tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34504141451820802122024-03-18T16:00:06.877+05:30MalharNumismatics, Archaeology, History, Travel etc.P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-18286880871040346392014-05-15T13:12:00.002+05:302014-05-15T21:01:31.583+05:30Melaka (Malaysia) 4 (Concluding)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNgecIJH2-PAiagEwacWHKzC9frbJo0ExCYbYfSX5EtLOdxm08OFHuf3CQWbi753A4Flan98cdRVd6ebCz8dTPHe2C1AM18F96qxsLMT5YHaltOCv17QN8-xDMZ__gKTDS57uWn8uDWCn/s1600/IMG_5162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNgecIJH2-PAiagEwacWHKzC9frbJo0ExCYbYfSX5EtLOdxm08OFHuf3CQWbi753A4Flan98cdRVd6ebCz8dTPHe2C1AM18F96qxsLMT5YHaltOCv17QN8-xDMZ__gKTDS57uWn8uDWCn/s1600/IMG_5162.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #e3a327; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Authored by</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">PN Sampath Kumar,</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Cochin Shipyard, Kochi</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The rule by the English East India Company, Calcutta, attracted Indians to Melaka and other parts of Malaysia to be employed in Plantations and Tin Mining and also to work in the Harbour. They reached Melaka and other parts of Malaysia through the Madras-Penang route. Their second and third generations are the people having Indian connections and still maintaining their contacts with India and are owning number of trading establishments and restaurants.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuU9sBVLZqxy_MZGJdsZWQ9lYmKKaByLt518_TRTjJZAcft0f1F384QhmBB-P7pbU-EmzBLhYOS4rsv7kM4bPZIjuViMjWOQmYksJBQlYNWxQWm9CzE_Q24Mua1HTgCAsv_xiKO5vM1hs/s1600/P3310687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuU9sBVLZqxy_MZGJdsZWQ9lYmKKaByLt518_TRTjJZAcft0f1F384QhmBB-P7pbU-EmzBLhYOS4rsv7kM4bPZIjuViMjWOQmYksJBQlYNWxQWm9CzE_Q24Mua1HTgCAsv_xiKO5vM1hs/s1600/P3310687.JPG" height="291" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The Migrants of Parameswara era / or even prior to that were seafaring traders who controlled the Trade / banking in Melaka are limited in number and have no connection with India except their religion, i.e. Hinduism. They are the Melaka Chetties.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">It is said that these Chetties who were controlling the trade along with the Chinese, supported the Portuguese in their war against the Sultanate. It would have been a retaliation against the possible attempts of Sultans to control the community including religious conversion.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjHuWWdUGqFYBv-gZqXV7IiUXtIpXu0ns-dqTySZLDhGZhzfGdkpVVQL7fnaYO3wUFCZIURRDk7AspU9poPRse77hyjBuK88EQSrGUTSgfqjwMHYxM7XSQGNk7mOKC4U6hjIE4wpboUm7/s1600/DSCN3670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjHuWWdUGqFYBv-gZqXV7IiUXtIpXu0ns-dqTySZLDhGZhzfGdkpVVQL7fnaYO3wUFCZIURRDk7AspU9poPRse77hyjBuK88EQSrGUTSgfqjwMHYxM7XSQGNk7mOKC4U6hjIE4wpboUm7/s1600/DSCN3670.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-zZq6ga7JkozmHH62ZMUw99BEgnUH_U72wKbQZRbTUrzOGQeG_hCmwY_grgH9D7FL5ND0ess15grR3rj6d9BM25nSPbiHacBOuliqdD8wzr8X-SLxSrxBnDdsvJ9B2pQpEjG8jS05cZC/s1600/DSCN3667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-zZq6ga7JkozmHH62ZMUw99BEgnUH_U72wKbQZRbTUrzOGQeG_hCmwY_grgH9D7FL5ND0ess15grR3rj6d9BM25nSPbiHacBOuliqdD8wzr8X-SLxSrxBnDdsvJ9B2pQpEjG8jS05cZC/s1600/DSCN3667.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The biggest beneficiary of the Portughese invasion was the trading community, the Chetties of Melaka and it would have been the golden period for them. It is astonishing that the Portuguese, who were notorious for religious conversions, spared the Chetties. But this supremacy was short lived. History has its funny ways of keeping the checks and balances. When the Dutch attacked the Portuguese to take control of the port, the first thing that they did was to demolish whatever the Portuguese had created including the business controlled by the Chetties. The Chetties had to abandon their profession and shift their base to other territories to engage themselves in Agriculture in the fertile lands of Melaka to cultivate rice, groundnut and sugarcane. It was during this period, they built innumerable temples to protect them as part of their agrarian culture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM6TR4C7twD9bBZLhCTZIh5SzWx6hwYHptcRu-t_B5K64kwlkAVS5oTDS7YNcF8NevqCmCeCV-i3zAiG9iXZiOm7tqmhxk3B8AKUAyYiGlQJQXO494IWuIrKWANJN_m5yBeuVf-4ORYXw/s1600/DSCN3714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkM6TR4C7twD9bBZLhCTZIh5SzWx6hwYHptcRu-t_B5K64kwlkAVS5oTDS7YNcF8NevqCmCeCV-i3zAiG9iXZiOm7tqmhxk3B8AKUAyYiGlQJQXO494IWuIrKWANJN_m5yBeuVf-4ORYXw/s1600/DSCN3714.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">T</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">he next day, after finishing our rounds in the temple circuit, and the Sai Baba Temple, we proceed on foot to the <b>Chetty Street</b>, in the outskirts of the city. We continued walking and decided to take a public transport en route, but unluckily, the views on both sides of the road prevented us from taking one. Roadside eateries are aplenty. We bought three polythene cover full of sugarcane juice from a lady extracting and selling sugar cane, opposite to a recent Chinese temple paying one ringit (about Rs.18) each. Further down, we misunderstood one huge Hindu temple dedicated to Kartikeya and Shiva to be the Chetty area. There was some meeting going on to sort out issues of parking space in the temple premises. Speaking in Tamil, they were complaining of non cooperation of members and their lack of interest even in attending meetings. After offering our prayers, we proceeded further.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUEJcqmwto2XwWd1M7nnotVP2ZnaWMF7mrsWcoYYHWMETa2arJAeIqsjJkZAucNs8nEDSmTB5bB49KVwjwekuBpJIcAzhMk2BtIUE4jInIR4IAWbFVM672aH15mG1SQ80KKqh1l_9e3IH/s1600/DSCN3801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUEJcqmwto2XwWd1M7nnotVP2ZnaWMF7mrsWcoYYHWMETa2arJAeIqsjJkZAucNs8nEDSmTB5bB49KVwjwekuBpJIcAzhMk2BtIUE4jInIR4IAWbFVM672aH15mG1SQ80KKqh1l_9e3IH/s1600/DSCN3801.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">At Gaja Street (Gaja = elephant) again a small temple welcomed us at the entrance. You have temples on both ends of the Tamil Streets. The street resembled some old Tamil Agraharams in Palakkad. The only difference is that they are all independent houses having sufficient space on all sides.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7VSV5y-Ae0oQvQtH5Lg20AhGPp7RrJm5KFEvP6BPpfVCRFqHAwLzAZpFi0ufnvdW7FnxB2rqYt_gJwA6DkOOpqc1BMrHDnBmecY5rS3xkxJpJ4PCEaf08wJmHWLrm7U12wqTlx5BC04c/s1600/P3310756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7VSV5y-Ae0oQvQtH5Lg20AhGPp7RrJm5KFEvP6BPpfVCRFqHAwLzAZpFi0ufnvdW7FnxB2rqYt_gJwA6DkOOpqc1BMrHDnBmecY5rS3xkxJpJ4PCEaf08wJmHWLrm7U12wqTlx5BC04c/s1600/P3310756.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yvAYokS9iw9_egEwIXyIU_-eQt6wZRKUnYXc5cqXnBopBUI_bBcTUjhjBlwfMAQphiW_8-irH82A1ePhL-LynU-wHOV-CjO2aGRJIqCKieW3sAqbs-211_T-Aprg0VNh3CKskcNj2tzl/s1600/P3310760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1yvAYokS9iw9_egEwIXyIU_-eQt6wZRKUnYXc5cqXnBopBUI_bBcTUjhjBlwfMAQphiW_8-irH82A1ePhL-LynU-wHOV-CjO2aGRJIqCKieW3sAqbs-211_T-Aprg0VNh3CKskcNj2tzl/s1600/P3310760.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnFwd8avJEnRiEyUs0yQYIw8_bYTqN_LTFOB8QJVoiAAY7nG6t8GJqhOcPRW3vEmbgCHCX16WGKt8jbkgCVSXbAQRRd5oY8Mscwk-c2SmHyyxUQcFAhyphenhyphenVPXvn9U5QLluj7119F1Qbm9Cr/s1600/P3310766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnFwd8avJEnRiEyUs0yQYIw8_bYTqN_LTFOB8QJVoiAAY7nG6t8GJqhOcPRW3vEmbgCHCX16WGKt8jbkgCVSXbAQRRd5oY8Mscwk-c2SmHyyxUQcFAhyphenhyphenVPXvn9U5QLluj7119F1Qbm9Cr/s1600/P3310766.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">All houses are neatly maintained and roadsides are cleanly with flowering plants and flower pots.