Darjeeling Tour

The scenic beauty of the enchanting city of Darjeeling is beyond description. You can only realize it after visiting the place. Recently, I got an opportunity to visit this beautiful land for an official meeting with my colleagues. We planned to explore the beauty of the place after finishing up with the official work. As we were on official trip, we got all the facilities including air ticket, hotel booking etc.

We went Darjeeling by flight from Delhi. It is around 90 km away from the capital city. We reached Bagdogra airport in three hours and then moved ahead for the main town by car. Again, it took around three hours to reach the town and soon we were transferred to the hotel. It was a standard hotel and we were served with all the facilities. We reached there in late afternoon and welcomed by the snow-capped peaks, green valleys and enchanting waterfalls.

At first, we visited the famous Tiger Hill, which is known for offering impressive views of the majestic Everest. I must say that the place is best to capture the glimpses of first rays of the Sun. For nature enthusiasts, it is a must see place.

Just five km away from the main town, there lies the Batasia Loop. Located on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway between Ghoom and Darjeeling, it gives an amazing impression of an engineering marvel. The awesome food that we enjoyed there piping hot Momos, Thupka and Tongbas (beer) was available at affordable price. Darjeeling Tea, Noodles and Soups are also worth to give it a try.

While in Darjeeling, we also wanted to make the most of our time. So in evening we visited the nearby tea garden named Happy Valley Tea Estate. It allows you to see the manufacturing process of famous Darjeeling Tea. Visiting these tea gardens is a best way to soothe your eyes by lush green surroundings.

How could we miss out the passenger ropeway? No doubt, it is one of the most beautiful attractions of the place. Starting at North Point, it is around five km long and connects the city with Singla Bazaar. Passing over the green tea estates and beautiful hills, it offers you an amazing experience.

To be continued…

Sri Meenakshi Temple

In Madurai, we came across the beautiful Meenakshi Temple. This huge temple complex houses the statues exploring different human emotions. Its exquisitely carved towers represent the finest examples of Dravidian architecture.

After the Madurai sightseeing tour, we headed towards Kanyakumari. It is known as the land’s end where you can see the horizon. The Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean seems to meet here. We all were excited to see the sunrise view and the thought did not let us sleep. Well, we had no regret of it after seeing the beautiful view of sunrise. Believe me, it was breathtaking.

Kovalam, this wonderful place was our next destination. As the name suggests, Kovalam was truly blessed with groves of coconut trees along the beaches. The palm fringed bays organized in coconut groves, offer a relaxed stay. The seamless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and far-spread white sands washed away by surf makes the beach a heaven. Visiting the beach was really relaxing and refreshing.

We were feeling ourselves fortunate enough being in the wonderful land of Kerala. The palm-fringed beaches, enchanting backwaters, exotic wildlife and Ayurveda therapies, what else you could ask for!
We headed towards Periyar wildlife sanctuary which is home for the varieties of animals and birds. The creatures we could see there were nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque, cormorants, king cobra, python and many more.

While exploring the South Indian Cities, we also came across the city of Alleppey, which is also known as Alappuzha. It was once a busy port that serves as the entrance point of Kerala. Visiting Alappuzha beach is one of its kind experience. The beach was clean and has all the facilities to enjoy interesting water sports activities.

The days were passing with excitement to see new destination. When we visited Fort Cochin, we got flabbergasted to see the fascinating beauty of the fort. The colonial charisma and several exotic cultures still can be seen there. Jewish Signage is another popular attraction of the place. Exploring different
historic attractions in the morning, we also witnessed Kathakali dance show in a theater in the evening.

After a drive of 280 km, we reached the beautiful land of Ooty where we checked-in hotel for taking rest. Enjoying the world-class amenities of the hotel, we went for enjoying the full-day sightseeing of Ooty and Coonoor. The exotic mountain ranges of Himalayas, the salubrious weather and the gurgling streams make Ooty a destination worth to visit.

Next day, we were in the temple city of Mysore. A city which boasts of gardens, palaces, shady avenues and much more. We explored Somnathpur Temple and in the afternoon, we visited Srirangapatnam. It was a great experience altogether.

While driving to Banglore, we also visited Sravanbelgola on the way. The afternoon sightseeing tour of the city made us cheerful. Next day, we were transferred to Mumbai from where we left for home.

