I like long driving, driving past villages, towns, taking the next branch out and moving on to the next unknown town. Driving on long roads with fleeing faces, houses, junctions gives me symbolical feeling of life and freedom of living at the same time.
Some long drives later with a nomadic mind, we have decided to drive a little long this time.
Say, Baroda to Kanyakumari.
Actually I wanted to show beautiful South part of our country to my daughter and wife. and daughter was interested to see Hampi and Badami that she is reading in her history classes.
above all, I always want my daughter to see as much of India and the world as I can. As much as we all collectively can.
Then, lots of stop over, point of interests were thought out and re arranged many a time to suit driving stretches. Wife gave the best confidence in saying "Don't worry about pre-booking, we will get hotel wherever we want".
Staying in Sister in law's place in Bangalore while going South and back was already confirmed the day this tour is conceived. Rest of the tour plan was finalized from 6 options. Places to be seen are finalized as
1) Rameshwaram
2) Kanyakumari
3) Kovalam
4) Hampi
5) Badami
6) Pattadhakal and Aihole
On the way somewhere between Satara and Kolhapur.
Returning home. They were exchanging updates of that day while passing through another family who were busy in finishing their farm land activities.
India is full of surprises. I am not good in names of flowers and trees/herbs. It is their shape, colour, posture that interest me. Within those rolling stone-chip mounds, those flowers and herbs surprised me. On the other side, we were standing on concrete road, taking a small rest South of a toll booth before Satara.
Mahindra Quanto served us right with confident boosting brakes, high and clear view, good controls within 100kmph speed.
I drove it continuously for 6 hours at 100 kmh or more, never ever did it complain.
Villages were waking up, a bullock cart took three ladies to god knows where, a kite flew across AH47, some Egret went cutting through the village to the next lake. Cold breeze wrapped us with a warmth of the world. We realized we were seeing something special for us. Village road became quiet again, we kept standing there. As if children stood in front of their school on the first day, do not know which class are their.
We thanked ourselves for starting early to have a gift of a magician.
Except for our own breathing we were enclosed by that morning's magic.
This lake came a little later. We could not continue driving. That vast water-body, with one Egret was simply.... magical! We knew, we were blessed. I felt I have already lived a good life. I have already got a feel of my country.
Do not know what it is but was giant, majestic structure was there with such wonderful clouds in background.
We had simple, tasty Idly and Puri bhaaji as breakfast in this restaurant post Belgaum.
Some shot below, to me, represents Bengaloru at present. It has ladders to go sky high in corporate world, but it is quite congested and with lots of obstacles and bindings.
Road from Bengaloru to Madurai issuperb. Roads through Madurai and upto Rameshwaram beach is a two way one where size of the car and pot holes rule. Be careful while driving here.
Bridge for Rameshwaram.
We reached Rameshwaram at around 1800 hrs. My ex colleague and friend Sanmugam was already there with his family. He had so kindly searched and booked rooms for us too. Infact he came down to Rameshwaram to meet us and at the same time have a tour to Kanyakumari as well. We will go together to Kanyakumari day after tomorrow.
Locals chatting opposite Chola restaurant.
Food, specifically fish, mutton and prawns are wonderful and CHEAP! I recommend you all having food in a restaurant name Chola. If you are coming from Rameshwaram West gate, then walk straight to the first crossing and turn right there. Chola restaurant will be towards your right once you have walked nearly 100 meters.
We had fried fishes, Biriyani of all varieties, local non-veg dishes.
My friend's son Kavin wearing shoes in front of Rameshwaram temple.
Rameshwaram temple.
A further close up shot.
We could not shot photos inside temple and on beach. But life of devotees are worth taking the camera. So, if you want to shoot devotees who pray for their forefathers in this beach, take your camera but do not enter temple, go by its left side to reach the beach.
I constantly strive to see people powered by their self belief. Most of the time they are blind faith coming out of devotion towards god or creator of the universe. I am not yet controlled enough myself but still wonder what would have happened if we can channel these power of belief in to creating our own and surrounding life better than now. We give value to things that we can not see like pride, religion, honour, god. But we can not value health, joy and fight against poverty and war. How many years do we have to suffer to be a human of practical sense?
Rickshawas of Rameshwaram. In general, I found Tamilians are simple being, clean living people. Their close living with nature is quite evident in their lifestyle.