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Walking through the road, out of curiosity, we just knocked at the gate of one of the identical houses. A youngster came out to enquire what we wanted. When I told him that we were from India and had come to know about their culture, he welcomed us inside. I did not know how to begin and what to speak. There is a sit out, an elevated platform for the men at home and guests to sit and chat, typical of the Tamil Nadu houses. Sitting their I introduced me and my family to him. The youngster apologising for his inability to speak in Tamil, introduced himself to be Mr Jagan, a college student. While generally explaining to me about the Malayan architecture and he mentioned about the elevated platform on which we sat to be the THINNAI ( a tamil word)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGNWI7yItABDwhjVoOLpKt6Nk0GZQLXbPWlsvr_pim0_ztubwV1uLxd6caLwQjImu2c5y-vP87L9tpEI0TM7g0wX-Bl1PcfthQ3_ZrzSVA8Tyx9rLjHazt5YYtiOR03OhOX8vGuiKehpA/s1600/P3310792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGNWI7yItABDwhjVoOLpKt6Nk0GZQLXbPWlsvr_pim0_ztubwV1uLxd6caLwQjImu2c5y-vP87L9tpEI0TM7g0wX-Bl1PcfthQ3_ZrzSVA8Tyx9rLjHazt5YYtiOR03OhOX8vGuiKehpA/s1600/P3310792.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkQr3etBJS6F1BPAoJ48EMNLdQ3Gk4a2D82uOZM8ChfKtcx4_Ggbk3rSXyDginN6W-RMXP7MCsromhVQhN2uxmYhkWMieIFcpcdGU32Hi40qndfiCZmS1m9wXE64mudeDiEQmnZNHVfUO/s1600/P3310790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRkQr3etBJS6F1BPAoJ48EMNLdQ3Gk4a2D82uOZM8ChfKtcx4_Ggbk3rSXyDginN6W-RMXP7MCsromhVQhN2uxmYhkWMieIFcpcdGU32Hi40qndfiCZmS1m9wXE64mudeDiEQmnZNHVfUO/s1600/P3310790.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">By the time, his aunts, Janaki and Meenakshi, came out and took us inside. Other members of the house who then had gone out were Jagan’s parents and one sister, who is in law school.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Mr Pillai’s mother is of Srilankan origin. The grandparents at the maternal side are originally from Jaffna.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhioyVuGOReLawUlsV_4hBAPn2LM9nJ5ATkJvTMSA7gpCbhJpk5mQExVXMfDAIBDsz88ryxVxSzFhtLGsF3xz6sd4K1poyuQLXfQh_zmH-0pNSvtzlfUtqVlGmcDP47w1thpqaJZcqktL/s1600/P3310794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhioyVuGOReLawUlsV_4hBAPn2LM9nJ5ATkJvTMSA7gpCbhJpk5mQExVXMfDAIBDsz88ryxVxSzFhtLGsF3xz6sd4K1poyuQLXfQh_zmH-0pNSvtzlfUtqVlGmcDP47w1thpqaJZcqktL/s1600/P3310794.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Inside the house, the furniture and interior resembled a decent old Tamilnadu house. They have preserved passionately items used by their predecessors and also collected from neighbourhood, big utensils made of bell metal and brass, idli makers, coffee filters, appakkarais to make pancakes, etc, to name a few.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9qD9hvf5FVzkR4o7fmW2ITFa5uU-AsS6yJtFo1B3aygNt4vZd_7QAnKHNXjseUR67rF62fDAZ0-ORigsWqhAgSZwrNTpATdtzMnGTIGZEm3DNnckrJ2-1B8zaB5hxpTR01Uo2ssArtM2/s1600/P3310782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9qD9hvf5FVzkR4o7fmW2ITFa5uU-AsS6yJtFo1B3aygNt4vZd_7QAnKHNXjseUR67rF62fDAZ0-ORigsWqhAgSZwrNTpATdtzMnGTIGZEm3DNnckrJ2-1B8zaB5hxpTR01Uo2ssArtM2/s1600/P3310782.JPG" height="230" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPemoFGAoqdL5a8tSsIEQmBYwyuOhssCkXoTl73ai5wShgF49uA-xW9ku06LcIx_qnE33okSSxWFYkq39NAjRwBXaVXp51g56zxatMllGZoRSiAU6PoS61DOCrw5FmvDRtAvd6LnhXT6g/s1600/P3310785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPemoFGAoqdL5a8tSsIEQmBYwyuOhssCkXoTl73ai5wShgF49uA-xW9ku06LcIx_qnE33okSSxWFYkq39NAjRwBXaVXp51g56zxatMllGZoRSiAU6PoS61DOCrw5FmvDRtAvd6LnhXT6g/s1600/P3310785.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Meenakshi took us even to the kitchen where we found a big fish is getting cooked in a Chenna Chatti (Chinese Frying Pan) by her elder sister Janaki. On enquiry about their food habits, suddenly came the invitation for lunch but we declined with due respect for being vegetarians. They cook Malay food - Rice, vegetables curry and fish are commonly liked food items. There was a time when the Chetties could not bring in brides from India due to ban on their travel of women to cross the seas. It was then these men were allowed to adopt Malayan women in to their community in marriage and caused the changed food habits.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Friday is the temple day for them and they don’t eat non vegetarian food on that day.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">While chatting, having fruit juices and cut fruits, the father of Jagan, Mr Pillai, who had gone out came home with his Chinese wife and daughter. According to him, Melaka Chetties consists of not only Chetty community in Tamilnadu but also other castes like Pillais, Mudaliyars, Pandaram, etc, to name a few. After the fall of Melaka, many of them migrated to Penang and Singapore and gather together during festivals like Pongal, etc.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">They cant speak Tamil, they shifted their food habits but are still maintaining their religion, Hinduism and Hindu names to their children.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">They are patronising number of temples in Melaka. There are a dozen temples dedicated to different deities in Melaka.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The Poyyatha Vinayaka Temple, oldest Hindu Temple in Malay peninsula is the presiding deity of the Melaka Chetties.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAerq4-g3fWvfH3rEkrVQJa_-qxQf9sg5B2LRUBR48T3jmDnnF73A2St5TV5dmGK8qArVntEfJqJk0wPiuQcfeH5KJsyDoSa2lP3bMetdIrFSgiSwu-_ny73HZ0YJMnIke0See-UO2kH8J/s1600/P3310798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAerq4-g3fWvfH3rEkrVQJa_-qxQf9sg5B2LRUBR48T3jmDnnF73A2St5TV5dmGK8qArVntEfJqJk0wPiuQcfeH5KJsyDoSa2lP3bMetdIrFSgiSwu-_ny73HZ0YJMnIke0See-UO2kH8J/s1600/P3310798.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">It was time to leave. We walked to the end of the street to survey the temple at the other end (which was closed as it was noon) marking the border. While coming back we found Meenakshi at their gate with packet full of fruits as a gift to us as they could not feed us properly as per our choice. We were overwhelmed and had no words to express.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Now we have one more family friend outside India.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The Melakan authorities have done a wonderful job in conserving their heritage. They have shown passion towards their culture and heritage and are able to project it with glory and pride to the tourists. They have succeeded in conserving the sites and also ensuring that the city succeeds in its role as a living city for residents and business.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVf2HA5QtXwXX9B3pJiqeyPG-pQoO38_i3HS7ux6Iu0wWcLqLEB1S1fVp7fi3If4uqh1XGMDxTtvuK8EqnXnEzpjYDTNSXk3WTo0t7efFfYKoCZsuycBLmvXoGSbqB02WxsMTz4_t6_IC/s1600/P3310876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVf2HA5QtXwXX9B3pJiqeyPG-pQoO38_i3HS7ux6Iu0wWcLqLEB1S1fVp7fi3If4uqh1XGMDxTtvuK8EqnXnEzpjYDTNSXk3WTo0t7efFfYKoCZsuycBLmvXoGSbqB02WxsMTz4_t6_IC/s1600/P3310876.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1eIqpeoLCKLBw9D5wwnKrRbD6gNKAXVZtPmkk3anHkpb0X3ZefWlb-ov1pgKbVw1Hypg74TH_4xNlqs5no9MxxxLCMK-mDSjYZckaWkroxHsPrZHdWhItxSu_4ZINQEavNMHGdIrVBL8/s1600/P3310879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1eIqpeoLCKLBw9D5wwnKrRbD6gNKAXVZtPmkk3anHkpb0X3ZefWlb-ov1pgKbVw1Hypg74TH_4xNlqs5no9MxxxLCMK-mDSjYZckaWkroxHsPrZHdWhItxSu_4ZINQEavNMHGdIrVBL8/s1600/P3310879.JPG" height="198" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyFCyvlZjI3P_31m-P0QuBGnX0eUSABCY-4sehuEJXqKfphur4FlVnShLZIeltcP0OncrIbtbq8jFfbHGwBE60aHJ6uKg3ptVqUSAyjXS8wzN9SzHdIzuGWR_7T4lGv2CObCapdSFmtN0/s1600/P3310880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyFCyvlZjI3P_31m-P0QuBGnX0eUSABCY-4sehuEJXqKfphur4FlVnShLZIeltcP0OncrIbtbq8jFfbHGwBE60aHJ6uKg3ptVqUSAyjXS8wzN9SzHdIzuGWR_7T4lGv2CObCapdSFmtN0/s1600/P3310880.