Just like every January, vacation mode hit me all over again. This year (2019) we, i.e., me, Arun, and Omaksh (our kiddo), planned to take a trip towards South India. In the list, we included Tirupati, Pondicherry, Chennai and at the last moment added Mahabalipuram too as according to the research I found that 1 day would be enough to explore Chennai.
We already had made bookings of respective trains, flights, hotels in advance to lessen the hassle and for cheap costs of course.
From Delhi, we boarded the train to Tirupati on a fixed date and set off on a journey. We, especially me and Omaksh, were very excited as we both love traveling by train. It was a 1 night and 2 days long journey. We arrived at Tirupati station the next day at night. The hotel we booked was nearby the railway station only. We checked into the hotel and after dinner just went for a good night's sleep.
The next morning, we got ready and had one of the best breakfasts in the world – idli. Then, we hired a jeep to reach the Venkateswara temple situated in the hill town of Tirumala. The drive was magical from the base (Tirupati) to the temple at the top. Nature was enfolding in front of my eyes and a place felt so mystic. On reaching the top, we entered the temple premises and after long waiting in queues, finally got an entry into the main shrine area and we were in front of the lord Balaji. The magnificence of the temple is such that one forgets all the pain of standing and waiting in queues. The experience was extremely spiritual.
From there, we went to Papavinasha temple. Along with it, is Akasha Ganga Theertham - waterfall in Tirupati which holds immense religious significance. The surroundings are covered with lush vegetation, and the waterfall is refreshing. Next, we visited Silathoranam, a natural arch, one of the marvels. It has important archaeological importance. Then, we went to Srivara Padalu – Lord Venkateswara’s first foot sculptures, located on top of Narayangiri hill. It’s situated at a peak location with beautiful surroundings. After that, we moved back to the main city. In the evening, we went to the Sri Padmavathi Ammavari temple dedicated to Goddess Padmavathi. There we came to know that the Yatra to Tirumala is considered incomplete without the Darshan of Goddess Padmavathi. The charm of the temple is fascinating.
After experiencing devotional bliss of Tirupati, we had the local food of the city for dinner and then just went to sleep as at midnight we had a train to Pondicherry.
The next morning, at 7’0 clock we reached Pondicherry. Just on entering the city, I felt the fresh air and a cool environment all around. I got too excited to look into the city as there are some sort of happy vibes coming from a happy place. We checked into our hotel, got ready, and had a full-fledged breakfast. And we decided to hire a Scotty to explore the places. We started with Promenade beach. The beach is with less sand and more rocks. Away from the hustle and bustle of big cities like Delhi, it is like a wonderland. The aura of the beach is peaceful and soothing. There are a few more attractions near the beach where we visited. French War Memorial, Mahatma Gandhi Statue, and the Pondicherry Museum.
After that, we decided to visit Serenity beach for shallow swimming and to relax. The beach is located on the outskirts of Pondicherry and is flanked by green palm trees. The golden sand adds to the gorgeousness of the beach. It was not crowded, so the chill session we experienced there was very refreshing. The beautiful beach is a combination of sea, sun, and sand. The best experience we had there was lying on the beach and coming of starfishes and various types of conch shells in the legs with every wave of the sea.
Then, we returned back to the city and visited the Church of Sacred Heart of Jesus, one of the most religious places of Pondicherry. It showcases the gothic architecture. This church is a must-visit to experience complete relaxation. It was evening by then, so we again went to a beautiful promenade seaside to just sit and relax. It felt so good to be there – the best place in Pondicherry to get lost in nature. The beach becomes lively at night. We had a fun-filled day and after so much enjoyment, we got back to the hotel, had dinner, and slept.
The next morning, we started the tour of the city with a visit to a botanical garden. The garden is famous for exotic and endangered varieties of plants. We also witnessed an aquarium having really exclusive collections. The garden also has a kid’s play area which was thoroughly enjoyed by Omaksh. The botanical garden just adds on to the calmness of the city.
After this, we went to the place which turned out to be one of my favorite spots, i.e., Aurobindo Ashram. An ashram is for spiritual realization. The place also includes the library. In the courtyard of the ashram, under the frangipani tree exists a samadhi, very nicely decorated, where Sri Aurobindo was buried. The place is lovely to meditate, relax, and reflect on your life. The ashram is totally quiet and calm, having unexplainable positive energy.
