<commit_before>---
layout: post
title:  "Tamilnadu Trails"
date:   2015-09-01 00:02:38
categories: travel
image:
  background: ps_neutral.png
---
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1nzI-Z24n22XM0oArff-GUYAekd3uaVjaVKFeQnA7NM=w1208-h635-no" alt="Taken at Meenakshi Temple Madurai">

The beginning of a journey is always one of the most exciting things for a traveler. The sheer joy you get when you are headed for a new trail is something which you can’t imagine without actually going through that experience.

### Weekend #1:

In first week of chennai, I really wanted to explore, visit nearby villages and see the culture of the local people. So, in all my confidence sat on a train that would lead me to some place, I planned to exit on the third station. It was a dusky evening. Went out of the station visited nearby city, drank Kope (filter coffee), ate something that was not tasty somehow forgot its name too. So after an hour or two of exploring I went back to the station sat in the next train to chennai. Friday Ends.

Next day planned to explore chennai all by myself. Opened google maps and found out all important and nearby places that can be covered on foot and in one day.    

<a href="http://imgur.com/LnikyG1"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/fE5snoh.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>


>Guindy National Park.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SK1HfAC.jpg" alt="">

>Small Bridge in the park.

In the evening I found that my long lost friend from college was also in chennai, So planned the second day to cover the remaining places with him. 

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/NX4Elf6.jpg" alt="">

>Stairs at the Marina Beach Lighthouse.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/nGdLKXA.jpg" alt="">

> Corn @Marina Beach

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/gBZaolG.jpg" alt="">

> Took time to understand this sculpture

### Weekend #2:

This was the most hectic, most enjoying trip in chennai. Our ambitious plan executed astonishingly well.


<img src="http://i.imgur.com/rwlrkc7.jpg">

>Morning snap from bus.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/eJNchLV.jpg">

>Main Falls

Tenkasi Courtallam: It certainly was a feast to eyes to watch the gift of mother-nature. How grayish clouds kisses the forehead of uneven hills, and out of nowhere we found ourselves in this land of multiple falls. First we visited main falls which was very over crowded we had literally had no place to place foot. But were there is water there are people, and where there are people there is life. Enjoyed the view there for a while and then we moved to Five Falls.


<img src="http://i.imgur.com/qXrHx9V.jpg" alt="">

>Five Falls

The falls were amazing. In a split second we jumped right in. The experience of the chilled water droplets falling straight on you was liberating. Just can't be explained in words. A while later shivering with cold we decided to move on and explore the city.In the city we tasted a variety of street food. Out of all things we tasted <a href = "http://indian-recipes-my-kitchen.blogspot.in/2012/11/egg-kothu-barotaegg-kothu-parotta.html">Egg Barota</a> stood away which is made by mashing up Parota and Egg. Spicey treat served on banana leaves.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/YuEUp4w.jpg" alt="">

>Egg Barota

From there we took a sleepy 5 hour bus ride to kanyakumari. Checked in our cheap-ass but grand hotel thanks to makemytrip discount coupons. In the evening we set foot on the coast to explore the area. Then saw Gandhi memorial, triveni sangam (where 3 seas meet). By 5:30 pm when we were thinking of making our way back to the hotel we saw a golf cart. Unknowing where it will take us we hopped in.


<img src="http://i.imgur.com/FgeZfPi.jpg" alt="">

>Boys from Bihar :)

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/fPqFy9n.jpg" alt="">

>View From Hotel

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/CO2Ksx4.jpg" alt="">

>The Sangam, Where the waters meet

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/m0Rhn1U.jpg" alt="">

>Sunset #1

To Our amazement we found ourselves in the hidden twin beaches. The view of the infinity vast ocean was very captivating. From here reached the sunset point, took some pre-sunset snaps. The weather was very clear to see the sunset. We watched with an unwavering gaze that famous sunset, as the mighty orb of light slowly sank beneath the horizon, and threads of light lingered in the sky, first orange, then red, then dark blue, until all that was left of the sun was the afterglow. In this particular moment something inside me grew more fonder.


<img src="http://i.imgur.com/JHV7ngK.jpg" alt="">

>Sunset #2 

Moved back to the hotel with an great memory and a heavy heart.In the night visited local markets and lonely roads of the city. The city view from our hotel was also very colossal the brilliant stars in a twilight sky kept us questioning the meaning of everything.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/ltNv0ZE.jpg" alt="">

>Sunrise 

Woke up early in the morning so that we don't miss the sunrise. But the weather didn't helped us today. Still the soft amber glow from the sun grew and filled the mighty sky and clouds with colours of red and orange, the tricolored sea somehow turned more blueish.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/lP0AiSj.jpg" alt="">

>View of church from jetty station.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/j8x54b7.jpg" alt="">

>Rock memorial and  Thiruvalluvar Statue

From there we took a jetty to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. Thiruvalluvar Statue is mighty and effectively portrays the love of tamilians towards their culture. Brought some books from the Vivekananda rock memorial and again went to explore the city. Left from there and saw may windmills and was very tempted to go there. On our way back the view was very delightful. I could see 4 things in quantity windmills, Coconut tress, Banana trees and hills.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/COYMrry.jpg" alt="">

> Bird's Eye view of the Temple (_wikipedia_)<commit_msg>tmial<commit_after>---
layout: post
title:  "Tamilnadu Trails"
date:   2015-09-01 00:02:38
categories: travel
image:
  background: ps_neutral.png
---
<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1nzI-Z24n22XM0oArff-GUYAekd3uaVjaVKFeQnA7NM=w1208-h635-no" alt="Taken at Meenakshi Temple Madurai">

The beginning of a journey is always one of the most exciting things for a traveler. The sheer joy you get when you are headed for a new trail is something which you can’t imagine without actually going through that experience.