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsuwPRo22M-Tj0F50rbrTNyQf6PL-TqbMznrspCMlBEq1I8Fp7Wl1d5tyrrBTKBQ8Ya0vE1EmM2HGyEedflPm4CeNuA673ZWlExItY75E3TqJ2iaZVT2BBzoBBu4r8fm9tntpXZW3IMKI/s1600/P3310881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsuwPRo22M-Tj0F50rbrTNyQf6PL-TqbMznrspCMlBEq1I8Fp7Wl1d5tyrrBTKBQ8Ya0vE1EmM2HGyEedflPm4CeNuA673ZWlExItY75E3TqJ2iaZVT2BBzoBBu4r8fm9tntpXZW3IMKI/s1600/P3310881.JPG" height="218" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">All the modern day constructions are along the coast of the Melaka Straits, consisting of major hotels, shopping malls and residential buildings. There are options like hop-on-off bus service throughout the city, duck bus, which travels on both road and water and of course the famous colourfully decorated cycle rickshaws. We tried the hop-on-off bus once to have an understanding of he length and breadth of Melaka.</span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">There are a few very good shopping malls in Melaka selling all sorts of domestic products. We tried in a couple of malls so as to have a feel of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLudSl8UANiNSMhZDG7Rbd8sQOL1HxV-8aFBa2DmxNlPnVO8MANfjnKnrt7bbkuHlDYikEiR1nzvSBY2K295QghdoXEhHOQavJZ5S66szZ6w_3giFIaTD-Lle0Mk5Wv3gg_lfUj70E9zts/s1600/P4011000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLudSl8UANiNSMhZDG7Rbd8sQOL1HxV-8aFBa2DmxNlPnVO8MANfjnKnrt7bbkuHlDYikEiR1nzvSBY2K295QghdoXEhHOQavJZ5S66szZ6w_3giFIaTD-Lle0Mk5Wv3gg_lfUj70E9zts/s1600/P4011000.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br /></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqao-pBMc3Ua9lxHeYPT7B_-LSAuTp_v01rFTgE8QxWoAT6S9ALuCXipt30JZgOcMuOYs9bxEPStkyqquAXNCX4pmImIqq0krRqpu8cjzTlZZ28dh5sz53jWvDZtp5GchXuFMpJ5RVWpVi/s1600/P4011001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqao-pBMc3Ua9lxHeYPT7B_-LSAuTp_v01rFTgE8QxWoAT6S9ALuCXipt30JZgOcMuOYs9bxEPStkyqquAXNCX4pmImIqq0krRqpu8cjzTlZZ28dh5sz53jWvDZtp5GchXuFMpJ5RVWpVi/s1600/P4011001.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">At last it was the turn to try some authentic Malay food. We found one vegetarian Chinese restaurant (meant for the monks and vegans) where we tried a Malay combo food having some rice, spicy chutney made of tamarind, ginger & mint and a portion of fried potato and beans. It was not that great but was tasty and did not damage our digestive system.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcgefCTrMApuygFw4bqh6rui_GECZAxjahfjNR6AvjGqUj-i4nttRXlNw2iVUkhrPp8SmhW6CV7b-GEeDLq3polGtnWrhN3lUnDWi2Bdz4BaHh0bF3ju2CzFtOFlJ9pvarxJoDm0b0BFf/s1600/DSCN3694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcgefCTrMApuygFw4bqh6rui_GECZAxjahfjNR6AvjGqUj-i4nttRXlNw2iVUkhrPp8SmhW6CV7b-GEeDLq3polGtnWrhN3lUnDWi2Bdz4BaHh0bF3ju2CzFtOFlJ9pvarxJoDm0b0BFf/s1600/DSCN3694.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">And it was time to check out. We thanked our friend Chua, our Host in Melaka and proceed to the bus station by noon to catch a bus to Singapore with fond memories of the land and people.</span></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-77900478156524704112014-02-27T09:03:00.000+05:302014-02-27T09:03:41.798+05:30Melaka (Malaysia) 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div align="justify">
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeK9xk02pQQza1h_siIfEi0L4T9729LgVTVjnbMrOcsWSNOPQ-4TNp35wp9K-1a6PX-wnp_S1t1Ok2bnxBKcTojlpJegD2IfTiaTyuXKXtBpbjpib3bVgl6kMNMncphexpl4z5eMCPEaz/s1600/DSC09020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeK9xk02pQQza1h_siIfEi0L4T9729LgVTVjnbMrOcsWSNOPQ-4TNp35wp9K-1a6PX-wnp_S1t1Ok2bnxBKcTojlpJegD2IfTiaTyuXKXtBpbjpib3bVgl6kMNMncphexpl4z5eMCPEaz/s1600/DSC09020.JPG" height="200" width="166" /></a></div>
<span style="color: purple;"><a href="http://paliakara.blogspot.in/2014/01/melaka-malaysia-2.html">Continued from previous Post</a></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Authored by: </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">PN Sampath Kumar,</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Cochin Shipyard,</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Kochi</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;">The best way to feel Melaka is to
undertake a river cruise. We reached the river mouth near the sea which is the
point of embarkation. We set go our journey at around 6 PM. It is a ten
kilometres to and fro ride in the same river taking about 1 hour. The buildings
on both sides of the river are facing the river, some of them have been modified
into restaurants with a touch of heritage in it, eying the tourists. The
buildings are well lit and painted artistically, without losing the ethnicity.
It is the reply of the east to the great boat cruises of Venice.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6yvjqVZBdv3PRX67q_xSKL_wN-Qtz8g6og2Q_S6awh8wBBZAIqjrDzpP_7tUwkXL2Nz7AaBS2g0nEWtcVAK9ilZRvExsepkAdSfcO4e_YlgzuW9djYmqGpk2R53I_s33AUn8yuJfxror/s1600/P3300627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6yvjqVZBdv3PRX67q_xSKL_wN-Qtz8g6og2Q_S6awh8wBBZAIqjrDzpP_7tUwkXL2Nz7AaBS2g0nEWtcVAK9ilZRvExsepkAdSfcO4e_YlgzuW9djYmqGpk2R53I_s33AUn8yuJfxror/s1600/P3300627.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm4QVzkIjdb1d0E5CtfHicT9laBmNsQq2OBygalX4kWc1R1YMcEHtyveRxsyv9zYg8jWjKt1KG_pItmlRNvJR08SjFKFbuoAxLIohlpCCoBnMb22tzJrKNpwS9XRT0cv6tYpLa6OILSVM/s1600/P3300668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPm4QVzkIjdb1d0E5CtfHicT9laBmNsQq2OBygalX4kWc1R1YMcEHtyveRxsyv9zYg8jWjKt1KG_pItmlRNvJR08SjFKFbuoAxLIohlpCCoBnMb22tzJrKNpwS9XRT0cv6tYpLa6OILSVM/s1600/P3300668.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;">Melaka attains her full charm in the
evenings and night. Well lit, with shops and restaurants open with fragrance of
spices cooked, in the air, Melaka welcomes her guests till midnight.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHkoTootI38W58WqEwc50QKyvot5aI0Fokba-SlMsOO9uCxTaunTafFhin4JDl-yKKHykPkzi7nunZ4IBn6IBv2Ct0N6ISpb-zBOjT4c8gJC0MX1qglHphJ92YintOzUxVQvxVnyr-8oH/s1600/P3300613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkHkoTootI38W58WqEwc50QKyvot5aI0Fokba-SlMsOO9uCxTaunTafFhin4JDl-yKKHykPkzi7nunZ4IBn6IBv2Ct0N6ISpb-zBOjT4c8gJC0MX1qglHphJ92YintOzUxVQvxVnyr-8oH/s1600/P3300613.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;">
</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">On the other side of the river,
Jonker Walk is a much sought after activity among the tourists. It is the
weekend evening market. Spices, Chinese medicines, Chinese Tea, Malaysian
Coffee, Malay food, Chinese food, handicrafts, furniture, fruits,
flowers….everything. They say that the market place is the reflection of the
culture of the land and one should visit the market atlest if nothing else is
possible. We tried some street food and bought few souvenirs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kahGevaIues620FIcN6qQl3srXnlTnAerj18Qtr0DSv7nhxMmCeASdTUFaWRBYGRHNPVueCl_GJSBMHBXnq9Y6VnBzJL5FqwXxuj99ge2FpLlqtOZ22ciGL9h7ALDU3bla5AcqytBHP7/s1600/P3310679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kahGevaIues620FIcN6qQl3srXnlTnAerj18Qtr0DSv7nhxMmCeASdTUFaWRBYGRHNPVueCl_GJSBMHBXnq9Y6VnBzJL5FqwXxuj99ge2FpLlqtOZ22ciGL9h7ALDU3bla5AcqytBHP7/s1600/P3310679.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMU7yju6tu6BQ7uvs_EmSZyraKhZGQt-HI38KTYJNhjhR-nKEeCPkEO3ivc-DBlfaKLlNsYybBqd71eCWjg-y70SQZcNq-hOF9bMDd-g96Ap_VJBKdvGbtGifGq2Pr1aK8OYd6dF8Ez2Sq/s1600/P3310753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMU7yju6tu6BQ7uvs_EmSZyraKhZGQt-HI38KTYJNhjhR-nKEeCPkEO3ivc-DBlfaKLlNsYybBqd71eCWjg-y70SQZcNq-hOF9bMDd-g96Ap_VJBKdvGbtGifGq2Pr1aK8OYd6dF8Ez2Sq/s1600/P3310753.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQiMmP2WZJWoFOxpCcQH6N1AkWN0qlv-hv4QQ7gGto15pkJeeZLfByitOGLPMiriN4RD11B2sC3JlTq_VzT6bZbuVRri1D6YmSu-qImXv6vP3gS16liGh_XTtrP5PyuaDSv-McKDz3EU9/s1600/P3310819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQiMmP2WZJWoFOxpCcQH6N1AkWN0qlv-hv4QQ7gGto15pkJeeZLfByitOGLPMiriN4RD11B2sC3JlTq_VzT6bZbuVRri1D6YmSu-qImXv6vP3gS16liGh_XTtrP5PyuaDSv-McKDz3EU9/s1600/P3310819.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Melaka in daylight has its charm too,