The 18 days which were spent with my family at different destinations are a lifetime experience for me. The beautiful memories of the tour still fills my heart with great joy.

Elephanta Cave  

Even after reaching Mumbai, we could not forget the spell of Goa. The whole experience of Goa was unforgettable for us that really made our honeymoon a celebration. Especially, the breeze coming from the sea whispering romantic melodies in the ears was just creating a perfect romantic ambiance. The wonderful attractions of this destination just insisted us to stay there for a long time. Though we didn’t feel like coming back yet we had to.

The next day in Mumbai started with one hour boat ride with my spouse. This romantic ride took us to the lush green Elephanta Island, where we saw the beautiful Elephanta Caves. These intricately carved caves date back to 8th century. The whole experience was amazing and the beautiful locations blessed with sheer natural beauty added charm to it.

To continue this wonderful experience, I persuaded my spouse to go on Bollywood tour. This full day tour offered us to opportunity to visit a film studio where we could see live shooting. To witness the glimpse of bollywood stars was like a dream come true for me.

The other popular attraction worth to mention is Kanheri Caves in Mumbai. They are a group of rock-cut monuments, located north of Borivali. The name, ‘Kanheri’, is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Krishnagiri’ that means ‘black in colour’. These caves were also carved out of a giant piece of basaltic rock.

It is a must visit destination for short excursions. These popular caves date back to 2nd -9th centuries and are known to be carved out by Buddhist monks. They are one of the biggest Buddhist monastic establishments on the Konkan coast.

The other attractions, which became a part of our exploration during the tour were Gateway of India, Marine Drive, the Towers of Silence and the Dhobi Ghat. We also paid a short visit to Mani Bhawan, a small museum dedicated to the life of Mahatma Gandhi. In the late evening, we were transferred to the International airport from where we took a flight back to home.

At the end of our honeymoon tour, we were happy to select Goa as our honeymoon destination. A trip to Goa really gave a magic start to our new life with its never-ending charm and captivating natural beauty.

Rajasthan Desert Tour-Part 1

Rajasthan is a pulsating destination, which is known as the land of royal kings. It has so many attractions that simply draw my attention towards this beautiful desert land. Recently, I planned to visit this princely state with my two friends, Sakshi and Pooja. We all managed to take leave for around 18 days and left for a relaxing break.

We decided to go for a Rajasthan Desert Tour and started from New Delhi, we left for Mandawa. We were transported to our Hotel Castle Mandawa which was already booked by our tour operator. Then, we relaxed in the hotel for sometime and left for Bikaner.

The beautiful city of Bikaner is in the northwestern part of Rajasthan. We all were excited to visit the most famous tourist attractions here and finally we were there only to admire the architectural beauty of Junagarh Fort, which is also known as Bikaner Fort.

The Camel Breeding Farm is also another major tourist attraction here where we went. Sakshi was very excited  when she saw the baby camels . She also clicked some pictures of young camels.

We also visited Lalgarh Palace and visiting the palace is like a learning experience about the royal family. This huge palace is built of red sandstones and is beautifully embellished with exquisite filigree work. Pooja has a great interest in exploring arts and crafts so she insisted us to visit the museum as well. We got to know the timings of the museum which was from 10 am to 4:30 pm, but it remains closed on Fridays. As it was just 2 o’clock by then, we had ample time to explore the Lalgarh Museum, which was right across from the palace.

We came across some marvelous miniature paintings of Bikaner school, terracotta wares, armors, manuscripts and armaments in the museum. I am a passionate reader felt great to see the largest collection of original Sanskrit manuscripts on copper, parchments and gold or silver plaque in the library of the palace. We came back and stayed overnight at hotel.

Next morning, after having delicious breakfast in our hotel, we left for next destination of Rajasthan Desert Tour, which was Jaisalmer.

This exhilarating destination of desert land is known as the Golden City. When we reached there, we felt delighted to view the sand dunes, magnificent forts, beautiful temples and majestic havelis. In our morning sightseeing of Fort and Jain Temples, we could catch the glimpses of whole Jaisalmer city from the top of the Fort. Then, we left to explore the famous havelis of the city like Patwon Ki Haveli and Nath Ji Mal Ki Haveli. Outstanding work of architecture, exquisite craftsmanship and the royal feeling … this is what I could say about the marvelous havelis of Jaisalmer.