### Weekend #1:

In first week of chennai, I really wanted to explore, visit nearby villages and see the culture of the local people. So, in all my confidence sat on a train that would lead me to some place, I planned to exit on the third station. It was a dusky evening. Went out of the station visited nearby city, drank Kope (filter coffee), ate something that was not tasty somehow forgot its name too. So after an hour or two of exploring I went back to the station sat in the next train to chennai. Friday Ends.

Next day planned to explore chennai all by myself. Opened google maps and found out all important and nearby places that can be covered on foot and in one day.    

<a href="http://imgur.com/LnikyG1"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/fE5snoh.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>


>Guindy National Park.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/SK1HfAC.jpg" alt="">

>Small Bridge in the park.

In the evening I found that my long lost friend from college was also in chennai, So planned the second day to cover the remaining places with him. 

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/NX4Elf6.jpg" alt="">

>Stairs at the Marina Beach Lighthouse.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/nGdLKXA.jpg" alt="">

> Corn @Marina Beach

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/gBZaolG.jpg" alt="">

> Took time to understand this sculpture

### Weekend #2:

This was the most hectic, most enjoying trip in chennai. Our ambitious plan executed astonishingly well.


<img src="http://i.imgur.com/rwlrkc7.jpg">

>Morning snap from bus.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/eJNchLV.jpg">

>Main Falls

Tenkasi Courtallam: It certainly was a feast to eyes to watch the gift of mother-nature. How grayish clouds kisses the forehead of uneven hills, and out of nowhere we found ourselves in this land of multiple falls. First we visited main falls which was very over crowded we had literally had no place to place foot. But were there is water there are people, and where there are people there is life. Enjoyed the view there for a while and then we moved to Five Falls.


<img src="http://i.imgur.com/qXrHx9V.jpg" alt="">

>Five Falls

The falls were amazing. In a split second we jumped right in. The experience of the chilled water droplets falling straight on you was liberating. Just can't be explained in words. A while later shivering with cold we decided to move on and explore the city.In the city we tasted a variety of street food. Out of all things we tasted <a href = "http://indian-recipes-my-kitchen.blogspot.in/2012/11/egg-kothu-barotaegg-kothu-parotta.html">Egg Barota</a> stood away which is made by mashing up Parota and Egg. Spicey treat served on banana leaves.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/YuEUp4w.jpg" alt="">

>Egg Barota

From there we took a sleepy 5 hour bus ride to kanyakumari. Checked in our cheap-ass but grand hotel thanks to makemytrip discount coupons. In the evening we set foot on the coast to explore the area. Then saw Gandhi memorial, triveni sangam (where 3 seas meet). By 5:30 pm when we were thinking of making our way back to the hotel we saw a golf cart. Unknowing where it will take us we hopped in.


<img src="http://i.imgur.com/FgeZfPi.jpg" alt="">

>Boys from Bihar :)

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/fPqFy9n.jpg" alt="">

>View From Hotel

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/CO2Ksx4.jpg" alt="">

>The Sangam, Where the waters meet

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/m0Rhn1U.jpg" alt="">

>Sunset #1

To Our amazement we found ourselves in the hidden twin beaches. The view of the infinity vast ocean was very captivating. From here reached the sunset point, took some pre-sunset snaps. The weather was very clear to see the sunset. We watched with an unwavering gaze that famous sunset, as the mighty orb of light slowly sank beneath the horizon, and threads of light lingered in the sky, first orange, then red, then dark blue, until all that was left of the sun was the afterglow. In this particular moment something inside me grew more fonder.


<img src="http://i.imgur.com/JHV7ngK.jpg" alt="">

>Sunset #2 

Moved back to the hotel with an great memory and a heavy heart.In the night visited local markets and lonely roads of the city. The city view from our hotel was also very colossal the brilliant stars in a twilight sky kept us questioning the meaning of everything.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/ltNv0ZE.jpg" alt="">

>Sunrise 

Woke up early in the morning so that we don't miss the sunrise. But the weather didn't helped us today. Still the soft amber glow from the sun grew and filled the mighty sky and clouds with colours of red and orange, the tricolored sea somehow turned more blueish.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/lP0AiSj.jpg" alt="">

>View of church from jetty station.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/j8x54b7.jpg" alt="">

>Rock memorial and  Thiruvalluvar Statue

From there we took a jetty to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. Thiruvalluvar Statue is mighty and effectively portrays the love of tamilians towards their culture. Brought some books from the Vivekananda rock memorial and again went to explore the city. Left from there and saw many windmills and was very tempted to go there. On our way back the view was very delightful. I could see 4 things in quantity windmills, Coconut tress, Banana trees and hills.

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/COYMrry.jpg" alt="">

> Bird's Eye view of the Temple (_wikipedia_)
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