if you are ready to walk through the pricking heat. Melaka has no specific
season. It rains whenever it felt like. But it did not rain all the three days
when we were there.</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">After a quick breakfast, we were
ready wearing shorts and T-shirts to explore the other side of the river
Melaka.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">This is used to be the commercial hub
those days. The buildings stood as a testimony of that. We were proceeding to
the Harmony Street (what a beautiful name), where the three major places of
worship of yester years stood. The one that we visited first was a Buddhist
temple.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIctv3pa9X7-WNYzwU8zVHJkUBx3_cJuOxL9dtXb-NTwxriSXjnArFXBa_IH7vWR9zTcuPDBhovoahsQNfoar9FCwslPhgOtpY5jOaP2Zr6iNXiONVT-7SLZj1cnigqd1BdsXlz-JCIV9Y/s1600/P3310706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIctv3pa9X7-WNYzwU8zVHJkUBx3_cJuOxL9dtXb-NTwxriSXjnArFXBa_IH7vWR9zTcuPDBhovoahsQNfoar9FCwslPhgOtpY5jOaP2Zr6iNXiONVT-7SLZj1cnigqd1BdsXlz-JCIV9Y/s1600/P3310706.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADVcTCkwispTETTDJ7xN0j08voPhLfydskfVjIn9jJsz2rAJVmtAu4BIauqnKmhyM0oznOxUDqCirbcnKakQz7UKMSE2YFZwQUcdarwdxu4Qps2sFKMyL121t7HsPgS4bek2tGaZfEkhg/s1600/P3310701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADVcTCkwispTETTDJ7xN0j08voPhLfydskfVjIn9jJsz2rAJVmtAu4BIauqnKmhyM0oznOxUDqCirbcnKakQz7UKMSE2YFZwQUcdarwdxu4Qps2sFKMyL121t7HsPgS4bek2tGaZfEkhg/s1600/P3310701.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KWc5zZ3o7J-EM5LnzvDB_2a-Pg0DmyjsEK0mVZhVDoXOU3y2xQUTnYebdWcUg6rXEnszOp1gXqyybGVvOC8Rxhaucsq65LR2F7530FMLjeCxdQ6cxVvPtYN0FxKpXooKplLzj_L0Tti1/s1600/P3310702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KWc5zZ3o7J-EM5LnzvDB_2a-Pg0DmyjsEK0mVZhVDoXOU3y2xQUTnYebdWcUg6rXEnszOp1gXqyybGVvOC8Rxhaucsq65LR2F7530FMLjeCxdQ6cxVvPtYN0FxKpXooKplLzj_L0Tti1/s1600/P3310702.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The “Chen Hoon Teng Temple” is said
to be originally built in 1645 using the Chinese materials, in conformity with
the principles of Feng Shui, by some Kapitan (Kapitans were the community heads
those days in Malaysia). Here we had a different experience contrary to the one
that we had in Indian and Srilankan Buddhist temples, possibly they are
practicing something called Taoism. There were no chanting by the priests.
Disciples bring along incense sticks to be burnt in front of the deities. We
prostrated before the son of the King Suddhodhana, in our own style.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The deity next room was an
interesting one. He liked smoke of Cigarettes not incense sticks. Even liquor
bottles were seen offered before him.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;">The temples are cultural centres too.
Buddhism is no exception. They have opera theatre built in traditional
style.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRA4Fa0yfLZW4oxNZj9XrxQpDUmOcSE5uI2-MFM98Ziq-w3PumCq4d-0j7jPD5BmVG5DCQi3QV4ZKewF-J65b_1bDiEbIuG4dhvn61BrZWF5lPnfFvnpdhW1wb3yrq-oPqqVRYQ3VS3CHX/s1600/P3310709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRA4Fa0yfLZW4oxNZj9XrxQpDUmOcSE5uI2-MFM98Ziq-w3PumCq4d-0j7jPD5BmVG5DCQi3QV4ZKewF-J65b_1bDiEbIuG4dhvn61BrZWF5lPnfFvnpdhW1wb3yrq-oPqqVRYQ3VS3CHX/s1600/P3310709.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;">
</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The next temple we visited was a
Ganesh temple, named Poiyatha Vinayagar Temple. This temple is said to be built
in 1781 with the help of Dutch? and is the oldest Hindu temple in service in the
whole of Malaysia. The exteriors and interiors differed from the traditional
Tamil Style of temple architecture.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Built at the site provided by Kapitan
Thaivanayagam Pillai, this temple is the presiding deity of the Chetties of
Melaka in particular and the tamils in general of Malaysia and other Malaysian
Tamils migrated all over the world. Many of the visitors to the temple are from
Singapore who migrated in the past, in search of greener pastures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3etjyn1g7DAC6P-zgve_2QLkzoUYPdDC6-fLVsEk4bVruOYx0AsgOzhDIvhW7UlVTieN9Vt1g2bTlCPxBoGQ4cpAWl7flv605ioKaDsneIEc8a2u7xcljC2cV-RhbnPPRcVLOmyW8WYC/s1600/P3310757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3etjyn1g7DAC6P-zgve_2QLkzoUYPdDC6-fLVsEk4bVruOYx0AsgOzhDIvhW7UlVTieN9Vt1g2bTlCPxBoGQ4cpAWl7flv605ioKaDsneIEc8a2u7xcljC2cV-RhbnPPRcVLOmyW8WYC/s1600/P3310757.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We spent some time in the serene
atmosphere and left after offering prayers to Ganesha, only after having the
“Prasad” offered by the priests (tasty pongal having ingredients like rice,
grated coconut and ginger in it).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVl_xwpiD1G96AnvmVnSa05hCUBSdzHglBe4iFhr_B6tKKvHfNL9aqOIavtHwJruoxraB2ZpTSiH_yM4BoXSkFT3BBi08m-u5sp-B0d3PkORSG7TbMLua_HeFVrTfnZC0kOl_2QA0_Tl5Y/s1600/P3310710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVl_xwpiD1G96AnvmVnSa05hCUBSdzHglBe4iFhr_B6tKKvHfNL9aqOIavtHwJruoxraB2ZpTSiH_yM4BoXSkFT3BBi08m-u5sp-B0d3PkORSG7TbMLua_HeFVrTfnZC0kOl_2QA0_Tl5Y/s1600/P3310710.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The next monument, located at the end
of the harmony street is Sasjit Kampong Kling. Again built in the Dutch era, and
explained to be in the Sumatran Style, this is again considered to be the oldest
mosques in Malaysia, having lot of interesting art objects inside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUy6LCQq4kiLlKW6D41oPR5QPG-85X5SM-L2rCary0UzBvZDZcMaVdzE3zi5FtDAjeH9UnMHqcpqKIUyrj-hyH2TYJuv8F6ncTjX8phd0xpBpMcqLLkMoV-it6d32ZQ_M_q-9FtljKg9G/s1600/P3310824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUy6LCQq4kiLlKW6D41oPR5QPG-85X5SM-L2rCary0UzBvZDZcMaVdzE3zi5FtDAjeH9UnMHqcpqKIUyrj-hyH2TYJuv8F6ncTjX8phd0xpBpMcqLLkMoV-it6d32ZQ_M_q-9FtljKg9G/s1600/P3310824.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Unluckily for us, this monument was
under some repair and was not open to tourists. We had to satisfy ourselves with
the magnificent views from the outside.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWixsLQahQZ424LEQSrVlVp8iEo1hEhUoSSwN4Jny3bogVLSwN8e7MTuex1RNByp5db-a9OP8YqMoZqAYVyD_Ve-N88RweI2NJj9SoFuoPniI7H1RExLL1YmKtV5W9nBBb0tFQ80T06yX/s1600/P3310817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyWixsLQahQZ424LEQSrVlVp8iEo1hEhUoSSwN4Jny3bogVLSwN8e7MTuex1RNByp5db-a9OP8YqMoZqAYVyD_Ve-N88RweI2NJj9SoFuoPniI7H1RExLL1YmKtV5W9nBBb0tFQ80T06yX/s1600/P3310817.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">There are a number of places of
worship throughout Melaka with contemporary construction. The floating mosque is
one among them. There are other few other churches, many number of Buddhist
temples with different faiths and practices , few other Hindu temples and even a
Gurudwara, that are built at different periods.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We came across a (Shirdi) Saibaba
Temple which is the meeting place for all he Indians in Melaka, who have kindly
offered us lunch on one of the days of our stay in Melaka.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The Dutch are blamed for disturbing
the commercial system prevaiing till the Portuguese ruled. They were not keen to
maintain the Melaka Harbour as a commercial centre. The disturbance caused to
the trading community would have aggravated the situations. They simply
maintained the place as a military point and the fall of Melaka as a commercial
port began.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The other theory is that the British
who took possession of Melaka as part of a treaty, in the process of gaining
importance to their own port city of Penang, demolished the Fortress of Melaka.
