Munnar
Its the gift of nature to the Western Ghats, the eastern border of Kerala and an adjoining parts of Tamilnadu. Munnar is a town located in the Idduki district of Kerala, situated in Western Ghats of India. The name 'Munnar' means three rivers and there are actually three of them, 5000ft above sea level, confluence the three mountain streams -


Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala

Munnar has the highest peak in South India, Anamudi, at 2695 m. It consists of vast sloping areas of tea, most of which mostly are owned by Tata Tea. The plantation was leased earlier to Tata Finlay Company by Poonjar Royal Family and now it is Kannan Devan Hill Producers Company. The present form of Munnar is really the work of Kannan Devan Company.
Most of the native flora and fauna of Munnar have disappeared due to severe habitat fragmentation resultant from the creation of the plantations. However, some species continue to survive and thrive in several protected areas nearby, including the new

1. Kurinjimala Sanctuary to the east,
2. Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Manjampatti valley and the Amaravati reserve forest of Indra Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary to the north east,
3. Eravikulam National Park and Anamudi Shola National Park to the north,
4. Pampadum Shola National Park to the south and
5. proposed Palani Hills National Park to the east. These protected areas are especially known for several endemic species.

Altitude - 5000 - 8000 ft above sea level
Area - 26. 2 sq Kms.
Best time to visit - September - May
Languages spoken - Malayalam, Tamil, English, Hindi

Flora

The neelakurinji, a blue flower which blooms only every twelve years, is found in this region. It bloomed last in December 2006.

Fauna

1. Nigiri Thar,
2. Grizzled Giant Squirrel,
3. Nirgiri Wood-Pigeon,
4. Elephant,
5. Gaur and
6. Sambar

Attractions in and around
There are 4 different directions from Munnar where the places to see are located and the Kms from Munnar (I got this when I visited Munnar). I hope this will be helpful for people who go to Munnar.

Madupatty Direction
Place --------------------------------------- Kms
Flower Garden------------------------------ 2
Photo Point (Tea Garden)---------------- 4
Jungle Honey Bee Nest ------------------ 5
Madupatty Dam Boating ---------------- 12
Film Shooting Point --------------------- 13

Elephant Arrival Spot ------------------ 14

Echo-Point --------------------------------- 20
Kundaly Lake ----------------------------- 26
Top station View (End in that direction) - 36
Coimbatore Direction
Tata Tea Meusium ------------------------ 1
Nyamakad Water Falls ------------------ 8
Anaimudi View --------------------------- 12
Eravikulam National Park (Rajamalai) - 15
Greenvalley view -------------------------- 20
Luckom Water Falls --------------------- 26
Sandalwood & Bamboo forest ---------- 36
Muniyara (Padavas cave) ---------------- 47
Thoovanam Water Falls View ---------- 52
Wild Life Sanctuary, Chinnar --------- 63
Cochin Direction
Blossom Park ------------------------------ 2.5
Pothamedu view point (Sunset View) - 4
Cardamon, coffee & Pepper Plantations -- 6
Athukad Water Falls ------------------- 13
Thekkady Direction
Lockhart Gap & Rock Cave ------------ 14
Power House Water Falls --------------- 17
Resort Village View --------------------- 22
Anaiyirangal Dam View ----------------- 26
Spice Plantation Tour -------------------- 29

Getting to Munnar
Railway Station
Cochin - 135 Km
Kottayam - 147 Km
Madurai - 160 Km
Coimbatore - 160 Km
Airport
Cochin - 115 Km
Madurai - 180 Km
Coimbatore - 170 Km

Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram

Mahabalipuram (Port city of the Pallavas) was called as mamallapuram in the earlier days. This was an ancient port city of the Pallava rulers of South India and was also their secondary capital.
Mahabalipuram lies on the coramendal coast facing the Bay of Bengal which is a wonderful site to view. Its a better place for those who love ancient monuments, sculptures etc. One can see craft items in the city for purchase.

History

Narasimhavarman I, one of the well-known Pallava kings was ruling Mahabalipuram in the 7th century. He was also known as `Mahamalla`, which means `great wrestler`. He decorated Mahabalipuram with numerous sculptures and monuments. He built several cave temples and monolithic shrines cut out of natural rock. He also constructed the sculptures in the famous bas-relief panel called 'Arjuna's Penance' or 'Bhagiratha's Penance', which shows a person who may be either Arjuna or Bhagiratha.

The monumental remnants of Mahabalipuram can be categorized into four main types. There are
1) 'Monoliths' - freestanding temples cut out of solid rock from top downwards, locally known as the 'rathas' or 'chariots'. There are five such rathas seen close to each other and these are together known as 'Pancha rathas' or 'Panchapandava rathas'.
* Dharmaja (or) Yudhistira - crowned by a three layered pyramid structure, unfinished, dedicated to Shiva, is the only Ratha that carries an inscription, which mentions the Pallava king Nârasimhavarman I.
* Arjuna - in the form of a pyramid, certainly dedicated to Shiva, as the presence of the bull Nandi suggests.
* Draupadi - in the form of a hut with thatched roof, dedicated to the goddess Durga


* Bhima - a step temple, dedicated to Vishnu

*Nakula & Sahadeva - unfinished, dedicated to Indra (God of the gods)

2) 'Madapas' - locally called so. There are many other temples excavated in hill scarps of Mahabalipuram.

