Southern Spice-Part TWO

Continuing with the trip..

DAY 2

We had planned for Rameshwaram on the second day.Since we had to come back to Madurai the same day after visiting Rameshwaram,we left quite early at about 6.00 in the morning. The weather was extremely good with the overcast conditions providing just the right temperature.
The journey was a pleasant one with the road also being extremely good.Surprisingly,the traffic also was extremely thin.On the way,you get to see a lot of windmills on either side of the road.Strange,considering its not all that windy in this part.After about 3 hours of drive,we reached Rameshwaram.To enter Rameshwaram,you have to cross a bridge thats built on the sea.So,as you travel,you can see the sea on both the sides.

Tradition has it that once you come to Rameshwaram,you must have bath in the holy waters from the 21 wells that one finds here.We kept up with the tradition,and had a bath.(There are people here who pour water drawn from the well on you, at one rupee per well, per person).We paid obeisance to the lord and while returning back saw a couple of places of historic significance.

-The place from where Hanuman is said to have taken a leap to Srilanka.

-Near The bridge which Ram built in order to cross over to Lanka (called "Dhanush Kodi")

-House of Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam (Yes,this will eventually become a place of historic significance)

After another drive of 3 odd hours,reached back Madurai in the evening.My uncle wanted to buy some sarees for my aunt from Madurai and so a few people from the group went shopping.The rest stayed back in the lodge.Surprisingly he didn't find any suitable one and they came back empty handed.

DAY 3

This was the penultimate day of our trip.Woke up pretty early as we had to catch a 6.30 train to Nagercoil.As we reached the station,our baggage had to pass through an X-Ray machine and we also had to undergo security check,just like in airports.We later realised that this precautionary measure was in view of the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary that falls on December 6.Owing to this fact,the train also was entirely empty.Had a good sleep in the train as Nagercoil was a good 5 hour journey.Reached there at around 12.00 in the afternoon.And yes,it was really humid.What a contrast when compared to the December weather at Bangalore.

Sadly,the temple here was closed for the "session"(can't help the use of the word session.Been watching too much of test cricket these days).It would open only in the evening and since we had other plans,we had to satisfy ourselves only seeing the closed doors.

From Nagercoil,we left for Kanyakumari.Its only about half an hours journey and we then checked into a lodge there.It had a view of the sea and could see the rock from here.After a refreshment,we left for Vivekananda rock in the ferry.Again,as it was December 6th,the crowd was extremely sparse barring for a couple of foreigners.The last time I was here in 2001 with my sister when she had come from US.This visit rekindled fond memories of that trip.Got a bit nostalgic and really missed her.After a brief stay at the rock (I simply love the wind that blows over this place),we returned back to the shore.

By this time,my toe had started hurting badly.I started limping but ignored it, as nothing visible was wrong with it.After some petty shopping by the ladies,we retired to the comfort of our lodge.Though I tried hard to sleep,the pain in the toe reached unbearable proportions.Had a look at it,only to see it swollen badly.Seemed like I had hurt it unknowingly.Then took a painkiller and put my head to rest.

DAY 4

The last day of our trip.Our train to Bangalore was scheduled at 10.30.Since we still had not visited the temple we made a rush to it.The idol of the goddess here is one of the most beautiful idols.She has an innocent face and you will just fall in love with it.Added to it,her sparkling nose-ring simply enchants you.

The rest of the day was spent entirely in the train.It was very hot thoroughout the journey.Not because of the presence of some "goddess" in the compartment (I have always been unlucky on this account),but because of the sweltering heat in Kerala,and this was the route that the train took.

After about 20 hours of train journey,we reached Bangalore the next morning at around 8.00.All in all,a wonderful trip that would remain in my memory for quite some time....