They even shifted the Melakan trading population of around 15000 to Penang and
made the Melaka Port City look deserted. Almost at the same time, development of
Singapore by the British also caused the fall of Melaka. </span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">To be continued ....</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-4701884311299863132014-01-22T21:33:00.000+05:302014-01-22T21:33:44.785+05:30Melaka (Malaysia) 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue;">Authored by</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQj4rfdunqoh6AL67KiJk1FrdRI7v5KUG383Ta9mNlhIOkNUfZuMAIlAL95xnu62eo66mwKa5lSwv6ZvCaupuUPVmHBDXWgafRiS6tXCEMwMg0mxOcfbB3peOuTZhiQMsCvrlHPhTXvzp/s1600/Sampat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDQj4rfdunqoh6AL67KiJk1FrdRI7v5KUG383Ta9mNlhIOkNUfZuMAIlAL95xnu62eo66mwKa5lSwv6ZvCaupuUPVmHBDXWgafRiS6tXCEMwMg0mxOcfbB3peOuTZhiQMsCvrlHPhTXvzp/s1600/Sampat.jpg" height="197" width="200" /></a><span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: blue;">P.N. Sampath Kumar</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue;">Cochin Shipyard, Kochi</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Emal: sapath_63@redffmal.com</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We proceeded to Melaka on a two day trip last summer from
Kuala Lumpur in mid March. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melaka could only be reached by road. Its location is about 200 km south West of
Kuala Lumpur and located in between KL and Singapore almost midway, though one
need not touch Melaka to go to Singapore. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The inter city bus stations in Kuala Lumpur are no less than
an international airport in design systems and facilities. One has to report 15 minutes in advance and
wait at the air conditioned boarding area.
Buses could be boarded through assigned gates only upon arrival of the
bus; very professional.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFu-ieZw5KomOxL8fyunqpiFSkiQSOdXLIrOpXnzWP1vepW481fuhnje8dyyotr-P5qkmCntBb1CB4OghCjqXAZqcMWiFrzDmRr4wpqjnD55R1ulJlOsr6o6bx0gE8LEdadbKYig1Pjhou/s1600/DSCN3574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFu-ieZw5KomOxL8fyunqpiFSkiQSOdXLIrOpXnzWP1vepW481fuhnje8dyyotr-P5qkmCntBb1CB4OghCjqXAZqcMWiFrzDmRr4wpqjnD55R1ulJlOsr6o6bx0gE8LEdadbKYig1Pjhou/s1600/DSCN3574.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The journey was comfortable and took about 3 hours. Malaysian landscape is full of oil palms and rubber
trees and occasional patches of forest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We landed at Melaka Central (Malaya language has no script
of their own; they use English alphabets to write) at around 2.00 noon. We hired a taxi, paid 20 Ringgits and safely
landed in the ‘Old Melaka Guest House’, located in the heart of the city. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a quick shower we left on foot, in search of some food
to begin with, with a city map gifted by our friend Mr Chua, the owner of the
Guest House.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSYi-I_Q4RMzbUyJQn-hYlpCojPPkqIE87wEgDqodQ2S2CSuyHCS1DeKjRHcoPy37CQNOUo0g9hD6SWWR2ZPbEyOgcdWGmbq_JKvg_cs-PwEm4EqyEFTRsAqMIJOVb7Nup_jRYUZxXm4P/s1600/DSCN3910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJSYi-I_Q4RMzbUyJQn-hYlpCojPPkqIE87wEgDqodQ2S2CSuyHCS1DeKjRHcoPy37CQNOUo0g9hD6SWWR2ZPbEyOgcdWGmbq_JKvg_cs-PwEm4EqyEFTRsAqMIJOVb7Nup_jRYUZxXm4P/s1600/DSCN3910.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melaka
is famous for its food but it was not the right time to experiment. So we tried the first Indian restaurant we
found on our way. The food was
predominantly non vegetarian which is not to our liking. We got satisfied with the limited options
available.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-gIPkWf2WQFi6EzNEqf8q6UxaK7iapv-WECRDA25fk3NZC_fif8eOICek8iLVwz0AQ3Fs6kmKloSszHfKOJDAg40BiVyhkvHd5rbTGovMsiJRcvfociBmUUHTJsaBEJP-mDL9eNRhNvE/s1600/DSCN3609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-gIPkWf2WQFi6EzNEqf8q6UxaK7iapv-WECRDA25fk3NZC_fif8eOICek8iLVwz0AQ3Fs6kmKloSszHfKOJDAg40BiVyhkvHd5rbTGovMsiJRcvfociBmUUHTJsaBEJP-mDL9eNRhNvE/s1600/DSCN3609.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The streets had shops on both sides varying from grocery
shops, hardware shops, flour mills, restaurants, etc.etc., owned either by
Chinese or Tamils. Most of them proudly
displayed in their shops portraits of their grand / great grand parents. The footpaths of most of the roads were seen
floored with the then famous decorative Chinese ceramic tiles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQw-84jqp4NBPfa809ZxSvpKAzLTlAVu13k7Deucmst9D4zlw711TqR9QuZFgpMCpA025VcsoMqA1PMQD_NkP5n_V9iR1sztQG67PKQu1AwNh7pB58zwOdMr9VVXK68BNW_gwiQESVFzn/s1600/P3300549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQw-84jqp4NBPfa809ZxSvpKAzLTlAVu13k7Deucmst9D4zlw711TqR9QuZFgpMCpA025VcsoMqA1PMQD_NkP5n_V9iR1sztQG67PKQu1AwNh7pB58zwOdMr9VVXK68BNW_gwiQESVFzn/s1600/P3300549.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This town is spread over either sides of the river flowing
east-west, connected by bridge (only one bridge those days) which could be
covered in two days time on foot. (Subsequent
land reclamation of course changed the course of the river and flows southwards
towards the end) Northern side included the sultanate, which was later
converted into a fort by the invaders.