3) 'Shore Temple - It is one of the most important structural temples here. It was mostly built by Narasimhavarman II or Rajasimha, one of the successors of Mahamalla. This was recognised by UNESCO and has been listed among the World heritage sites. Its believed that there were 7 magnificent temples known as pagodas, built near the sea. But now only the shore temple is the only one which can be seen. The shore temple consists of three shrines. Shore Temple comprises three shrines:
1 - prominent ones are dedicated to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. In the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum), an image of Shivalinga embraces the site.
2 & 3 -At the rear end, one can find two shrines facing each other. Here, one shrine is dedicated to Ksatriyasimnesvara and other to Lord Vishnu. In the shrine, Lord Vishnu is imaged reclining on the 'Seshanag', which is a symbol of consciousness in Hinduism.
Perched on a 50 feet square plinth, the pyramidal structure raises to the extent of 60 feet. The temple was designed to grasp the first rays of the rising sun and to spotlight the waters after sunset.

4) Arjuna's Penance:

Bas-Relief (known as Penance of Arjuna or Descent of Ganges) originated in 7th & 8th centuries is perhaps one of the largest in the world. This is chiseled out of monolithic rock. It comprises of 2 gigantic rocks (71 feet by 27 feet). it is also known as Penance of arjuna, because the hero of epic Mahabarata, Arjuna's figure of practicing penance inorder to get the boon from Lord Shiva. The sculptures represents a sage performing penance in a village on the banks of a river. According to some scholars, this sage is Arjuna, the hero of the epic Mahabharata. Again others depict this sage as Bhagiratha, who brought the river Ganga from the heavens to the earth.
There is a water tank above the hill which some says is the evidence where the river Ganga was flown.

The stone sculpture tradition of the Pallavas is still surviving in Mahabalipuram. The tradition is continued by a prestigious Government college of sculpture.
Its easily assessable from Chennai either through taxi or Bus. Tamilnadu Govt. has provided AC buses at frequent timing.



How to reach:



View Larger Map



View Larger Map
By Air:
Chennai Airport - 60 km
By Road:
To get it easier I have put the map.
Lots of Government AC buses are available from Thiruvanmayur.
By Train:
Chengalpatu (Nearest station) - 29 km

MEHANDI

WORLD CLASSICAL TAMIL CONFERENCE 2010

The venue for the 2010 semozhi manadu was Coimbatore (June 23-27). In Coimbatore CODISSIA grounds was the place where the conference were held on for 5 days. All important and eminent people who work or love tamil participated in this conference. A main hall with a seating capacity of arount 50,000 and 30,000 people to be able to watch the conference either by sitting/standing on the ground was well arranged.
Apart from the main hall, there was a museum hosting more than 700 artefacts detailing the history and forms the language has taken. And also a book fair was held nearby, where around 130 publishers had their stalls for display and selling.
Huge temporary complexes were constructed for serving food – for catering approximately 4000 people in five minutes.
On the first day there was a oorvalam (procession) titled Iniyavai Narpathu which are as follows:
Mangala Isai,
Kurinji,
Mullai,
Marudham,
Neithal,
Palai,
War Heroes,
Purananuttru Thai,
Marakudiye Tamil Kudi,
Tamilaga Kalai Valarchi,
Pudhiyadhor Ulagam Seivom,
Kopperunchozhan,
Pisirandhayar,
Manu Needhi Chozhan,
Began presenting a shawl to peacock,
Kavari Veesiya Kaavalan,
Pari gifting his chariot to Mullaikodi,
Adhiyaman presenting a Nellikani to Avvaiyar,
Porkai Pandian,
Rajivan – Mirugangal Nadai,
Silambu Vanjina Maalai (Kannagi),
Unvalithalin Uyarvu,
Velunachiar warfare,
Women in war,
Maram Udan Piranthavazhagirathu,
Love scene transcending caste,
creed barrier,
Suzhandrum Eripinnathu Uzhagam, T
hirukutrala Kuravanchi,
Mannan Koothar with Paanar and Sandror,
Pirpokkum Ella uyirkkum,
Vannangal Verupattal Manidar Vetrumaiyillai,
Rustic Scenes,
Sange Muzhangu,
Dance artistes from Film Industry,
Sadhi,
Mada Verupadatra Tamil Revolution,
Pagirnthu Unn,
Kalathai Vendru Nirkum Historical Tanjore Big Temple,
two floats for Laser Show.

Kalahasthy - One of the Pancha Bhoota shrines of Lord Shiva

Kalahasthy - One of the Pancha Bhoota shrines of Lord Shiva

Kalahasti is located near the pilgrimage town of Tirupati and is visited by thousands of pilgrims. SriKalahasti temple is located 36 km away from Tirupathi in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradhesh, India. This temple is also associated with Rahu and Ketu, (of the nine grahams or celestial bodies in the Indian astrological scheme).

The vast west facing Kalahastiswara temple (13°45′N 79°42′E) is built adjoining a hill, and on the banks of the river Swarnamukhi. At some points, the hill serves as the wall of the temple. The temple prakarams follow the contour of the adjoining hill and hence the temple plan is rather irregular. North of the temple is the Durgambika hill, south is the Kannappar hill andeast is the Kumaraswamy hill. Kannappa Nayanaar, a hunter and an ardent devotee of Kalahasteeswarar offered his own eyes to Lord Shiva. Thus the hunter earned the name of Kannappan. His original name was Thinnan. His statue is therefore present in the sanctum.

History

Legend says that Lord Shiva disguised as Vayu (Air) observed that The Spider (SRI), Cobra (KALA) & Elephant (HASTI) worshipped Him very devotedly. To please the Lord, the spider wove some splendid objects with silk, the elephant brought flowers and washed the idol with water and the snake decorated the idol with some special stones.

A fight with the snake and the elephant began when the elephant removed the precious stones brought by the snake, to decorate the idol with flowers. In the fight that followed, the spider got caught in the middle and the three eventually died.

This devotion was so strong that the Lord merged the three souls in Him and thus the name Sri Kalahasti. So Lord Shiva made them to relieve from the curse and attain salvation, hence this place is called Srikalahasti.