After this wonderful experience, we were all set to experience the Camel Safari, another popular tourist attraction of Rajasthan. Based on my experience, I must say that safari is the best way to explore the rippling sand dunes of the desert land. This fun-filled adventure allowed us to see the rural desert life.

We came back to the hotel and had a sound sleep.

To be continued……

Khajuraho is one of the most renowned destinations where you can see the human emotions in its purest form in its temples. This temple town is located at Chattarpur district in Madhya Pradesh. My two friends, Geetika and Ajay accompanied me on Khajuraho Temples Tour. After a couple of hours taxi drive from Jhansi, we were in the temple city of Khajuraho.

We took rest for sometime at a hotel in Khajuraho and after having refreshment, we left for visiting temples.

Highlights of Khajuraho Temples

The famous Khajuraho temples were built between the 9th and 11th centuries by the kings of the Chandela. These exquisitely carved temples are also the venue for an annual mela which is organized on the occasion of Shivratri, a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva.

The temples of Khajuraho are segregated as per their geographical locations like the Eastern group, the Western group and the Southern group. These temples are known for their breathtaking architectural beauty. Some important temples of Western group are Lakshmana Temple, the Varaha Temple and the Matangesvara Temple.

Most of the temples are based on the theme of eroticism. Various theories have been put forward to explain the subject of Sex and sexual relationships. Many erotic groups have been depicted in the form of stone carvings. The architectural beauty of the images portrayed at Khajuraho temples grabs the attention of every visitor, who comes to these temples.

Next morning, we visited Western group of temples. All we could enjoy there was the calmness of nature and tranquil ambiance. We were struck by the expertise of artisans who built these temples and explored the following temples:

Adinath

This particular Jain forehead is beautifully constructed in the form of ‘Sapta-ratha’ and is adorned with exquisite carvings. It is solitary towered ‘shikhara’ provides an elegant turn to the shrine.

Devi Jagdamba

This temple is renowned because of its sensual and perfectly created numbers. The Garbha griha encompasses a great picture related with Jagdamba, the Devi associated with World.

Parsvanath

Parsvanath temple includes beautiful statues, structures and many stunning idols. These idols illustrate different Devis actively playing musical instruments like gandharva, manjeera, mridanga and shankha.

Lakshmana

It is a good east-facing temple with 2 open up pavilions, called as mandaps. The actual forehead is exquisitely created using the images of six hundred gods and goddess from the Hindu mythology.

Chausath Yogini

The actual temple is focused on sixty four yoginis, considered as the actual demos from the Mom Goddess. It’s constructed on the big elevated podium and is encircled along with small temples.

We all were amazed to see the erotic sculptures depicting the various scenes of the most taboo subject, ‘Sex’ in the country. The intricate rock carvings impressed us a lot.

Later on, Geetika was willing to go for nearby excursions. So Ajay accompanied her. He also insisted me to go there and we came across the following places:

Panna National Park

After a 30-minute drive, we reached this beautiful park. The wildlife of this park is worth-paying a visit. Besides dense flora and fauna, we also enjoyed to see many animals like leopards, gharials, wolves, wild boars, cheetals, sloth bears, chowsinghas and porcupines.

The Pandava Waterfall

This enchanting waterfall is situated on the Ken River. It is believed to be the place where the Pandavas spent a good part of their exile period. After capturing the best glimpses of this beautiful waterfall, we left for next place.

Dhubela Museum

Dhubela Museum is located in a place on the Jhansi-Khajuraho road. It encompasses a wide collection of Shakti cult sculptures, garments, weapons and paintings.

How to Reach Khajuraho

Khajuraho has a good connectivity by road, rail and air. It is connected by air to Delhi, Varanasi and Agra by a daily flight. It is around 600 kilometers away from Delhi. Jhansi is the nearest airport. It can be accessed by driving from Jhansi, which is 172 kilometers and Satna, which is 117 kilometers. The nearest railheads are Harpalpur at 94 kilometers and Mahoba at 63 kilometers. Train is the major mode of transport, connecting Khajuraho to the remote corners of India.

At last, I thanked Ajay for taking me to the excursions from Khajuraho and I could visit some not-to-be-missed places as well.