Southern side of the river had the warehouses and trading / business /
public establishments. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walking towards the north we reached the famous bridge which
played a major role during the Portuguese strike. (This bridge was knocked down
by the Sultans to block passage of Portuguese warriors but was rebuilt by the
attackers with the help of trading community, crossed the bridge and surrounded
the palace. The sultan had by then
vacated the palace and fled to Johor on the back of his elephant)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ99VjaiEXhqX9Mk_KhedpfpLI1uG2IzZ6YbES0UZqhfndqZAZeHQL7weDpNYTpapv1c6bsjGZVB9DZaMrdCwpJ6iF5zmA3cqTQlRpyVzT-a1c-yrK9-Edsrn6FY-8jyBXwXCryuqmijwH/s1600/DSCN3679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ99VjaiEXhqX9Mk_KhedpfpLI1uG2IzZ6YbES0UZqhfndqZAZeHQL7weDpNYTpapv1c6bsjGZVB9DZaMrdCwpJ6iF5zmA3cqTQlRpyVzT-a1c-yrK9-Edsrn6FY-8jyBXwXCryuqmijwH/s1600/DSCN3679.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We decided not to cross the bridge and turned to our left
and walked through the banks of the river, guided by our son, who was holding
the city map. We ventured into the first
monument sighted, a church. Oh, this is
the on seen in the Melakan tourism literature. My son exclaimed. This (“<st1:placename w:st="on">Christ</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype>”) built by the Dutch, is said to
be the oldest functioning protestant church in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region>. Originally built by the Dutch in 1753, and
subsequently taken over by the British and consecrated by the Archbishop from
Calcutta. This Church, has in its front a beautiful fountain built
commemorating the visit of British Queen in the early 20<sup>th</sup> Century.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walking further up, following other tourists, we arrived at the
hill top from where the sea and the surroundings are visible. Here stands the historic <st1:city w:st="on">St Paul</st1:city>’s church, built by Portuguese in 1521. When the Dutch took over, they demolished
it and created their own place of worship for some time. When the British came subsequently, they used
this monument as their gunnery and a strategic vantage point.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjwMHn3D2Ew_WRIzzSzz_CDmiUY9um2q_Xa5rwnGNmIWu8paAHa8N-EMLKEHoDt2_WhlsLRS7SQf4KfMgHGRQ8csQRtthOWpsv75kAAyxKHz5LS3KNNI3YoKrH75Y1RvJpuccP69oRXQ4/s1600/DSCN3722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAjwMHn3D2Ew_WRIzzSzz_CDmiUY9um2q_Xa5rwnGNmIWu8paAHa8N-EMLKEHoDt2_WhlsLRS7SQf4KfMgHGRQ8csQRtthOWpsv75kAAyxKHz5LS3KNNI3YoKrH75Y1RvJpuccP69oRXQ4/s1600/DSCN3722.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoF8OmTzHnlhv9dqfZjQ2FKWUl5yJTuhQkMCBYWRu8wbr4nKsrwgl8Lx8BkU1tRvnRbcwFuKRVddht7CmLbcTR5acCDszr9qlquaHASS_vBwytxQXKKOlu2vjIo3J7lxtxJYRbsryvTaRZ/s1600/P3300577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoF8OmTzHnlhv9dqfZjQ2FKWUl5yJTuhQkMCBYWRu8wbr4nKsrwgl8Lx8BkU1tRvnRbcwFuKRVddht7CmLbcTR5acCDszr9qlquaHASS_vBwytxQXKKOlu2vjIo3J7lxtxJYRbsryvTaRZ/s1600/P3300577.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy205b8aGIQDO8LOQLGVGa0mJPt2opD_Ioyj83aSp5iqsbYjKxxgYrB5qoJ3eHDrfyu_hyc0roQpPrFdh_f3B5AtzY1xKLAdpCyCxnXIiIEtJdjocku1qaNHwCOCLa4sIsILRtOAlkJFuN/s1600/P3300584.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy205b8aGIQDO8LOQLGVGa0mJPt2opD_Ioyj83aSp5iqsbYjKxxgYrB5qoJ3eHDrfyu_hyc0roQpPrFdh_f3B5AtzY1xKLAdpCyCxnXIiIEtJdjocku1qaNHwCOCLa4sIsILRtOAlkJFuN/s1600/P3300584.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rk-KdBxYQHq8pfKcApDcGOp1Zb9fkC_L1b_zSMcR5rv_Fx0fMeMUJA-cpu2kPwGsUvUKHrQilQkOlAL4Xao_NfmQqge2ymmTl5gW7BQhmr_Lyj0xeb3-TVKVaOfOeFDiP8Xr6SFVCSDj/s1600/DSCN3753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5rk-KdBxYQHq8pfKcApDcGOp1Zb9fkC_L1b_zSMcR5rv_Fx0fMeMUJA-cpu2kPwGsUvUKHrQilQkOlAL4Xao_NfmQqge2ymmTl5gW7BQhmr_Lyj0xeb3-TVKVaOfOeFDiP8Xr6SFVCSDj/s1600/DSCN3753.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The church seems to have had a prayer hall, an altar, etc.
but the major visible proofs of its past history are the graves. Here is the European priest St Francis Xavier lived for a long period and converted
few thousand locals to Christianity. He
died, on his journey to </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" w:st="on">China</st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
and was cremated in some island from where his body was brought back to Melaka
and later to </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" w:st="on">India</st1:country-region><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. The five hundred year old dead body is now preserved
and kept on display in the Church at Panaji, Goa.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggW1bBWmrKTvTUB21TgV4_jgN0rFzwvEY1elXGNaECq3_3t1NAejsVusKGGwoXO0FwGMIqUn-1rtWk0gHA332K-bkctm6aMkxke5jOYvwk7bN3iDMWmEiwkZE-j1apXcmacH7laF1nzqoo/s1600/P3300592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggW1bBWmrKTvTUB21TgV4_jgN0rFzwvEY1elXGNaECq3_3t1NAejsVusKGGwoXO0FwGMIqUn-1rtWk0gHA332K-bkctm6aMkxke5jOYvwk7bN3iDMWmEiwkZE-j1apXcmacH7laF1nzqoo/s1600/P3300592.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6r4h7nzWPKC1QfhVGnGQlbwVyiUNY9eWoURogW3SjzXV2Yq1gi9FhMrcbrdezuv-AhTusEH63r01anmHvX_fgCs6sR4nVXIlGKv2U_aUp4X83gO6DNpe73G8m6KeSFpD1SUnhE-0Dqkb/s1600/DSCN3759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE6r4h7nzWPKC1QfhVGnGQlbwVyiUNY9eWoURogW3SjzXV2Yq1gi9FhMrcbrdezuv-AhTusEH63r01anmHvX_fgCs6sR4nVXIlGKv2U_aUp4X83gO6DNpe73G8m6KeSFpD1SUnhE-0Dqkb/s1600/DSCN3759.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Portuguese constructed a huge Fort, after demolishing
the Sultan’s palace, around the Malaka hill, facing the river. One of the monuments that withstood the test
of time is ‘AFAMOSA’ (meaning the famous), the gate of the fortress, leading to
the hill top, located on the foothills of the <st1:city w:st="on">St Paul</st1:city>’s Church. This claims to be one of the oldest surviving
European constructions in <st1:place w:st="on">Asia</st1:place>.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkIPTy0r5CnkY0InZzT-GVrz9ZTRpSYP_2kdjqW1jUW6bomKStK7_ZHSqbeFonkfqERnCCaby4py6-edFP4RgB0y9l-XkpvhUieQ4ikngUP8EDQk3_2gfI5pnvRqnm8hN6NetWmXCgrde/s1600/P3300539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkIPTy0r5CnkY0InZzT-GVrz9ZTRpSYP_2kdjqW1jUW6bomKStK7_ZHSqbeFonkfqERnCCaby4py6-edFP4RgB0y9l-XkpvhUieQ4ikngUP8EDQk3_2gfI5pnvRqnm8hN6NetWmXCgrde/s1600/P3300539.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Excavations around Melaka are still on. In some places, even the excavation sites
are showcased with creative lighting and adequate safety measures where wall
constructions of different period are identified. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Traditionally, Malaka has a unique architectural
method. Wood is used abundantly to
construct buildings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYT68Ax38xNMGCSwoziq32RW8_I3COigHnBWiMei4k1fR8z759qgorKr_LdoAKeayxq7AnMEsOYMnCFHZxsq7esMTkQwYE3A2hiWJylXE0WOYiOvHEj-68AXD7j_Jpa8mjLE0ZuLB7KJnM/s1600/DSCN0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYT68Ax38xNMGCSwoziq32RW8_I3COigHnBWiMei4k1fR8z759qgorKr_LdoAKeayxq7AnMEsOYMnCFHZxsq7esMTkQwYE3A2hiWJylXE0WOYiOvHEj-68AXD7j_Jpa8mjLE0ZuLB7KJnM/s1600/DSCN0006.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Royal Palace of Parameswara and his successors is
reproduced in its full size to the left of Afamosa. It would have been a huge challenge before
the archaeological architects. Made of
wood in traditional style, it is claimed that the palace has been assembled
without using a single Nail. The mere sight of it from a distance itself is
mind-boggling. The palace acting as a museum is open to
public, wherein the whole history of Melaka is displayed with great imagination
and creativity. The landscape
surrounding the palace is recreated to suit the period. Interestingly the forbidden gardens meant for
the queens are reproduced (though not known exactly what type of plants and trees
were grown), with rare species trees and plants.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwawWJwhci4MLDQBQEKxOYPZLDyLa_evZsh0DFn4Fx25gDizX3xQ6JZWq954os5HIVxY4Ri5kb669GbKIbxTHIduuBIE2DD8rb260b3WMk9WxcxpFN6tzS_tdf6wE0ItRrS-iHPMMDvlcO/s1600/P4010937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwawWJwhci4MLDQBQEKxOYPZLDyLa_evZsh0DFn4Fx25gDizX3xQ6JZWq954os5HIVxY4Ri5kb669GbKIbxTHIduuBIE2DD8rb260b3WMk9WxcxpFN6tzS_tdf6wE0ItRrS-iHPMMDvlcO/s1600/P4010937.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Walking towards the river, a giant wheel was seen at a
distance on the bank of the river. We
went closer. It was a wooden water
wheel, reproduced and erected, based on the information available. This system was employed to keep the water at
navigable level by drawing sea water to the river.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1jH5OhSBoM6QVnqOdqdJWZl_razeFAH6nvMj6tRcu3xjXK5uqPr3UTGXW8pneu42RxV4ZMJl0q0n1WAI8aBs3DDxoBPRgHvYEwGQmRqLMfr5HakPR76uyfuPX2c5HjJHJQDRa5NAZSMU/s1600/P4010943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1jH5OhSBoM6QVnqOdqdJWZl_razeFAH6nvMj6tRcu3xjXK5uqPr3UTGXW8pneu42RxV4ZMJl0q0n1WAI8aBs3DDxoBPRgHvYEwGQmRqLMfr5HakPR76uyfuPX2c5HjJHJQDRa5NAZSMU/s1600/P4010943.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks to the innovative work of the archaeological
engineers to reproduce such structures.
