One Day Trip to Pondicherry and Auroville - 5 Jan 2019

Had an amazing day trip to Pondicherry and Auroville.   Auroville visiting point is closed on Sunday afternoons and it is better to visit the place before 12 noon on Sundays.

Started at 7 am from Chennai and reached Auroville after a leisure breakfast break and marathon related detours around 10 am-  Spent good 2 hours in Auroville enjoying the greenary, serenity and spirituality of the place.  

Auroville

Pondicherry Mankula Vinayagar Temple and Aurobindo Ashram

From there we started and visited Manakula vinayakar temple by 12.15 and spent an hour before the temple closed at 1 pm.  

Pondicherry

Then headed to heart filling lunch at Kamatchi Mess 

Then came back to Aurobindo and Mother Ashram by 2.30 pm and spent good one hour near the Samadhi and in meditation.    

Did a bit of shopping and strolling around the lanes of Pondicherry before we hit the road to Chennai.   

Marakannam Sri Bhoomeshwar Temple

On the way back near the Marakannam junction, we stopped to visit the Bhoomeshwar temple, a very old temple where you will find Suryan and Chandran together.  and then on the way back, 

ECR Lord Jaganathar Temple

Opp to Mayajaal on ECR,  we stopped to visit the Lord Jaganathar Temple around 6pm for the evening aarthi and prasad and started back home at 7 pm.    

I had the great company of my ever green rathasarathi Raghu and lovely girls Hema and Jaya from my team and we had an amazing day of spirituality, great food, great drive,  not hurried leisure getaway for a day and amazing temple visits and above all the best of meditation time at the Ashram!

Not just spirits, spirituality can also drive you to Pondy and you can still have the great ardeline rush!

What all you can see in Chennai ? Visiting Chennai's Iconic spots in a day!

When I had three of my close buddies from Romania and Phillipines visited us in March this year, I had to plan a bit to show case Chennai to them in the shortest time possible.  This homework not only worked like a charm, but also made me reinvent my own city.  I never would have otherwise done this going around all this places in a day, with a spillover the outskirts the following day.

Discovering Chennai in a day!

Staying closer to Airport, probably, I have taken the best route possible.

1.  Officers Training Academy, St. Thomas Mount ( From outside) and Madras War Cemetry in Butt Road

2.  St. Thomas Mount National Shrine  Church ( Up the St.Thomas Hills) - Chennai City View

3.  Valluvar Kottam 

4.  Madras Literary Society 

5.  Chennai Egmore Museum & National Art Gallery
6.   Museum Theatre

7.  Higginbottams and Pompuhar Showroom  (Mount Road and with LIC)

8.  Lunch at Amilies Poes Garden



9.  Vivekanandar House - ICE House

10.  Madras University - Senate Hall ( Chennai Binnelle was on and hence Senate Hall was open for Public)

11.  Victory War Memorial
12.  Fort St. George and Fort Museum

13.  Chennai Harbour  and Port Trust & Nappier Bridge

14.  Iconic Central Railway Station and Rippon Building 

15.  Anna Samadhi & MGR Memorial ( Now with Jayalalitha Memorial and Kalaignar Memorial)

16.  Marina Beach Water Front -  Labour Statue and Gandhi Statue

17.  Lighthouse  ( We went to the 9th floor for aerial view of the city)

18.  Ramakrishna Mutt Mylapore
19.  Kapaleshwar Temple 

20.  Asthalakshmi Temple and Annai Velankani Church Besant Nagar

21.  Santhome Basillca
22.  Palavakkam Beach

Day 2-  If you have time! ( Little stretching out of the City)

1.  Madhya Kailash Temple Adyar 



2.  Prestigious IIT Chennai and Rajbhavan Road - Gandhi Mandapam & Guidy National Park/Snake park & Theosophical Society 

3. Dakshin Chitra 

4. Crocodile Bank and VGP Kingdom

5.  Cholamandalam Artistic Village
6.  Kannathur Jaganatha Temple

7.  Muttukadu Lake & Boating

Day 3  - It you still have time left!

1.  Shopping in T. Nagar ( to enjoy the madness) and Sowcarpet (for the best deals and street food)
2.  Loads of malls the city has to offer
3.  Choki Dhanni ( a hard tried replication of Rajasthan)
4.  Queensland - if you enjoy theme parks
5.  MGM and VGP Universal Kingdom ( Klick Art musuem for crazy pictures ) and new Acquarium
6.  Wild Tribe Ranch ( If you love bit of hot day adventures and outdoors)
7.  Lots and Lots of Temples ( Be it any religion of your faith or interest - Chennai is abundant)
8.  Kalaskhetra (If you want to see the traditional dance forms of Tamil Nadu)
9.  Loads of Sabhas that offer Theatre, Drama, Classical and Western Music,  Cultural Programme)
10.  No shortage for Dining and Drinks and Yes, Disco too!
11.  Silent book reading in Iconic Connemera Library or well designed Anna Centenary Library

Enjoy Chennai!  Discover the City that has got lots to offer.   Be it traditions, art, culture,  temples, churches, beaches, food & fun....Chennai is a City to live and enjoy.  It is a city that lives and let's those who embraces it live in peace and harmony.   Chennai is not just a city of buildings and infrastructure, it is a city of inate emotions...absolute humanness and wonderful people.    Love You Chennai...You are always my Madras !  Nalla Madras!    

#TravelDiaries : One Day Trip to Mysuru - Chamundi Hills....Yet another getaway from Bangalore in a day!

When my friend from Argentina.  Val visited Bangalore, we both took the opportunity to have a quick trip to Mysuru and SriRangapathna and finally to the calling of Chamundeswari....a divine experience.

A Day Trip to Mysore from Bangalore...a quick weekend getaway!

Srirangapatna Fort: Known for its historical significance and architectural brilliance, this fort was originally built in 1454 AD. Initially a mud fort, its present structure was built during reign of Tipu Sultan. Its majestic gates and impassable defense system are worth exploring.

Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple: A mesmerizing example of Hoysala and Vijayanagar architectural style, this temple was first built in 894 AD. Since then it has seen many changes under various reigns. This temple is also known for idol of Lord Vishnu where He is shown resting on Aadi Sesha.

Tippu's Summer Palace: Summer retreat of Tipu Sultan was often called as the ‘Abode of Happiness’ and ‘Envy of Heaven’ by the constructor himself. Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace has been captivating visitors since long.   Dariya Daulat Bagh!

Gumbuz: Built in Persian style of architecture, Gumbaz captivates everyone. Surrounded by beautiful garden named as Lalbagh Garden, the imposing structure of Gumbaz is seen in the middle on an elevated platform.   Gumbaz is basically the burial chamber of Haider Ali, the father of Tipu Sultan, his mother Fatima Begum, and Tipu Sultan himself.

Jama Masjid in Srirangapatna attracts 1000's of Muslims even today for the Friday Prayers and this was the place for security tower of Tipu Sultan.   

Chamundi Hills: Located at the top of Chamundi Hills, Chamundeshwari temple is one of most prominent temples in Mysore. Dedicated to the Goddess Chamundeshwari (Chamundi), deity of the Mysore Royal Family.  This year I had the great privilege of visiting several Goddesses temples including Smiling devi at Samayapuram....heart filling divinity at Kollur Moogambigai and now at the Mahishasuramardini Chamundeswari.....feeling so happy for these experiences. 

Statue of Mahishasura and NandiGigantic and colourful statue of demon Mahishasura, located at the summit of the Chamundi hills is impossible to miss. Another statue that allures every tourist is the massive statue of Nandi Bull with a height of 16 feet and length of 25 feet. This statue is said to be more than 350 years old.

Mysore Zoo: Famed to be one of the oldest and the largest zoos in India had record number of housing various avian species, which are more than 40 other countries in the world.  ( We skipped this place as it was over crowded with summer vacation kids and Val and I were not particular about this place)

Mysore Maharaja Palace: A living exemplary of Mysore kingdom and undying spirit of its people, Mysore Maharaja Palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace still stands majestically, captivating every visitor with its incomparable beauty.    The beauty of the temples around and the Old Wooden Palace still housing the household things of the Kings is a sight to see.  We also cherished the hundreds of years old paintings on the walls.     But the Palace was heavily crowded and made us really wanting to get out asap probably because it was so hot on a summer afternoon and with vacations still on - last weekend before schools begins in June!

Jaganmohan Palace : A magnificent palace, an apt example of architectural brilliance, this palace used to be a retreat home for the Royal family and holds immense historical prominence as well.

St. Philomena's Church: With the fame of being one of the largest churches in India, this majestic church captivates everyone with its architectural excellence. It also boasts of being the second largest church in Asia.

Brindavan Gardens: Brindavan Gardens of Mysore is undeniably one of the best terrace gardens in the world, especially famous for its symmetric design and illuminate terrace gardens. Once upon a  must sightseeing place of a Mysore, Brindavan Garden mesmerizes everyone even today with its colorful musical foundations starting after 7 Pm every night.. Be aware of the over crowding of the place and parking of more than 1000 cars and we took almost an hour to get our car from parking lot. 

After a day of running around, crowds and queues, walking barefoot on a sunny day, we cant ask for more...we cherished spending time together and also going around the most cherished places of Mysore.    Plan well and Enjoy your day!      Travel Diary Date 25 May 2019 with Valeria from Argentina...my best friend in CSC...