Immaculate Conception Church, Goa

Date: 30th Dec 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Timing:  10:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM.
              Sundays 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM.

Distance: 610 Kms one way.

Parking: Available.

Food: Small snack available.

Photography: Allowed.

Originally built as a chapel in 1541 was rebuilt to the current form in 1619. This church was the first port of call for the sailors from Lisbon. They thank Immaculate Mary for the safe crossing and proceed to old Goa. The zigzag steps were added later in 1850. The facade of the church was in baroque style and painted with bright white. The belfry is in the middle with two towers on the side. The bell, second biggest in Goa was moved from Augustine complex to Aguada fort and then to this church in 1871.

We reached the church around 1:30 PM and it was closed to visitors. We did not get a chance to look at the interior. The church is well illuminated during the Feast of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, 8th December. The main altar was dedicated to Mother Mary and one to the crucifixion of Jesus and one to Our Lady of Rosary.

Few pics from the Church.

An impressive church that should be visited in Panjim, Goa. 

Water rides in Tarkarli

Date: 28th Dec 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: 700 per person for 3 rides.

Timing:  None.

Distance: 675 Kms one way.

Parking: Available.

Food: Small snack available.

Photography: Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Malvan and Tarkarli beach.

Malvan beach was our next destination from Mahabaleshwar. We reached earlier than planned to we decided to check Tarkarli beach first. The part from where we entered the beach for less crowded and no water sports was available there. Then a person approached us and said the water sports happen in the backwaters near devbagh beach. He said they will take us in a boat and 3 rides will cost 700Rs including boat ride. After discussing we decided to take for 2 as it was free for harsh. We reached the backwater and took 3 ride combo of jet ski, water scooter and bumper ride. Bumper ride was very good and we had good fun. Shilpi did not want to take any other ride so Harsh and I went in water scooter twice. I took the jetski ride alone as Harsh was not allowed in that. All the activities were real fun and wee enjoyed them. We also too Kayaking which was Rs 100 per person but it was too boring and hard. We finished the 30 min ride in 10 min and returned. We left devbagh and reached Malvan. Our stay was in Konark Residency Malvan. The hotel was very good, the room, bed and bathroom were very clean. Harsh and I went to check Malvan beach, we were glad we went to Tarkarli and took activities there as this beach was not clean at all. They had few water sports but we would advice to avoid the waters here.  It was really dirty. Harsh and I went back to the room and we had nice dinner in the restaurant and had a good night sleep.

Few pics from the beach.

Kanaka Durga Temple, Vijayawada

Date: 23rd Sep 2017

Visitors: Arun, Shilpi and Harsh

Fee: None.

Timing: 4:00 AM to 6:30 PM and 6:45 PM to 10:00 PM.

Distance: 667 Kms one way.

Parking: Road side.

Food: Available.

Photography: Not Allowed.

Other attractions nearby: Undavalli caves, Gandhi Memorial, Krishnaveni river museum.

The temple of Kanaka Durga is located on top of the hill Indrakeeladri. Goddesses Durga resides here with 8 arms in the name of Mahisasura mardini. This is the only temple where the main deity is decorated in various forms during the dasara festival. The main deity was decorated in the form of Gayatri Devi on the day we visited. There are various mythologies associated with the temple and the hill. One such is Goddess Durga pleased by the penance of Keela asked him to request for a boon. Keela asked the goddess to stay in his heart for ever. Goddess promised to come back after killing the demons in Krithayuga and asked him to wait in the form of hill. The goddess after killing Mahishasura came stayed on the hill and now blessing the devotees in the form of Mahishasura mardini. 

Another legend says that the hill was blocking the flow of river Krishna and gods requested the hill to make way for the river to flow. The hill gave a small passage for the river to flow.

Procession deity.

A colorful procession near the hill.

Many school students were involved in managing the crowd and keeping the place clean.

Devotees walk hundreds of kilometers from various part of andhra and reach the temple. 

We were here.

A must visit temple during the durga pooja celebrations.

Tiruchendur

Date: Sep 30 2014- Oct 1 2014


Travelers: Arun, Shilpi, Harsh, Muthusamy, Vijayalakshmi, Saraswathi, Sneha


Route: Karamadai(Coimbatore) - Dindugal - Madurai - Tuticorin - Tiruchendur

Distance: 430Km one way


Weather: Hot in noon, Pleasant evening.

Road Condition: Very Good till Tuticorin. Tuticorin - Tiruchendur is average.

Transport: Amsam Travels karamadai.
Tavera.  Didn't want to take my KA registered car for reasons everyone know ;).

Cost of Transport:
8Rs per Km, 1500 rent per day, 300Rs Driver bata.

Driver Vijay was good.

Salt pans in tuticorin.

Must try thoothukudi (tamil name for tuticorin) macroon in some bakery.

Stay: Hotel Tamilnadu. 1300Rs per room per night.

As always TTDC has hotels at right place. Temple was 5 min walk from hotel.