Another such structure is the replica of a famous Portuguese ship which
sank in the coast of </span><st1:place style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;" w:st="on">Melaka</st1:place><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">. This is now a maritime museum covering
exhibits of various periods.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">To be continued.....</span></div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-91515949331786534202013-11-24T09:28:00.000+05:302013-11-24T09:28:31.364+05:30Melaka (Malaysia) 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Authored by </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeVV5mYxHGI28LeeT5pMwXxP6XA3OZw1aK3sB0-KlDOZ6ak7zLEwtnNoROgCimFIFnfr1kC0f_j2c8i_h8BtogzRw-IPohTS-BRVW2sxNajvpDkLFVgNaUpHLiXcIQpKKSh28OxwXjZ5e/s1600/Sampat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUeVV5mYxHGI28LeeT5pMwXxP6XA3OZw1aK3sB0-KlDOZ6ak7zLEwtnNoROgCimFIFnfr1kC0f_j2c8i_h8BtogzRw-IPohTS-BRVW2sxNajvpDkLFVgNaUpHLiXcIQpKKSh28OxwXjZ5e/s200/Sampat.jpg" height="197" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PN Sampath Kumar</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cochin Shiptard, Kochi</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Port city of Melaka was ruled by one Parameswara, a Hindu
King, who is said to have embraced Islam and established the Melaka
Sultanate. His successors were defeated
by Portuguese led by “Alfonso de Albuquerque” of <st1:place w:st="on">Goa</st1:place>. The Dutch followed, them and then British and
later the nationalist movement culminating in independence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEWX2ePE8YVR0sgfCsxyQgUDG-bMLKHqJZVT2fuo8JHnOT7G0OjAxYaiCkglhlnb_YKecYP5ynveuUU4sefeLzd_T3LT2NirFobl69S14AXtNw8KxNtgDMrw3uu3GBALFLN_wlcgFV9sa/s1600/melaka_map01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEWX2ePE8YVR0sgfCsxyQgUDG-bMLKHqJZVT2fuo8JHnOT7G0OjAxYaiCkglhlnb_YKecYP5ynveuUU4sefeLzd_T3LT2NirFobl69S14AXtNw8KxNtgDMrw3uu3GBALFLN_wlcgFV9sa/s320/melaka_map01.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The chronology of events recorded in the annals of history of
most of the port cities in the east, as made known to us by the Westerners are
very similar. And this
commonness they shared with Cochin, my current home town, </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">attracted me to such heritage cities in the
east. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The picture portrayed in my mind about <st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region> has a
lot to do with the readings in my younger days.
Cities of <st1:place w:st="on">Penang</st1:place>
and Melaka had already been there in my childhood mind and I wanted to visit
these places as a wanderer when I grew up. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Places like Perek, are even more historically important as
far as Indian connections are concerned. The “Chola” kings have either conquered or had treaties with most of the states throughout the east. Interestingly there is mention of one ‘Gangai
Nagara’ that existed in the Perek State of Northern Malaysia. It is possible that King Rajendra Chola had
been honoured with the title of ‘Gangai Konda Chola’ after his conquering Gangai Nagara a very rich kingdom in Malaysia, which was under the rule of the
Sri Vijayan Dynasty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Due to time constraint, when I had to choose one among the
three, I opted “Melaka” for its proximity to Singapore.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8TmG68INQYrjfCwkeXHRY5QjIDDKcCFhnzZ38EfMI2AMsQGWhGvsh6o3jn4ENBWdm5Ql_r0cquYYGgwJOJyHvG2wA3TV4Su_w1l8sAzEsYm7vkzPfQxC-gwlBpmIYmIounjXyhffIRGx/s1600/malecca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8TmG68INQYrjfCwkeXHRY5QjIDDKcCFhnzZ38EfMI2AMsQGWhGvsh6o3jn4ENBWdm5Ql_r0cquYYGgwJOJyHvG2wA3TV4Su_w1l8sAzEsYm7vkzPfQxC-gwlBpmIYmIounjXyhffIRGx/s1600/malecca.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Legend is that after he was made to flee from Singapura, his
earlier base, Parameswara a Sri Vijayan King, landed on the banks of the small
river mouth (Bertam River) sometime in the year 1405. While resting, he witnessed the interesting
scene of his hunter dogs being chased by a mouse deer, forcing them towards the
river. He considered this to be a good
omen and decided to establish a port City in Melaka. To deal with the initial opposition raised by
Ayuthaya, the Thai kingdom, he approached the Chinese kings for support and
took the local pirates (Orang Lauts) along.
For centuries, Melaca was a strategic trade point. The sailors had to rely on the trade winds
before setting sail to the next point and had ample time to trade and
accumulate goods till the winds changed direction. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hundreds of languages were spoken in that city. Hundreds of ships called on the port each
month. Traders from the west, Arabia,
Java, South India, Gujarat, <st1:city w:st="on">Bengal</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on">Thailand</st1:country-region> traded their commodities
like spices, sandalwood, camphor, tin, etc…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp0tjxGtKKXhXos8TMd18GHd9jLV2_2swFwRMCfAKY7oh2l-kDa6gIlPAWzyuHTT6PrjGSAIZYJH9xwKc1gqO895JHCSLDpBdXgUsg22NlsUFDPG8zDEPPX54-oMIb8SZo2bEyRZB4L1_/s1600/P3300609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp0tjxGtKKXhXos8TMd18GHd9jLV2_2swFwRMCfAKY7oh2l-kDa6gIlPAWzyuHTT6PrjGSAIZYJH9xwKc1gqO895JHCSLDpBdXgUsg22NlsUFDPG8zDEPPX54-oMIb8SZo2bEyRZB4L1_/s400/P3300609.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As this fetched good revenue, the rulers employed
professional services of Wharf masters, repairers, hydrology experts, etc,
who maintained the river navigable and provided security. The strong trading community provided
sufficient warehousing, transport and banking facilities. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But all these are history book stuff. We wanted to witness and feel it. I had
slight fear of getting disappointed as this place never figured in any so
called “conducted tour operator’s” programs promoted in <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>. Initial surfing in the internet also did not
