “Gor” which means grave.
Madurai has so much on offer, while there are bundles of history to soak and understand, true to its name, the city also has temples in abundance. One such unmistakable and must-visit temple is the Koodal Alagar Temple, Madurai. Located in the heart of the city, the temple is located very close to the Meenakshi Temple. I had a fair idea of the travel time that it would take to the temple from my hotel. The significance of the temple lay in the fact that it is one of the 108 divyadesams or the holy abodes of Lord Vishnu. Madurai has so much on offer, while there are bundles of history to soak and understand, true to its name, the city also has temples in abundance. One such unmistakable and must-visit temple is the Koodal Alagar Temple, Madurai. Located in the heart of the city, the temple is located very close to the Meenakshi Temple. I had a fair idea of the travel time that it would take to the temple from my hotel. The significance of the temple lay in the fact that it is one of the 108 divyadesams or the holy abodes of Lord Vishnu. I left the Koodal Alagar Temple, Madurai soon after the darshan and came to the hotel to have a relaxed stay at the hotel. Much of the property too remained unexplored and so much still remained to be understood about the significance of the temple. It could have been nice if there were guides in the temples but I was not able to find one. A quick internet session explained the long and complicated history behind the temple that most believe. The stories felt all fairy-like and rather seemed unbelievable but faith is such a powerful force that it not only binds people together but also makes them believe in the unbelievable. The next day I would make the trip to the Madurai Kamaraj University and that sure would be fun because the university is one of the most recognized in the country.
The day had started quite normally but I knew that soon the day would get special. I was to visit the Gandhi Museum - Madurai and that would make the day special for sure. Built by donations and contributions of the Indian citizens, the Museum of Gandhi was created on the premise of the palace of Rani Magammal, which had been renovated for the purpose. I had my breakfast in the quietness of my room and got ready rather quickly because the rental car was on its way to take me to the museum. Madurai, its people and sightseeing in the city were all agreeing with me, and I was having so much fun that there was no other place in the world where I would want to be other than in Madurai. Soon I was on my way to the museum and the moment I reached, I was taken aback by the sheer size of the Museum building. The important relics that the building housed were being done full justice by the imposing exteriors of the museum. I entered and went through the courtyard to the main exhibit areas. The information counters has enough literature on the history of the museum and the various important relics and replicas that it has. The place was inaugurated by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in the year 1959. Some of the important exhibits in the Museum premise include an original letter written personally by Mahatma Gandhi to Narayanan Sathsangi of Devakottai, a letter addressed to Adolf Hitler and also a congratulatory letter written by Mahatma Gandhi to Subramania Bharati, a great poet and freedom fighter. I went through the visual biography of the great man, which has all the information about him right from his childhood till his last days. Amongst other notable items at the Gandhi Museum - Madurai is the blood stained replica of the clothes of Mahatma Gandhi, which were his last. The day was finally coming to an end and as I was returning back to my hotel, everything about Bapu kept repeating in my psyche. It had to be an early night for me because the next day I planned on visiting the Koodal Alagar Temple, Madurai.
Aayiram Kaal Mandapam, Madurai : This is a picture of the gorgeous aayiram kaal mandapam which means “The Hall with thousand pillars”. This beautiful monument is located in Madurai city in Tamil nadu. It was built in 1569 AD by the Nayak dynasty. Highlight of this place is the musical pillars that produces a different note when you tap on the pillar.
My alarm shrieked just in time. It was about 7:30 in the morning and I was far away from home ready to embark on my journey. To avoid the confusion of commute in a new city, I had made bookings with the hotel vehicle to pick me up. It seemed like the best decision because mornings generally catch me unawares and I was still groggy from sleep. Sangam Hotel, Madurai was the name written on the placard, which this skinny man was carrying along with him. It also bore my name and I was quick to spot it. Although, I was travelling light, yet the moment I handed over my luggage to him, I was relieved to get rid of the load that I was carrying. Much to my relief the hotel is also not very far from the railway station. The moment I set my eyes on the property, I was thankful for all the recommendations that made me choose the hotel. The greenery around the main hotel building in white looked very appealing and it sketched a beautiful setting in the pristine morning. I made my way to the hotel reception and finished the formalities. The hotel lobby also looked extremely impressive and so did my room. The standard rooms are done in a classy way and have all the modern amenities, which all top-notch hotels have. The bed looked very inviting but the stomach rumbled for some food. Once I was ready, I followed the directions to the restaurant where the breakfast buffet is spread for the guests. The breakfast looked sumptuous and I wasted no time in tucking in a wholesome meal. Sangam Hotel, Madurai is everything that I had expected and more. It scored on everything - looks, décor, service and hospitality. It had only been a few hours and I was already in love with the place. But I had to hurry up because the first thing that I had vowed I would do once I reached Madurai was offer my prayer at the Meenakshi Temple, Madurai and it was getting late for sure.
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Sharing is what I always believe in, since childhood I have been most expressive kid in my family. Making new friends, jelling up with people, traveling or participating in any event, I have always been in the fore front. Hello friends this is Soumya Shetty a Pharmacist, I love reading, travelling to places, visiting spiritual places the rich history behind the existence attracts me. Moreover, at the same time I too enjoy shopping with friends, movies, food, and parties. Most importantly, “sharing” so here is crazy Soumu sharing her experiences and life with you friends. Hope you would like being part of my life’s journey.
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