Most of the middle aged locale I saw wear simple shirt and dhoti, most of them are White. Their faces always wore a self content confidence. Simplicity is not common and so is contentment.
Devotees waiting for their vehicle near Rameshwaram temple.
Rameshwaram till 1964 was little less important town, village Dhanuskudi was more bustling. It was the East most train station in South part of India. 1964 brings natural calamity that vanished rail and road connection reaching Dhanuskudi. I wanted to see this deserted town.
Residents of village near Dhanuskodi.
Sea product shop in Dhanuskodi.
Sea side composition on the start of drive to Dhanuskodi.
I heard from locals that they are golden Eagle. I have seen them in hundreds. A wonderful sight seeing them gliding at ease like experts and diving down like an arrow to catch preys.Friends later told me they are called Bhramni kite.
A beach side composition of sand (land), sea, boats and human within.
Dhanuskodi village.
Watch tower at start of Dhanuskodi drive. You have to go in a four wheel drive vehicle only from here onwards. The ride itself is reason enough to go for the ride. The small bus or four wheel drive Mahindras will take you through rough terrain of beaches, water dipped sands.
Entry of Dhanuskudi.
This surprising coincedence of Yellow in sarees and on columns probably attracted me to shoot this slice of time. But also the look in the eyes of the older woman (sitting) bore my eyes through my camera. someday I will be quite old, and will probably be able to see others through their eyes.
Children counting their earning in selling Green mango slice served with Red Chili and salt. Quite tasty! Some were selling decorative item made out of sea shells.
He probably is father or controller of these selling and was receiving those children's earning.
Desolated church in Dhanuskudi.
Someone stay here alone. Probably a romantic someone or most likely someone who has no other place to stay.
This board described how Dhanuskodi used to look before 1964 cyclone. I believe that lady was tired or may be imagining how it used to be.
This boy reminded me of an adventurer who was all alone seeing that sandy beach some kilometers away from him. It seems to me as if he was getting ready to swim.
We returned to our parking lot. Our daughter wanted to spend some more time on the beach. The open sea, some boats floating at a distance dancing with waves and us alone there somehow churn out a wish in all of us to stay more. Everybody else were back on the road towards Rameshwaram. Cloudy sky by that time have covered most of the glow of last rays of sun. Evening at that time brings a deep Blue tone on Earth. A joy of standing alone on the beach with an unknown future in front of us like that sea, kept all of us with our own realizations. Only Kavin (means beauty in Tamil), my friends son aged 3 years were still finding everything so amusing that he hardly allow his father to emerge himself in light of time.
Waves hit shore there in an angle hence sounded like a long lash moving its contact point. That was the only sound connecting all of us, saying you are not alone. Boats were lighting them one by one. Knowing that Srilanka is just another 10 km away somewhere out there, the Blue heaven were saying, all these fightings are for nothing but names, identities of individuals. Instead, we can connect all to this nature. If there really is an entity as a creator of everything, then love those creations first. Nurture them, use them with care, sustain together.
She roam there for quite sometime, and instead of taking the whole space and its charm inside, I foolishly kept myself busy in taking these photographs.
I was looking for such design (Rongoli) in these places. Rameshwaram treats me with this place. India clearly shows will power for living through these patterns, colours on doors, walls and such Rongolis.
Rameshwaram showed us house of our ex president President Azad.
Some long drives later with a nomadic mind, we have decided to drive a little long this time.
Say, Baroda to Kanyakumari.
Actually I wanted to show beautiful South part of our country to my daughter and wife. and daughter was interested to see Hampi and Badami that she is reading in her history classes.
above all, I always want my daughter to see as much of India and the world as I can. As much as we all collectively can.
Then, lots of stop over, point of interests were thought out and re arranged many a time to suit driving stretches. Wife gave the best confidence in saying "Don't worry about pre-booking, we will get hotel wherever we want".
Staying in Sister in law's place in Bangalore while going South and back was already confirmed the day this tour is conceived. Rest of the tour plan was finalized from 6 options. Places to be seen are finalized as
1) Rameshwaram
2) Kanyakumari
3) Kovalam
4) Hampi
5) Badami
6) Pattadhakal and Aihole
We Started at 4:05 am from home in Baroda and reached NH8 at 4:30 am. Road were quite clear except for some trucks having sensible drivers controlling them. Even Bharuch toll and bridge was crossed without any hassles.
We had breakfast near Manor at around 0900 hrs.