Then, we headed towards Auroville - the city of dawn. The city is located a little far off from the main city. The main attraction here is - Matri Mandir. The place is huge with a lot of trees and plants. Nature lovers will appreciate the place. Calm and peace all around. The entire city is surrounded by lush green belts. Just like Aurobindo ashram, this place is also something one would never like to come back from. There I decided that Pondicherry will be in my bucket list for solo traveling, with a longer duration.
From there, we forwarded to Sri Karneshwar Nataraj temple. It is constructed in a pyramid shape, dedicated to lord shiva. The temple and surroundings are very beautiful and are near to the beach where one can spend a pretty good time. It is a must-visit destination if one is on the tour to Pondicherry. The place is not at all crowded. We spent a lot of time there. The feeling on the beach was as it’s our private one. The place is very neat and clean with crystal clear water.
Then, we came back to the city and after having dinner, we strolled in the white town of Pondicherry, i.e. the beachfront promenade. With so much exploration of the beautiful Pondy, we went back to our hotel for a good night's sleep. And there the Pondicherry trip came to an end.
The next day, early in the morning we caught a train to Chennai and at 9:30 a.m. we reached there. We headed to our hotel, checked in, had breakfast, and got ready to look into the city, and for the same, we opted to hire a bike.
We started the exploration of the city with the Thousand Lights Mosque. It is famous for its architectural majesty. In the old days, it is said that 1000 lamps were lit up together to illuminate the hall of this mosque. The place is peaceful.
From there, we went to Santhome Cathedral Basilica, a majestic church. With a colorful interior and beautiful outdoor, the place is a must-visit to witness the awesome architecture. It’s an old roman style intact. After having a mesmerizing experience there, we headed towards M.P. Birla Planetarium - a perfect place for children and science lovers. The major attractions of the planetarium are 360-degree theatre, 3D show, and scientific park.
Then, we forwarded to Parthasarathy Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It has beautiful Dravidian architecture. And from there, we moved to Kapaleeshwar temple, having a unique architectural design. The temple visit gave a tremendous soothing feeling.
After that, we went to India’s longest beach – Marina beach. It was evening by then, the sandy stretch was cooled by the sea breeze. The surrounding palm trees add to the magnificence of the beach. It’s a good place to spend an evening. After spending a few hours there, we went back to the hotel to rest after a lot of wandering.
The next morning, we started off the journey to Mahabalipuram. On the way, we stopped to visit the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust. A place to take a look at the reptiles in captivity. For wildlife enthusiasts, it’s a place to spend a day of learning. If you are on the way to Mahabalipuram try to visit this either while going there or in return. But undoubtedly it’s a must-visit.
The road trip to Mahabalipuram is an enjoyable ride, along the coastal line. Well maintained roads are surrounded by trees on either side, making the drive absolutely stunning. We reached Mahabalipuram in about 2 hours. We began the tour of the city with the visit to the Shore temple. The temple depicts the royal taste with the Dravidian style. It is situated on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. The temple looks very beautiful. It has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The place is one of the wonders of ancient history. To access the beach we need to walk out. The view of the beach is awesome.
From there, we headed to the remaining attractions, all situated near to each other. They are Five Rathas, Arjuna’s Penance, Descent of the Ganges, Krishna Cave Temple, an old lighthouse, and Krishna’s Butter Ball. They all have historical value. The place is famous for its vast beach, monoliths, stone carvings and temples. It’s worth seeing. After the exploration of all monuments, caves, and sculptures we moved back to Chennai city. We reached there and found that still there are almost 5 – 6 hours left for our flight to Delhi. So, we decided to visit the Vivekananda House, also known as The Icehouse. It is a shrine for the followers of Swami Vivekananda. The place was impressive. It is basically a museum which throws light on his life. We can also see the 3D movie of his speech in Chicago. The place is nice and very well maintained.
With all that wandering, we wrapped up and headed to the Chennai airport to see off the city, to say goodbye to the feel of South India but with beautiful and happy memories.
