Intrepid travelers take busses and train around Tamil Nadu in India
Not even realizing there was a place called Tamil Nadu until he had been there a week, Mike McNeil, with the help of his guide John Majel, went on two trips through the state. Their first trip of June 6 to June 9 was to the city of Maduria. The second trip of June 11-17 was along the east coast of India through the cities of Vailankanni, Pondicherry and Chennai.
The original plan was to visit Madurai by sleeper train but since they were filled, they went to plan ‘B’. which was to take the over night bus to the temple city. What started as a full bus emptied as the night wore on. By sunrise the two travellers could finally get some quality rest by stretching their feet out to the seat across the aisle.
After checking into a hotel upon their arrival they visited the Meenakshi Temple . Tradition says it was built as a celebration of the Meenakshi goddess’s love of her groom Sundareswarar. It is a massive complex with high towers and 1000 pillar rooms. Pilgrims light lamps and Hindu priests going about their tasks.
In the afternoon they visited the massive corridors at Thirumalai Palace and then the Gandhi museum.
Before getting on their bus for home the two travellers visited the local water park.
The homebound bus did not make it back to Muttom. While stopped at a very grimy rest-stop the decision was made that a new bus was needed. Because of the dehydration from the days sun and water, Mike did buy a coffee at this rest-stop that looked like it had not been cleaned since the British ruled India.
After several false starts they boarded a bus that got them home.
For the second trip the two got on a sleeper bus. The main differences between this and the previous bus was the seats did recline and a Tamil movie was shown on the TV and DVD player bolted next to the driver.
The first stop was the Shrine City of Our Lady of Vailankanni. Again after getting a hotel the travellers spent hours walking through the various shrines that are connected by roads lined with the stations of the cross or the Catholic sacraments.
The next day and night were spent in Pondicherry, a town with a long history that included being ruled by the French until 1954. They visited a couple of hippie meditation centers then got a blessing by the elephant in front of the Sri Manakula Vinayagar Temple.
The rest of the trip was spent in the major city of Chennai visiting the national museum, the zoo, the rock sculptures of Mahabalipurum, the beach and the Shrine of the tomb of St. Thomas the apostle. The climate was hot. The city streets and sidewalks were crowded. The people were very friendly.
The two returned to Mutton on a sleeper train, which with its vinyl seats/beds was by far the most comfortable way to travel at night. Mike just wished the beds were two inches longer so he could fully stretch-out. |