We crossed Ghodbunder at around 10:00 am. We reached Pune expressway by 11 am. We reached Satara by 2 pm.
Roads between Ghodbunder toll to Pune expressway and between Pune outskirts and Satara were the bad with potwholes, nasty traffics. They but were manageable. Other than this, roads all along our route were simply awesome. At some places, they were at par with foreign roads that I have traveled in Germany, Austria, Houston in USA, Japan, Australia.
We had wonderful Kolhapuri thalis with mutton, chicken and egg variations. Superb they were. I do not remember name of the hotel, it was on the left side while going towards Kolhapur.
On the way somewhere between Satara and Kolhapur.
Returning home. They were exchanging updates of that day while passing through another family who were busy in finishing their farm land activities.
India is full of surprises. I am not good in names of flowers and trees/herbs. It is their shape, colour, posture that interest me. Within those rolling stone-chip mounds, those flowers and herbs surprised me. On the other side, we were standing on concrete road, taking a small rest South of a toll booth before Satara.
These flowers are of wheat I guess, and looks quite similar to Kaash phool (Bengali name).
We stayed in hotel Ganeshratna in Kolhapure. It is a decent hotel having clean rooms with very clean, effective bathroom. 1100 was the room rent.
DAY 2 (20th December)
We started next morning at 6 am from Kolhapur.
We were lucky, morning blessed us with a wonderful views and environment.
Mahindra Quanto served us right with confident boosting brakes, high and clear view, good controls within 100kmph speed.
I drove it continuously for 6 hours at 100 kmh or more, never ever did it complain.
Villages were waking up, a bullock cart took three ladies to god knows where, a kite flew across AH47, some Egret went cutting through the village to the next lake. Cold breeze wrapped us with a warmth of the world. We realized we were seeing something special for us. Village road became quiet again, we kept standing there. As if children stood in front of their school on the first day, do not know which class are their.
We thanked ourselves for starting early to have a gift of a magician.
Except for our own breathing we were enclosed by that morning's magic.
This lake came a little later. We could not continue driving. That vast water-body, with one Egret was simply.... magical! We knew, we were blessed. I felt I have already lived a good life. I have already got a feel of my country.
Do not know what it is but was giant, majestic structure was there with such wonderful clouds in background.
We had simple, tasty Idly and Puri bhaaji as breakfast in this restaurant post Belgaum.
We reached Bengaloru South through NICE expressway at around 1400 hrs. Roads near Bengaloru is quite congested. Bike rider seems have lost any value for their lives. And also I found they can not hear any honking from car running behind them.
We spent nearly 2000 rupees in toll so far.
DAY 3 / 4
We have literally relaxed in Bengaloru. Had wonderful home made foods, day long chats, movies, chats, foods, sleeps, chats, foods, movies, chats, foods, sleeps.
I had been to Bengaloru 21 years back for 7 days. Bangalore was clean, spacious then. I found out Bengaloru is quite congested, bursting with population. Trees are almost gone, gardens are quite less. it has become a concrete jungle. I was staying in BTM layout.
A mall's top floor in Bengaloru. Christmass day was just about to hit Bengaloru malls.
Bengaloru is full of vehicles. Bikes are i feel more in number than total adults staying in Bengaloru.
Some shot below, to me, represents Bengaloru at present. It has ladders to go sky high in corporate world, but it is quite congested and with lots of obstacles and bindings.
DAY5
24th December, morning 6, we start off taking Hosur road. Even in that early morning, we had to wait nearly 20 minutes to cross toll booth.
Road till Madurai is very good. Infact the whole stretch of highway AH43 is just awsome.
Somewhere post Bengaloru.
Road from Bengaloru to Madurai issuperb. Roads through Madurai and upto Rameshwaram beach is a two way one where size of the car and pot holes rule. Be careful while driving here.
Bridge for Rameshwaram.
We reached Rameshwaram at around 1800 hrs. My ex colleague and friend Sanmugam was already there with his family. He had so kindly searched and booked rooms for us too. Infact he came down to Rameshwaram to meet us and at the same time have a tour to Kanyakumari as well. We will go together to Kanyakumari day after tomorrow.
Locals chatting opposite Chola restaurant.
Food, specifically fish, mutton and prawns are wonderful and CHEAP! I recommend you all having food in a restaurant name Chola. If you are coming from Rameshwaram West gate, then walk straight to the first crossing and turn right there. Chola restaurant will be towards your right once you have walked nearly 100 meters.