A trip to Jaipur was tantamount to a journey back in time to the era of raja-maharajas. This princely city is one of the most famous tourist destinations of Rajasthan. It boasts of rich history and culture which beautifully reflects in its attractions. It is frequented by many tourists throughout the year. Most of the city is painted in pink which gives this city the title ‘Pink City’. This city boasts of amazing attractions like stunning palaces, majestic forts, monuments, heritage hotels, gardens, handicrafts, cuisine and precious and semi-precious stone.

One of the striking features about Jaipur is that it was constructed on the principles of Vastu Shastra. Which is a traditional Hindu system of design based on directional alignments. This royal destination is also a part of the famous Golden Triangle Tour of India. The other two destinations covered under this tour are Agra and Delhi. Jaipur was established in the year 1727 by Maharaja Jai Singh II. He built this city in the form of a nine-part Mandala known as the Pithapada. Here nine signifies the nine planets of the ancient astrological zodiac.

Attractions of Jaipur

Jaipur Palaces

The palace of Jaipur are renowned the world over for their architectural beauty, stunning interiors and glorious history. Most of the palaces of the city have been converted into heritage hotels to offer royalty to tourists. The palaces house the museums where a wide variety of royal belongings are on display. The City palace and Hawa Mahal are the most famous palaces of Jaipur.

Jaipur Forts

Testimony to the glorious history of the city, the forts are amazing attractions. Amber Fort is a must-visit destination of jaipur. Built in 1592, this fort boasts of exquisite carvings, huge courtyards, beautiful mosaic work and mirror work. The fort is located on a hill and can be reached by an elephant ride.

Jaipur Wildlife

Located just a few kilometres from Jaipur is the famous Ranthambore National Park. This park is famous for its tigers and a wide variety of other wildlife. Several bird species are also spotted here. The park also has a historic fort called Ranthambore Fort.

Jaipur tour is incomplete without going on a shopping spree in its colourful markets. The famous handicrafts of Jaipur are blue pottery, embroidered juttis, tie and dye fabric, precious and semi-precious stones, silver jewellery, miniature paintings and leather crafts.

Uttaranchal is a wonderful tourist destination of North India where tourists come from across the globe. It is a land of mountain beauty and adventure sports activities. This land is affectionately dubbed as ‘Dev Bhumi’. It is endowed with sheer natural beauty and salubrious climate. It is also known for its rich flora and fauna. Tourists can indulge in a variety of adventure sports such as river rafting, boating and trekking. Uttaranchal tourism boasts of mesmerizing attractions such as mountains, rivers, wildlife, glaciers, valley of flowers, forests and pilgrimage sites. There are several famous tourist destinations in Uttaranchal. Almora, kasauni and Mukteshwar are some of them.

Almora

Almora

It is a fascinating hill station of Uttaranchal. Attracting tourists from far and wide, it is a perfect holiday destination. It is located at an altitude of 1,650 m above sea level. It is popularly known as the cultural capital of Uttaranchal. The forests of pine and fir against the backdrop of snow-capped peaks makes this destination look like a fairyland.Its scenic beauty never fails to capture the hearts of tourists. Several colorful fairs and festivals are celebrated here every year. It is also a home to 1000 year old Nanda Devi temple. Almora can be visited from March to June or September to November. Some of the famous attractions of Almora are Bright End corner, State museum, Chitai temple, Siyahidevi temple, Katarmal temple, Deer park and Simtola.

Kausani

Kausani

Nestled in the Kumaon hills, Kasauni is located at an altitude of 6,075 feet above sea level. It is a small hill station soaked in sheer natural beauty. It offers breattaking views of the snow-capped peaks. It is also the place where Mahatama Gandhi lived for a long time in the year 1929. It is the birthplace of the famous poet Sumitra Nandan Pant. This picturesque hill station is dominated by dark pine forest. It is popularly known as the jewel of the Himalayas. It is located only 53 km from Almora. Kasauni attractions include Oant museum, Lakshmi ashram, Pinakeshwar (trekking area), Baijnath, Someshwar, Anasakti ashram and tea gardens.

Mukteshwar

Mukteshwar

Located in the enchanting Nainital district, Mukteshwar is a wonderful destination. It offers captivating views of the Himalayas. Its serene environment, pleasant climate and natural beauty will surely leved you spell bound. You can enjoy trekking, mountain climbing and rock climbing in Mukteshwar.

