In the land of Tamils

Written by Administrator

Thursday, 17 September 2009

Planning your trip to India this task breakneck. It is impossible to see everything you are interested in one trip, even took a year. At first it is a good mix of standards with something less familiar, such as raw Tamil Nadu "Unity in Diversity" is the winning slogan selected for 1974, the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary celebrations of India's independence. Slogan full of optimism and pride, which is characterized worldwide anniversary ceremonies. As for diversity is difficult for this country does not agree. Is so great that any future travel, even in the same place, an expedition into the unknown. With unity at times and sometimes different, but after that the country has maintained its indivisibility seemed incredible at his birth. The famous "Golden Triangle" combined with something less tourist - with temples lying in the south of the subcontinent of Tamil Nadu. I have just the south, where he has never reached the Muslim invaders, can boast a centuries-old tradition of continuity. Tamil inhabitants of the stand out darker skin complexion, and love of spicy food. Visiting the temples in this part of India provides a truly mystical experience, not only because of contact with the monuments of architecture, but also because they present in almost every step of the pilgrims. The smell of incense, aroma of flowers and food eaten by the faithful, which bring to the temple, songs and monologues, add the site unbelievable authenticity. But the holiest shrines of the Hindus are admitted only. How to travel on the Indian subcontinent are we going? For without money, but the administrations sometimes it is best to train. It is an institution in India, exceeding even the weight of the railways during the Soviet Union. Trains carry millions of passengers, animals and the incredible number of other goods. Developed rail network is a souvenir of their stay in India, the British. Although today especially timely and too pure Indian Railways are not, they are an excellent means of communication. When we buy a ticket, first-class comfort, you can talk about the journey. However, when time is scarce, and the wallet a little richer, you need to use air transport. In this industry there is quite a lot of competition there, there are several so-called low-cost carriers. Therefore, prices are extremely affordable. Interestingly these lines offer the board the conditions under which you will not find in Europe the "normal" flights. During each even hour-long flight ever we got hot meals. Visiting temples of Tamil Nadu, worth it for a few days to choose a base Pondicherry town, which lies about 150 km south of Madras, as it happens in Hindu custom, the Chenaie. It was until 1954 a French possession, and still feel the atmosphere of the ancient metropolis. It happens that say to a foreign client in the language of Moliere. There are excellent French and Vietnamese restaurants. Many residents still receives a pension of France, which translates into a better standard of living. French wines from the best and do not avoid the love also this piece of India. In many Indian states, alcohol is expensive and not easily available. In Pondicherry shops offering a wide selection of local and imported are common points on the map of the city. Usually it is also a small where the locals drink their portion of the biting bought on the street dumplings or fried in deep fat prawns. Lying 70 km from Madras city temples, Kanchipuram is one of the mandatory points journey to Tamil Nadu. Called the Golden City of a Thousand Temples, is one of the oldest in India. When I asked Tamils, of which the famous Kanchipuram (often called the simplification of Kanchi) responded as one man: the silk sari, temples and gods. In that order so this choice. Weaving traditions date back to the time of the founder of the Pallava dynasty, which is the fifth century. Silk was the royal cloth for years, and Kanchipuram five hundred years of royal capital. Interested in buying a silk sari of the highest quality, visit the shops line the streets of Gandhi and Thirukatchininambi. It is easy to get to them - each and a taxi driver willing Chainplates the factory producing silk fabrics. Of course, his enthusiasm is not sincere - will get a commission on each purchase of goods by us. This commission is very difficult to avoid. Tourist can in principle only to decide who is at his food. If we are to guide a lot of scoops, if we take a taxi to a taxi driver. We need to know the store to which you want to go and get a taxi or a block before moving on foot. On the other hand, sometimes the guides remain solely with the store donations. It is no exaggeration in the fact that their families are literally starving, where there are no tourists, so it was after the attack in Mumbai. Personally, I think there is nothing in that area to fight - it just breaks your nerves. If the thing you like and the price is good for us - buy it and not wonder whether the case is not a little. It was silk, and now churches. Kanchipuram was an important forum for the exchange of thought between Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism. This is one of the seven sacred cities of India, but only where worship is also gray and Vishnu. Many of the temples have survived in very good condition. The largest and most important is situated in the northern part of the city Ekambareshwar erected in honor of Lord Shiva. Contains elements of the Pallava dynasty, although the major part of the structure was later in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Famous for its dazzling white, nearly 60-meter gopury, a tower which is both the gateway. Kanchipuram is a place on the trail of Tamil pilgrims worship Shiva. This makes it here is never empty. Pilgrims dressed in black appear in groups after having performed the prayers would move out again. Pilgrims are friendly disposed to tourists willing to pose for pictures, stories of celebrated rites. Kalyan Mandapa majestic, a room with a thousand columns is always full of the faithful. When you want a bit of praying Indians to rest, I would recommend visiting lying west of the city center Kailashnath temple. It is the oldest preserved in the city and an excellent example of architecture of the Pallava dynasty. It was built in the eighth century sandstone. Owes its position in the survival shelter from winds. Today is the only tourist attraction. One of the most photographed places in India, is a temple in Mamallapuram Shore. The city, located only 58 km south of Madras, was a major seaport during the Pallava dynasty. In 1995 went to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Shore Temple is located on the shore of the Bay of Bengal, and this owes a photographic popularity. It is the oldest stone church (early eighth century) in southern India. Unfortunately, the erosion of sandstone under the influence of wind and salt made the most of the sculptural detail has disappeared. A little east of the center of the village is another's treasure - a huge relief carved in granite rock. Krishna is called Mandapa and shows how the god Krishna puts one hand up Govardhana. The original intent of the relief of the rock carvers Krishna had symbolized the top. Unfortunately, in the seventeenth century was added a colonnade and a sort of entrance hall, which composition. On the other reliefs Krishna is presented in the milking cow and when standing playing the flute. Other figures represent the shepherds and shepherdess, lions, including one with a human face. The second is a huge relief Ardżun Repentance, also called the descent of the Ganges. Arjuna is one of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. The right side of the bas-relief representation of a family dominated by elephants. While the left stands on one leg and looks for Arjuna folded his hands in the sun, giving a meditation on Shiva. Visiting Mamallapuram not ignore the complex Rathas Pancha Pandava (five Rathas). It is engraved in granite rock monoliths, imitating the ceremonial chariots. Sculptures also attract attention as a life-size animals lion, elephant, and the mythical bull Nandi - of gray. Arranging the notes in India was wondering what made a major impression on me. As number one it seemed Chidambram built a temple in honor of Lord Shiva Nataradża, that the king of dance. It has always been owned by the caste Brahmins Dikszitar. Unfortunately, they do not allow the interior to make photos, and very strictly comply with this prohibition, until and including the confiscation of cameras. And what would be photographed. It is a huge complex of open and functioning non-stop since the tenth century its walls and columns from floor to ceiling covers the intricate bas-reliefs made of granite. I watched as the priests, distinguished by its tuft of hair over his forehead gathered donations from the faithful for their prayers. It was real money factory, which at the moment reference also somewhere on the temple base. I swapped with one of the Brahmins a few sentences. Water cologne smelled good and spoke excellent English. It turned out that he studied in London, knows the world, passed through all the continents. It was the best thing, we can not write about the worst. Here lie the palm of priority holds ten kilometers from Pondicherry Aurovill. You can read about it in any guide, so when the pilot advised that my visit, insisted on - thinking that they do not want him to get up in the morning. After arriving at the film " ideas flagship, which was to be Aurovill. Founded in 1968, would be the ideal city, where people from around the world will live in harmony, and harmony. Have created a place where east meets west, people of different nationalities together to learn of alternative technologies, conduct ecological cultivation. Native of modern science fiction films of those years had a large impact on nature Aurovill. I felt as if in a climate of Fantomas films from the 60s the last century. Once we saw the film and pictures praise the project and its creators, we went through the park to see the center of meditation. The building in the shape of a huge sphere covered with a sheet he had ever done for newcomers impression. Today, the reality is somewhat changed, and rather induces smiles. Inside the supposedly great meditating, which I had no opportunity to persuade, because the measure is not admitted profane. So why tourists are invited to this place, no one could explain to me. The only answer that as it is not known what was going on ... Generally, the whole is permeated with Aurovill artificiality, and window-dressing. Sad is that this project is collected donations around the world. Reportedly collected very efficiently, and the donors are convinced that support the right project in poor India. I promised myself that I would discourage attendance Aurovill at every opportunity. Waste of time, and India need it a great deal.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 24 September 2009 )