I've come to India only for a few days, and at this time as soon as I saw the opportunity to go for a short trip out of Bangalore, I literally pounced on it.
I don't want to describe each and every moment of the trip cos its kinda boring and let me admit it, its pretty boring for the readers as well :D
Some observations:
- On the way to Pondicherry we passed through many small villages. As it was 15th august, we saw many kids coming back home from school in neat uniforms with small tricolors pinned to them. In the centre of a town we saw India's map drawn using flowers, and large posters of national heroes. I was always under the impression that people in small villages and towns must be just celebrating their regional functions and festivals and must not be very enthusiastic about national functions like the Independence day. But I am glad that I was proved wrong :)
- The sea water at Pondicherry beach was extremely salty. So much as to burn your eyes and nose. But the beach was pleasant all the same. Had a lot of fun.
- Made a sand castle (not a very great one though) the first time ever. I generally always start making it but never complete it due to boredom :-p
- In Mahabalipuram, we saw so many historical monuments. Its amazing how these monuments are still preserved so well. The intricate stone carving work is simply spell bounding. Especially the series of Pandava caves and Arjun's panel which are all made from only one huge rock. There are also the 5 rathas named after Pandavas and Draupadi.
- We went to the shore temple at Mahabalipuram. Supposedly there were 7 such temples centuries back. But the sea kept rising over the years and swallowed 6 of them, except one, which is now called the shore temple. They say that during Tsunami, the sea water had gone back as much as for people to see the 6 temples buried in sea !!
- We stopped at Kanchipuram on our way back and stopped at one of the temples there. Again, I was amazed by the amount of work and skill which had been put into building these temples. In that temple there was a hall of hundred pillars. Each of those hundred pillars had a story to tell. The sculptures of the people, their poses, their clothes and jewelry.. superb!!
- We went to Kamakshi temple too, but the queue was too long and we would have got late, so we decided to pass. There we saw an elephant and we saw some people cutting its tail hair. I didn't understand what was happening and got all upset wondering that they were hurting it in some way. My sister assured me that they were just trimming its tail hair and she went to check it out herself. What she saw was horrifying !! Those guys were cutting the tail hair to sell them. In fact there were very few hair left on the poor thing's tail, still those guys continued to cut them and sell them. She also saw a wound in its back which was obviously making it uncomfortable, but the mahawat was not even bothered.
- We also stopped by at a Kanchiwaram silk saree shop and saw how the weavers were making the saree on the loom. One of my sister's friends traveling with us has studied textile engineering and she was able to explain exactly how the weaving is done. Its such a delicate and skillful work, Hats off to those weavers.
And those are the highlights :) Samachar samapt. Namaskar :D
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
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