The incredible country like India can be best described by the phrase ‘Unity in Diversity’. India is a land of rich cultural heritage which beautifully reflects in its various attractions. The various states of India have their own unique culture. Although there is so much diversity in culture of India but still there is unity among Indians. Fairs and festivals are among the most colorful part of Indian culture. They are also the perfect means of getting acquainted with the culture of India.

It would be no exaggeration to say that India is a land of fairs and festivals as its calender is full of various fairs and festivals commemorating various occasions. Fairs and festivals of India attract tourists from across the globe.

Some of the most famous fairs and festivals of India are:

Diwali
It is the festival of lights which is celebrated with great flavor

Diwali

throughout India. Symbolizing the victory of good over evil, this festival commemorates Lord Rama’s return to his kingdom after 14 years of exile. On this festival people illuminate their houses with earthen lamps and lights, distribute sweets, burn crackers and worship Goddess Lakshmi. This festival falls in the month of October or November.

Navratri
This festival is celebrated for nine days in honour of the goddess. The goddess symbolizes power. During these nine days nine forms of the goddess are worshipped and devotees observe fast for nine days. The goddess is known by several names like Durga, Laxmi, Bhavani, Kali, chandika, Maha gauri, Ashtabhuja and Siddhiratri. All the nine forms signify various traits that the goddess influences us with.

Holi

It is a festival of colours which is celebrated with great enthusiasm

HOli

especiallyin North India. During this festival people play with powdered colours and water. Huge bonfires are lit on the evening of Holi. This festival also symbolizes the victory of good over evil. There is an interesting legend associated with it.

Pushkar Fair
It is the largest cattle fair in the world. Held in Pushkar City of Rajasthan it is marked with several cultural activities like dance, music, competitions and many more. It is celebrated in October/November.

Pongal
It is an important festival of South India which is celebrated for four days. It is a harvest festival. During the festival cattle, Sun god and Rain god are worshiped.

Eid-ul-Fittr
It is an important festival of Muslims which marks the end of Ramzan, the Muslim month of fasting. During the festival people exchange greeting and sweets and offer prayer in mosques. Feasting is the main feature of this festival.

Desert Festival
This is a famous festival of Rajasthan which is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the city of Jaisalmer. During the celebration the desert comes alive with cultural activities. Folk dance, puppet shows, turban-tying competition, camel race etc are the main highlights of the festival.

Badrinath

This time I and my friends were thinking of planning a tour which could be different from the rest of the tours which we had already taken. I mean we were looking for a destination which can offer natural beauty, adventure, pleasure, peace, knowledge and much more-all rolled into one. I was sharing this with my mom and she suggested the Char Dham Tour. Not taking her suggestion seriously I smilingly said ‘we are too young to go for a tirth yatra’. But then later when I saw the destinations of Char Dham Yatra on internet I was speechless. They are extremely beautiful promising much more than what we wanted. I immediately shared this idea with my friends and finally finalized this tour.

According to Hindu mythologies it is believed that Char Dham Yatra is a journey to moksha. Char Dham consists of four wonderful pilgrimage sites namely Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath. It is one of the most holy tours of the Hindus. These four destinations are located in the staggeringly beautiful Himalayas. We booked the Char Dham tour with great excitement.

Starting from Delhi we reached Haridwar in the afternoon. After refreshing ourselves we visited the Mansa Devi temple and participated in the evening aarti at Har ki Pauri. Haridwar is another famous pilgrimage site of India. Its evening aarti was very uplifting. There we had an overnight stay at Hotel Haveli Hari Ganga. This place is a doorway to the Char Dham Yatra.

The next day in the morning we drove to Barkot via Mussoorie. We halted for some time in Mussoorie to see the wonderful Kempty Fall. We continued our drive to Barkot and reached there in the evening and spent the night in a hotel. Barkot is 215 kms from Haridwar.

In the morning we left from Barkot for Janki Chatti via Hanuman Chatti and Fool Chatti. Hanuman Chatti is the confluence of Hanuman Ganga and Yamuna River. After reaching Janki Chatti we started the trek of 6 km for Yamunotri, one of the Char Dhams. Yamnotri is located at an elevation of 3,235 m above sea level. The views of the surroundings were mesmerizing. After reaching Yamunotri we took a holi dip in Garam kund and then headed towards the shrine of Goddess Yamnotri. After darshan and Pooja we trekked back to Janki Chatti and drove back to Barkot.