Access road to hotel was very bad. Too dirty and pigs roaming on the roads. Stinking.

Room was good. Bathroom clean.

Few minor issues at hotel were there was no phone in the room. Had to go down to restaurant to order food.

There was no health faucet.

There was no hanger in bathroom.

Since only 6 rooms was booked they only had dosa for dinner.

View of sea from temple.

There are few priest standing in front who will take you directly inside the inner sanctum. 100Rs per person. They will get the special entrance for you.

They will also send you inside a cave to worship in pancha lingam.

Bad thing is the security who manages the queue will also ask for money.

Temple is so close to the sea but still not affected by Tsunami. Even if there are scientific reasons explaining it, just wondering how did they select the location.

Also we cannot rule out the promise made by water god to Lord Muruga that he will not to cross the boundary :)

Getting ready for the dive.

Yes this is the dive. Safely holding hands and jumping.

Night shot from the hotel room.

Sunrise at Tiruchendur.

Enjoying the sunrise.

Peacock (Lord Muruga's Mount) ready to take off from gopuram.

Peacock at hotel. As in kanyakumari here too there are many peacocks. Early morning you sure can see them dance.

There is a belief peacock dance before rain but i see them do it in morning when there is no chance of rain. I think they just stretch out after a good night sleep.

See full length peacock dance in below video.

Colorful shops on the way to temple.

Restaurant:

Unlimited Idly, Dosa and noodles with sambar and chutney. Sambar was too good. Restaurant manager was very kind.

 Enjoy a tasty buffet breakfast and a beautiful peacock dance.
 

Just in front of the restaurant.

                                                                                

Kanyakumari

Date: 15 Aug 2014 - 16 Aug 2014

Travellers: Arun, Shilpi, Harsh, Radheshyam, Usha

Stay: Hotel Tamil Nadu. Twin cottage.

Rating:

Food: Average food at the hotel. Lot of small hotels to eat near Bhagavathy amman temple but average.

Stay: Awesome. Scroll down to see why.

Weather: Hot and humid.

Travell: SRS Travells.

Bus condition was ok. 15 Hrs travel.

Road Condition: Very good 4 lane highway till nagarcoil.
SH till Kanyakumari is ok.

Ferry to go to Swami Vivekananda rock and Thiruvalluvar statue.

One learning in this trip: Money can't buy everything but it can buy all needed comfort ;)

34Rs per person for ordinary queue for ferry. Crowded like crazy because of leave season.

169Rs per person for special line for which was free and no need to wait in long line.

Good thinking. These white line keeps the walking path cool on the rock.

 At Swami Vivekananda Rock.

 Compass

 Calendar

View of Swami Vivekananda rock from Thiru valluvar rock.

Thiruvalluvar statue. The ferry first drops you at Swami Vivekananda rock and then takes you to statue. You can skip this if you want as you can take pics from shore.

Not sure why they did not connect these 2 rocks  with bridge. Many skip the valluvar statue because they need to wait for ferry again.

View of twin rocks from shore.

On the way to Kumari amman temple.

Here too money did a good job (which i am not so proud of ;) ). The priest took us directly inside skipping all queue for 100 Rs.

Shirt and vest not allowed in the temple.

Electric vehicle ply between the temple and sunset point often. They charge 10-20Rs based on the distance.

 Mahatma Gandhi Memorial

Perunthalaivar Kamaraj Memorial.

 At sunset point

 Sunset

Sunrise between Gandhi Memorial and Kamarajar Memorial

 Crown on Gandhi memorial.

Ultimate Peacock dance. For the first time in life have seen this.

There are more than a dozen peacock in the hotel compound. 

 Harsh and Shilpi feeding biscuit to peacock from room balcony.

Another peacock dance. 4 peacock's gave us this majestic show.

 Back view.

This is the reason i had mentioned the stay as awesome.

Took half day tour from hotel travel desk. 900Rs for half day.

First stop at Ramar temple.

 Next Shirdi Sai Baba temple

 All statue made of marble at the sai baba temple.

Suseendram temple.

Again no shirts and vests in this temple.

Specialty of this temple is the musical pillars.

Find any priest and ask them about musical pillar. They take 10Rs per person and will show you the pillar.

Really was surprised by the pillars. You can really hear music from some 5 pillars.

There are small stone pillars kept in particular angle and space between them that was creating music.

This is a must see, sorry must hear.

Next Shri Datta Temple. Situated in the middle of a coconut farm. The temple has a dome and a marking at the center. Sit under that and clap your hands and you can hear the clap echoed back.

Next Vattakotai. Not much to see hear. If you can too tired you can skip this. 

View from Vattakotai.

Last stop Vivekananda exhibition. Pictorial exhibition of swami vivekananda.

There is a 3D image at the entrance. Stand on one side and look at the feet. Then without taking your eyes of move to other side and you can see the feet moving with you.

 Shops on the temple street.

Dry fruits and spices shop.

 Sea shells.

 Made of coconut shells.