A & N Diary-6

1.25pm, Wednesday 4^th December 2013

Early morning we all left for Mahabalipuram. This place which is famous for centuries old massive temple is situated in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu. I guess we had to travel 70-80kms one side It is like a treat for eyes to see this well situated temple near a sea. You feel like God is welcoming you to his home. In his early job days, my father, a young boy from Uttarakhand had come here as he was working in Chennai. Father was delighted to see how the place has changed over the years. In between all this, we visited two temples out of which, one place was tagged as one of the many spots where Pandavas and their wife had lived. This place is known as Arjuna’s penance or Descent of the Ganges. For those of you, who have hardcore interest in old monuments, visit this spot. Soon after this, we were at Five Rathas. India is rightly tagged as a rich country for old civilisation and rich culture. I am not explaining all these places in details because even I don’t remember much from the morning. Moreover, our genius friend Google is always there!

Look at the fine art work. Arjuna's Penance!

After covering all these temples and old monuments that have been maintained well under the surveillance of Archaeological Survey of India it was time for some wild. While we were heading back to Chennai, we stomachs started crying. And because we were on highway, locating a nice and clean restaurant became our task. After a survey for more than one hour, we finally got to eat idli, vada, sambar and authentic chutney. The place where we ate all this was quite authentic too. It was a hut kind of place to eat with plain terrace. I have been to Jodhpur in October 2012 and I know how these places are so I was not really stunned to see the pathetic condition around. After fuelling up our north Indian tummies with south Indian food, we headed to the famous ‘Crocodile Park’. Really that place is as dangerous as the name suggests. There were at least a total of 600-700 crocodiles from different breeds.

Gang of monsters. So scary!

As for now, I have just put my dying mobile phone on charge, using a little amount of electricity meant to be used by the people of Chennai. We are sitting in the waiting room/clock room of well maintained Chennai railway station. Tirupati Express will depart from the station around 2.10pm. We are going to the sacred temple of Lord Balaji situated in Tirumala. I have never liked this concept of visiting temples while on a trip. The reason is very genuine, I guess- If I can find God inside me then why should I invade into his privacy. Everyone has got life! Secondly, do we like it when guests come in pouring from early morning to late night?

At this moment, as I am writing in my diary, I can see a packed book kept inside my brother’s bag. The title of the book reads- ‘Selections from the complete works of Swami Vivekananda’. Father is calling us all to railway station canteen so that we can fill our tummy before we head to Tirupati. I hope he doesn’t force upon us his love for dahi-chawal!