We had fried fishes, Biriyani of all varieties, local non-veg dishes.
My friend's son Kavin wearing shoes in front of Rameshwaram temple.
Rameshwaram temple.
A further close up shot.
I constantly strive to see people powered by their self belief. Most of the time they are blind faith coming out of devotion towards god or creator of the universe. I am not yet controlled enough myself but still wonder what would have happened if we can channel these power of belief in to creating our own and surrounding life better than now. We give value to things that we can not see like pride, religion, honour, god. But we can not value health, joy and fight against poverty and war. How many years do we have to suffer to be a human of practical sense?
Rickshawas of Rameshwaram. In general, I found Tamilians are simple being, clean living people. Their close living with nature is quite evident in their lifestyle.
A shop in Rameshwaram with tailor.
Devotees waiting for their vehicle near Rameshwaram temple.
Residents of village near Dhanuskodi.
Sea product shop in Dhanuskodi.
Sea side composition on the start of drive to Dhanuskodi.
I heard from locals that they are golden Eagle. I have seen them in hundreds. A wonderful sight seeing them gliding at ease like experts and diving down like an arrow to catch preys.Friends later told me they are called Bhramni kite.
A beach side composition of sand (land), sea, boats and human within.
Dhanuskodi village.
You have to leave your car at this place, still some 6 kms away from Dhanuskudi village. Only some 4X4 wheel cars or vehicles can take us to the village as there is no road to reach there. The bus and every other 4 wheel drive vehicle has to cross sand dunes, partly submerged sea beaches and nearly 10 inch deep grooves in sandes. These grooves are actually tracks made by tyres of bus and jeeps.
She was all by her own like that sea and those lone Eagles, confident alone but not lonely.
Watch tower at start of Dhanuskodi drive. You have to go in a four wheel drive vehicle only from here onwards. The ride itself is reason enough to go for the ride. The small bus or four wheel drive Mahindras will take you through rough terrain of beaches, water dipped sands.
I liked this photo as it reciprocates me the whole South India. Here people have worshiped and saved nature, they are the trunk of the ecosystem there.
This surprising coincedence of Yellow in sarees and on columns probably attracted me to shoot this slice of time. But also the look in the eyes of the older woman (sitting) bore my eyes through my camera. someday I will be quite old, and will probably be able to see others through their eyes.
He probably is father or controller of these selling and was receiving those children's earning.
Desolated church in Dhanuskudi.
Someone stay here alone. Probably a romantic someone or most likely someone who has no other place to stay.
This board described how Dhanuskodi used to look before 1964 cyclone. I believe that lady was tired or may be imagining how it used to be.
This boy reminded me of an adventurer who was all alone seeing that sandy beach some kilometers away from him. It seems to me as if he was getting ready to swim.
We returned to our parking lot. Our daughter wanted to spend some more time on the beach. The open sea, some boats floating at a distance dancing with waves and us alone there somehow churn out a wish in all of us to stay more. Everybody else were back on the road towards Rameshwaram. Cloudy sky by that time have covered most of the glow of last rays of sun. Evening at that time brings a deep Blue tone on Earth. A joy of standing alone on the beach with an unknown future in front of us like that sea, kept all of us with our own realizations. Only Kavin (means beauty in Tamil), my friends son aged 3 years were still finding everything so amusing that he hardly allow his father to emerge himself in light of time.
Waves hit shore there in an angle hence sounded like a long lash moving its contact point. That was the only sound connecting all of us, saying you are not alone. Boats were lighting them one by one. Knowing that Srilanka is just another 10 km away somewhere out there, the Blue heaven were saying, all these fightings are for nothing but names, identities of individuals. Instead, we can connect all to this nature. If there really is an entity as a creator of everything, then love those creations first. Nurture them, use them with care, sustain together.
She roam there for quite sometime, and instead of taking the whole space and its charm inside, I foolishly kept myself busy in taking these photographs.
Rameshwaram showed us house of our ex president President Azad.
We had left Rameshwaram next morning at 0500 hrs.
Please see next post for our trip to Kanyakumari.
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Hello Sumanta, wonderful so far felt like was travelling with you... Enjoy to the fullest, drive safely and come back soon. Miss you !! Alok
ReplyDeletegreat work ,keep going on.....
ReplyDelete