Our Trip Down South

Originally Posted by malspie

Dear Rajmi,

It was a wonderful peice of travel review. I enjoyed reading your post and it was apt. It is very vital to write a review on travel with all minute details so that the reader can pick up lines for his visit. You covered all the points, including the sight seeing, hotel rooms, food courts, etc. I liked the pictures very much.
After Chitvish, I have seen another member who has taken so much pain in weaving a lovely thread on her visit down south.

A laudable job and has to appreicated.

Hi Mals,

Thanks for stepping in. That was so kind of you. There are still more to come. Do read them and pass on your comments.

Originally Posted by saraswathipv

Hi rajmi,

Thanx for the pics...

you are right about Kallidaikurichi appalams...I have brought a few of the packs to Saudi here...Its really good.

You always have water fall in Agasthiar falls....but yes, a little less during the time you went...I hear now that the season is setting there now...water will start in full flow soon.
those monkeys were cute...you know,we have to be very careful with the food items that we carry...they will come very close to you and snatch it from your handsvery very gently...
We have often been there.
Thanks once again for the wonderful piece...

Yes Saraswathi, Water was there but not much and there was a huge crowd. More over they said that a rock is blocking the flow and they are trying to move the rock.

Dear Rajmi,
sorry, I left in between to take a tour of Kumbakonam. We went to Kmu and Uppiliyappan kovil by car on Sunday morning 4 and came back by evening 3 on Monday. I am joining you just now.
Your accounts make very interesting reading. I too long to trave to those place. I was telling my husband about your trip. The photos are really very nice and you are giving such nice details of all one might need. Thanks for that.
It is good thing that you are writing immediately so that you will remember all the details well. This is a record for anybody to see when they need. Good of you!
When one travels with small children, one needs the details like good food and the like. Your travalogue is in detail. Hats off!

Originally Posted by Varloo

Dear Rajmi,
sorry, I left in between to take a tour of Kumbakonam. We went to Kmu and Uppiliyappan kovil by car on Sunday morning 4 and came back by evening 3 on Monday. I am joining you just now.
Your accounts make very interesting reading. I too long to trave to those place. I was telling my husband about your trip. The photos are really very nice and you are giving such nice details of all one might need. Thanks for that.
It is good thing that you are writing immediately so that you will remember all the details well. This is a record for anybody to see when they need. Good of you!
When one travels with small children, one needs the details like good food and the like. Your travalogue is in detail. Hats off!

Oh great, waiting to read your travelogue. Yes, Kalikesam and Manimutharu dam are worth visiting if you are going to Tirunelveli. We felt that we spent very little time there and we are planning to go on for a full day stay at Kalikesam and atleast half a day stay at Manimutharu. I usually write my travelogues in a diary and this time my virtual diary is giving me that chance. As I want many to read it I didnot put it in IL blog. But have posted it here in travelogue section. Thanks again Varlooji.

But I really wonder, why I didnt receive any comments on the Pillayar and the hand held mirror. Did you see them?

Oh how I hate these power cuts. This is the third time I am writing the entire post. I just pray hard that there will be no powercuts now.

After Manimutharu, our next halt was at Ambasamudram to pack lunch for us. We got two meals and two packets of curd rice. Again the name of the hotel is Gowri Shankar(looks like our driver Mr. Shankar have taken a fancy for the name). We proceeded towards Papanasam hills. We had planned to Karaiyar dam and when asked at the checkpost they said that the boating at the dam is closed temporarily and so even if you go there you have to stand in the dam and watch the water. So we just didnot want to venture there. But we went to Agasthiyar falls.

On the way to Agasthiyar falls, we saw the hydro power plant that generate power using the water in the Karaiyar Dam.

Whew what a crowd!!! We just had to wait in queue to step to have a bath. I was surprised to see the less amount of water falling down as, as far as I remember there used to be more water falling down. On enquiry we were told that a rock have fallen down where the water flows down and they are making arrangements to remove the rock. Due to the huge crowd, we didnt get that much previlage to take bath for a long time and so we moved out quite fast.

On the way back to our car, there was an ice cream vendor and the kids wanted icecream. Just when DH handed over a cup to my son, from the tree up jumped a monkey stood before him still. Son was so thrilled to see a monkey so near and before we all could realize what is happenning, the monkey snatched the cup from his hand and ran away on to the tree. (We got him another cup). Infact we saw few monkeys snatching eatables even from the vendor inspite of their long and thick stick. Some monkeys were posing to the foreigners who were taking photographs. It was a real good sight to see.