Our Guide Shankar told us that Yamunotri is the the source of the Yamuna River and the seat of the Goddess Yamuna. Yamunotri Temple was built in the 19^th century by Maharani Gularia of Jaipur.

We saw several thermal springs flowing into the pools near the temple. The guide told us that among all Surya Kund is the most famous. We also worshipped at Divya Shila, a rock pillar which is worshipped before entering the Yamunotri Temple.

From Barkot we left for Uttarkashi in the morning. It is 82 km from Barkot. En route we visited Prakateshwar Cave. The journey from Barkot to Uttarkashi was very pleasurable as the road was flanked by pine trees and the path was very picturesque. It is a natural cave found around 10 years back. There are limestone formations inside the cave which resemble Shiv Linga because of which it holds religious importance. Cold water flows inside the cave making their way into a small pool. The water here is considered sacred.

We reached Uttarkashi in the afternoon and after refreshing ourselves we visited Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Later in the evening we participated in the aarti of Goddess Ganga at the Ganga river ghat. Uttarkashi is a gateway to Gangotri. Uttarkashi is located on the bank of river Bhagirathi. There are several temples located here. We also strolled through the town of Uttarkashi and retired to the beds late. The next day we had to drive to Gangotri. Till now our journey had been great, very beautiful, very uplifting.

Meenakshi Temple

The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple is a historical Hindu temple located in the holy city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva (in the form of Sundareswarar or Beautiful Lord) and his consort, Goddess Parvati (in the form of Meenakshi or Fish-eyed Goddess). The glorious architectural beauty of this Dravidian structure summons scores of tourists to this place from several parts of the globe. But it is said that only the fortunate one’s get an opportunity to visit this Hindu religious destination.

I have heard, read and seen about this temple since my childhood which develops a sense of inclination in me towards this magnificent architecture. Finally this curiosity ended last week when I visited this colossal building during my Chennai Tour. The impressive architectural beauty, striking atmosphere, intricate carving and religious atmosphere absorbed me when I entered the temple premises.

The temple is enclosed within a high-wall and at the center there are two sanctums one is for Meenakshi and another is for Sundareshwara. The whole temple is encircled with number of smaller shrines, grand pillared halls and twelve impressive gopurams. I was impressed by towers in the temple which are adorned with stucco figures of deities, mythical animals and monsters painted in vivid colors. The chiseled out beauty of these towers showcases the affluence of craftsmanship achieved by artists during the Dravidian era.

Every nook and corner of this magnificent edifice have its own identity and own significance yet the most striking feature is 14 magnificent Gopurams or towers including two golden Gopurams. These towers are elaborately sculptured and painted brightly with several mythological figures which touch the heart of every visitor.
Ashta Shakthi Mandapam located on the eastern entrance of the temple is known for the statute of eight goddesses which are famous for their crafting and elaborate design. Adjoining to this is the Meenakshi Nayak Mandapam, known for its sculptured pillars that portray the story of Lord Shiva’s Thiruvilayadals (miracles) and Meenakshi’s birth. This hall also has a lamp-holder with 1,008 lamps which is lit up during festive occasions.

Orthamarai Kulam (Golden Lotus Tank) is a scared lake situated inside the temple premises. The Oonjal (swing) Mandapam and Killikoontu (parrot cage) Mandapam is located on the western side of the lake. Every Friday the idols of Meenakshi and Sundareswarar are placed on the swing in the Oonjal Mandapam and mantras were chanted. It is because of this Friday is considered as auspicious day to visit this temple. The shrine of Lord Sundareswarar’s is situated to the north of Kilikoontu Mandapam. Here Sundareswarar is worshipped in the form of a linga with his 64 bhootaganas, 32 lions and 8 elephant attendants.

After exploring some of the popular attractions of this temple I sat on the staircase of Potramarai Kulam – The Golden Lotus Pond. I was seating quietly and the continuous chants, prayers and devotional carnatic music accompanied by Mridanga and Nadaswara creates a mystic atmosphere in which I was completely lost. I felt that I was away from the world and my mind was thoughtless. The peace that I felt cannot be expressed in words. Based on my experience I assured that people who want to feel the power of religion and spirituality must visit the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple.