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Culture, heritage and history of any place can be known through the ancient structures and buildings it has inherited. Temples are places of worship of the Hindus and most of these are architectural marvels. Through these places you can learn about the history of the place and also know about its past culture and the traditions that have been passed down the line.  The architecture of such erections varies from place to place. In south India most of such edifices had used the Dravidian style of architecture. Let us explore the area and know about such gems that have been shining since ages.

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மயில் ராவணனுக்கு உயிர் ஒரு குகைக்குள்ளே இருந்த தாமரை பூவுக்குள்ளே இருந்த வண்டுக்குள் இருந்ததாம். ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் அவர்களுடைய சந்தோஷம் சில பொருட்களிடமும், சிலரிடமும் இருக்குமாம்.. என்னுடைய சந்தோஷம் எங்கே இருக்கிறது என்று கேட்டால் அது என்னோடு மட்டும் தான் இருக்கிறது என்பேன்.. இருப்பினும் என்னுடைய கொஞ்சூண்டு சந்தோஷம் இந்த கோவை நகரத்தில் காற்றில் கலந்து இருக்கிறது. அதனால் தானோ என்னவோ ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் கோவைக்கு வரும்போது வேறு மனிதனாக வருகிறேன். என் மனதுக்கு சந்தோஷத்தை unconditional-ஆக தரும் கோவை நகரம். அதனால் தானோ என்னவோ இங்கு வரும்போது என்னுடைய மற்ற உலகம் எல்லாம் மறந்து போய்விடும். கோவை வந்தால் எத்தனை நாட்கள் ஆனாலும் பரவாயில்ல - என்னுடைய மின்னஞ்சல்களை பார்ப்பதில்லை, சக ஊழியர்களுக்கோ அல்லது மற்ற நண்பர்களுக்கோ ஃபோன் செய்வதில்லை. இது வெறுமனே எனக்கான நேரம்... எனக்கு பிடித்த (அண்ணனுடைய) மகள் மீராவுடனும், பொள்ளாச்சி தெய்வகுள காளியம்மனுடனும் மட்டுமே செலவு செய்யும் நேரம். ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் மனதில் முறுக்கிவிட்ட ஸ்ப்ரிங்க் போல அலுவலக / மற்ற அழுத்தங்களை ஏற்றிக்கொண்டு துவள ஆரம்பிக்கும்போது கோவை வந்துவிட்டு போனால் மனது திரும்பவும் எத்தனை அழுத்தங்களையும் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ளும் அளவுக்கு இலகுவாகவும், காலியாகவும் ஆகிவிடும். கடந்த ஆறு மாதங்களாக இந்தியாவில் இல்லாத காரணத்தால் கோவையை மிகவும் miss செய்தேன்... இந்த சிறு பயணத்தில் மீண்டும் அந்த சிலிர்ப்பு.

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Again it started in an impulse.... While I was going through an old album when I went to Madurai once in 2003, there was the photo of paintings being renovated. Then I thought why shouldn't I visit Madurai again so that there must have been more finished paintings. I booked the ticket via www.irctc.com, along with my friend Ram Prasad. This happened about 3 months before the actual travel date. Even though I had been to Madurai when I was in 4th standard and once when I was in ABT, I had no "feel" of that city. So I decided that I must stay for a couple of days to get a feel of it. On Thursday Hindu paper I read that the temples in Madurai are being renovated in a full swing. I knew I am going to miss many things, but postponing / cancelling the trip... Nah!The journey started on a fun note with Ram and me from Chennai Egmore on 19th Sep '08.. Needless to say, I enjoyed the warmth of the city, thanks to Ramprasad and his friends... Also I got to see enough of the sculpture marvels of Pandiyas and also the nature at its best in the Pazhamudhircholai.

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Last time I went to Trivandrum was in 2002, to attend an interview at "Terumo Penpol". I went on previous day itself, visited the famous "Padmanabhaswamy Temple". Even though I got through that interview, I couldn't join because the offer came much after I joined ABT Coimbatore. After 6 years I visited the Padmanabhaswamy Temple recently on April 2nd. The temple is about a km from the railway station where I stayed in the dormatory. I believe you all know that men must wear a mundu and a torso to enter the temple & dresscode for ladies is saree or a dupatta with salwar or other dresses. To avoid "hiring" a stink mundu, I bought a new mundu this time only to visit the temple. The temple is neatly maintained and very calm, soothing and relaxing. I am very much fascinated with the paintings on the walls of the temple. There is a beautiful style of shading in that, which is so unique to the temple. Else the sculptures are typically Tamil Nadu styled ones. The huge Padmanabhaswamy idol that can be seen in parts through three windows is magnificient. The management is much intrested in making money through cloakroom services and lake. Typical example for shrewdness of malayalees. Even though I loved to visit the Kovalam beach and other places of intrest, I couldn't make it.

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I was really upset when the planned trip to Thanjavur didn't materialise last year. Myself, as somebody with a strong inclination towards sculpturing and fine Arts, I felt ashamed not visiting Thanjavur all these years, considering that it was just 4 hrs travel from my home town. Atlast I booked my tickets in early January through www.irctc.co.in for Feb 29th, despite finding myself in 14th of RAC list. The 'D-day' had come, I was engaged in some serious official discussions, giving me a thought of cancelling the trip for a fleeting moment. But I regained and decided to continue with my plan. This time the agendas were to travel light and enjoy the retro travel. With just a white cotton pyjama and a black T-shirt, along with the camera bag, I was on.