After having our lunch, as we all felt that we didnot have that much dip in the water, husband asked shall we go back to Manimutharu again, but Mr. Shankar suggested that we go and dip ourselves in the Tamiraparani river that flows at the back of the Papanasam temple. We agreed and our next halt was at the temple.

One have to climb down huge steps (most of them are almost a feet tall) to go down to the river. There were almost 25 steps. The water was so calm near the shores but almost in the middle, where they have installed iron rods to catch hold of, the water flow was enjoyable. We all had real good fun. First taking turns and then leaving all our bags and baggage in the car with Mr. Shankar, we all stepped in and had fun in the river for almost an hour or so. The water is almost the hip depth for adults. Once you reach the rods, the kids could catch hold of the rods tightly and float in the water. Both son and daughter enjoyed doing so.

We all being Chennaities have gone seeing the water and we didnot have heart to come out of the water. We forced ourselves out as it was time to go back (and DH wanted to watch the semifinal match between CSK and PunjabXII).

On our way back, due to my constant pressure, DH asked Mr. Shankar to stop at Kallidaikurichi and to my amazement, I shopped less and he shopped more. Just the time we entered the shop there came an consignment of Kai murukku (5 suthu seer murukku), made of coconut oil (hubby hates the smell of coconut oil). As I like that type of murukku very much we got only one (and on the way back DH finished off almost 3/4th of that piece and I just got a bit to taste). He also shopped for Kuzhambu Vathal(the one that have onions in it) for our home and also for his brother who is a great fan of that. Maraseeni appalam, Arisi appalam, 1/2 kg Murukku, 1/2 Kg Thattai (both made of coconut oil). I just got Aanai Adi appalam for us and my parents and rettai appalam(which is also famous in Tirunelveli). Daughter was teasing him that you were telling amma not to buy this and that but you have got so much.

As planned earlier Mr. Shankar had informed a staff in his travels to get us Halwa packets from the Iruttukadai as we will be leaving on monday and there is no shop on Sunday. It was ready and we were asked to collect it.

As we reached a bit early than planned, we went to Kurukkuthurai Murugan Koil in Tirunelveli. It is another famous temple just on the banks of Tamiraparani. When there are floods in the river, the temple gets immersed and we could have darshan only after the water drains. In the last monsoon season, the temple had got immersed and we could see water patches on the ceiling of the temple in some places. The lord is so small. But very beautiful. (kaana kan kodi vendum. You need a crore eyes to see that beauty).

When seeing the water, son wanted to dip in again, and we had tough time in convincing him that we will come back the next day.

The first two are the hydro power project
Third and fourth are the Tamiraparani river in the fourth you could see the iron rods placed.
The last one is Kurukkuthurai Murugan koil

Oh Rajmi, send me some murukku made of coconut oil. It has become a rarity. My mother used to make them, now she could not due to health reasons. Except for my sister's marriage, only this type was made (sis's in laws are Tanjore and do not like coconut oi), that too at home. It is sure delicious than other oils. I have already started planning for a trip like you have gone, next year. Will be back later with more comments.

Hi,

As usual I enjoyed reading. I have never heard about the kurukkuthurai murugan temple. That was really a good piece of info, will sure try to visit him asap. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Varloo

Oh Rajmi, send me some murukku made of coconut oil. It has become a rarity. My mother used to make them, now she could not due to health reasons. Except for my sister's marriage, only this type was made (sis's in laws are Tanjore and do not like coconut oi), that too at home. It is sure delicious than other oils. I have already started planning for a trip like you have gone, next year. Will be back later with more comments.

Varlooji,
after visiting that shop, I have taken their address and phone number, and you know what I have seriously started thinking of starting a homelinks here. If I get more orders I am sure I can order from him and get it here, for the charges he have been telling for the transport seemed very reasonable.

But for sure, if I get some for me, I will pack a few for you too. Ovvoru sutthum one aal kaati viral alavu irunthuthu. (Each and every thread was as thick as our index finger). Infact my husband who cannot stand the smell of coconut oil loved the taste of that murukku and thatai.

Originally Posted by Cindhuja

Hi,

As usual I enjoyed reading. I have never heard about the kurukkuthurai murugan temple. That was really a good piece of info, will sure try to visit him asap. Thanks.

Cindhuja,

I should have been much more elaborate about the place where it is located. You have to cross the railway line and go to C.N. Village side of the Tirunelveli junction and there you can ask any one they will guide you to this Murugan temple. It has a good Padithurai too where you can take bath.

Hi rajmi,

Thanks a lot.