suggest much more than this. However, it turnedf out to be something to cherish. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To be continued....</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-21950102202034323982013-08-26T19:38:00.000+05:302013-10-05T11:25:30.699+05:30Look alikes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Friends may help in identifying them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRCJcw09EDsjj64p1qLaEbdYBJZpzT_ylSVPVNWr5ajE1I4rYLTv1nwZ5axG4QPLVdcKT-XnRi6iFXffIjAzxOuRjr0jQc1yGmdvFOqGU2PPp8bZWG9TI2qJZbJkQV195A9idYPOaBomR/s1600/1016653_672024412814264_1404273487_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRCJcw09EDsjj64p1qLaEbdYBJZpzT_ylSVPVNWr5ajE1I4rYLTv1nwZ5axG4QPLVdcKT-XnRi6iFXffIjAzxOuRjr0jQc1yGmdvFOqGU2PPp8bZWG9TI2qJZbJkQV195A9idYPOaBomR/s400/1016653_672024412814264_1404273487_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoacv4kDrFUS5wDCnKdPJcqeYJ78g8a89AtLapOaXFsuHlSvB1r9yVTTZyePuOj6YEsa7ra6ew-ex-7afW79Sr4URg9IqEzBJ4uNEwRt6PPQUpJNFw5j6hsyeZtQWLw9VuwRBWb6szToD6/s1600/IMG_4468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoacv4kDrFUS5wDCnKdPJcqeYJ78g8a89AtLapOaXFsuHlSvB1r9yVTTZyePuOj6YEsa7ra6ew-ex-7afW79Sr4URg9IqEzBJ4uNEwRt6PPQUpJNFw5j6hsyeZtQWLw9VuwRBWb6szToD6/s400/IMG_4468.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnCuVNchIFyXhP94Og00bjTcvM0WQCiOj0w9uUlz7ma9Qj4lY11vY16eWNVSTZa8Vw_KIhOj7zSJNBOTn60G8Vy2L9PH_-ejde406kHhHDcascgSr_V7YIt0kKsax0BYFJEjcc9W9E5F0/s1600/IMG_4493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnCuVNchIFyXhP94Og00bjTcvM0WQCiOj0w9uUlz7ma9Qj4lY11vY16eWNVSTZa8Vw_KIhOj7zSJNBOTn60G8Vy2L9PH_-ejde406kHhHDcascgSr_V7YIt0kKsax0BYFJEjcc9W9E5F0/s400/IMG_4493.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM96CAHkk_QDwgB21ncbhU6B5GiMOkYvy6L1EJ7YXRhGWXLc41iV0QrznvfvaD04_-Gb-99CzgpVqO4SalkmfbN9WHx29O2O96ZPX0njqD268Ws0CZT_VIwhecIM4OrIrngP7cGlG825Dv/s1600/IMG_4576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM96CAHkk_QDwgB21ncbhU6B5GiMOkYvy6L1EJ7YXRhGWXLc41iV0QrznvfvaD04_-Gb-99CzgpVqO4SalkmfbN9WHx29O2O96ZPX0njqD268Ws0CZT_VIwhecIM4OrIrngP7cGlG825Dv/s400/IMG_4576.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wYk8VOUdWvNWxOf560NCDZ-qiL2sV4WoRPnW_hMsptb39cQPH4CTOmah5en6jmlL9Syi0FYvVJG7bRd5DdKHhCtO3YNiOdalye0L_AV7a9DQWpvpAcDOZTpZGWLLIB3htPDc3cHVJmsq/s1600/IMG_4579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_wYk8VOUdWvNWxOf560NCDZ-qiL2sV4WoRPnW_hMsptb39cQPH4CTOmah5en6jmlL9Syi0FYvVJG7bRd5DdKHhCtO3YNiOdalye0L_AV7a9DQWpvpAcDOZTpZGWLLIB3htPDc3cHVJmsq/s400/IMG_4579.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPn0ewq6EPwemWGu66iRsrZ1qBZJMzplWx0ctRNG_6ylZOCBI_d6-wnbT12UcuqrQRbJnAsDJH4snN5iRMwCtCEto-_7TT_FMLdmjtV85HotYHOTEV5SfZT5krxYDLYOsYnh1OX_ki-_eD/s1600/IMG_4635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPn0ewq6EPwemWGu66iRsrZ1qBZJMzplWx0ctRNG_6ylZOCBI_d6-wnbT12UcuqrQRbJnAsDJH4snN5iRMwCtCEto-_7TT_FMLdmjtV85HotYHOTEV5SfZT5krxYDLYOsYnh1OX_ki-_eD/s400/IMG_4635.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuCwmY1Cy7grq5lCo_q3G6iaF1jsS7HXO_Tzmv-6RIznOKFJieDhn_q7pok9xu8FhdgIedJHUpTxlG4UerIVdiKyA8JW4SyX6jLQdeqw85xKYbzJZRsW2p0KpkviXw9hQWugE5_DT30CI/s1600/Violet+Trumpet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuCwmY1Cy7grq5lCo_q3G6iaF1jsS7HXO_Tzmv-6RIznOKFJieDhn_q7pok9xu8FhdgIedJHUpTxlG4UerIVdiKyA8JW4SyX6jLQdeqw85xKYbzJZRsW2p0KpkviXw9hQWugE5_DT30CI/s400/Violet+Trumpet.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN2RlDteSTMLogVAj-KNOg23qDjim5NrVJiX6hfmMQnum8Uj0xlG9k_9WMWT2ktkMcG0QokHck8YdObx7FbvReAYqKUXSMYSkVA7Zr_vlt7V4n1gS4lDu5S9wZLqnfbqDXyi5V6Kev_AS/s1600/Creeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXN2RlDteSTMLogVAj-KNOg23qDjim5NrVJiX6hfmMQnum8Uj0xlG9k_9WMWT2ktkMcG0QokHck8YdObx7FbvReAYqKUXSMYSkVA7Zr_vlt7V4n1gS4lDu5S9wZLqnfbqDXyi5V6Kev_AS/s400/Creeper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-31199749398613257442013-08-07T12:59:00.001+05:302013-08-07T12:59:24.364+05:30Elephants returning home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At Thrissur (Kerala - India) the famous Vadakunathan temple arranges an annual feast for the temple Elephants. This year it was held somewhere on the 17th July. Although we could not witness the event as such but we were fortunate to be there to see the guests off.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspGVdc348lsJpQHRLO-KV6QYvkoet1R9tCHRUEu8Z9Yt84KjCR-T1i32d8Z1y3ZOQKQ2uE-33uEgwa7CM3FkH0TNogmBd4dNPgiOm9V6nGVAN16DvIMnWfzfkPLIbt9KdhPjqPEj_n4qu/s1600/IMG_4502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspGVdc348lsJpQHRLO-KV6QYvkoet1R9tCHRUEu8Z9Yt84KjCR-T1i32d8Z1y3ZOQKQ2uE-33uEgwa7CM3FkH0TNogmBd4dNPgiOm9V6nGVAN16DvIMnWfzfkPLIbt9KdhPjqPEj_n4qu/s400/IMG_4502.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iEqQuiErNVZ8IF08j2EZA9kdGDOKzZJf1RNXl3xVkPuopkPLQKC7Mm_Giw6tKVztmKYCZ27IOZE6IUobHmA9UgF6qjLMDZDyaHxLTjM5ZCY4omYr5UPp6_UZQzF4v5_wKcpalx66A39Q/s1600/IMG_4507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iEqQuiErNVZ8IF08j2EZA9kdGDOKzZJf1RNXl3xVkPuopkPLQKC7Mm_Giw6tKVztmKYCZ27IOZE6IUobHmA9UgF6qjLMDZDyaHxLTjM5ZCY4omYr5UPp6_UZQzF4v5_wKcpalx66A39Q/s400/IMG_4507.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjMr5Q7OH2q6dZwMGwGTp7sBKrxEpaA037CH2XWRtUQiluXhCW_hnYPfAQJIpcaMAx5_pFVOQjOtzLZMS6vZiS5lfStwhK0iZgQNMgCpBm1sJJkDpPBj2iaIrbRG5IXaX6xOE0GdQF_tK/s1600/IMG_4508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjMr5Q7OH2q6dZwMGwGTp7sBKrxEpaA037CH2XWRtUQiluXhCW_hnYPfAQJIpcaMAx5_pFVOQjOtzLZMS6vZiS5lfStwhK0iZgQNMgCpBm1sJJkDpPBj2iaIrbRG5IXaX6xOE0GdQF_tK/s400/IMG_4508.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjrMXQKGHqwBNNfe7L2amxJze9a1_mT7AI6-CV_nLbCOY5ZLVhhhY5E8cNFJPZAtnF85JdOUXZPolFMIrooNAuwutBU5MqPlpi_smab4Q97TdVZu9AMr_Xt5qk2EvZ0X7shxahrzVSdR8/s1600/IMG_4509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjrMXQKGHqwBNNfe7L2amxJze9a1_mT7AI6-CV_nLbCOY5ZLVhhhY5E8cNFJPZAtnF85JdOUXZPolFMIrooNAuwutBU5MqPlpi_smab4Q97TdVZu9AMr_Xt5qk2EvZ0X7shxahrzVSdR8/s400/IMG_4509.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PZXAE1Ogk3RVoDX_qeHJyCpUXkxb4zqpo1tk4XeCdgUASLlux3COLnmXPMOHE7K_KgLrQ4uHZxl-OCykh0R4mYDNYR8qUEZfSxR_omFPSWJAndX0J0uRJIrtFx35xBdU0Iq71ipz3PJ1/s1600/IMG_4510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PZXAE1Ogk3RVoDX_qeHJyCpUXkxb4zqpo1tk4XeCdgUASLlux3COLnmXPMOHE7K_KgLrQ4uHZxl-OCykh0R4mYDNYR8qUEZfSxR_omFPSWJAndX0J0uRJIrtFx35xBdU0Iq71ipz3PJ1/s400/IMG_4510.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS02y8_YERauH0Kqn7rrPO1n2iRyPjRXrid0nRk-29GP544VqvCZCu4uHd5s6w7Ej8s1I9lRazKTCoutkgZCMdAZx21vW-SoQdirsXhm62p2zj_WGEEgY1nwyfTA7hoMBvezFJK59HXNNU/s1600/IMG_4511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS02y8_YERauH0Kqn7rrPO1n2iRyPjRXrid0nRk-29GP544VqvCZCu4uHd5s6w7Ej8s1I9lRazKTCoutkgZCMdAZx21vW-SoQdirsXhm62p2zj_WGEEgY1nwyfTA7hoMBvezFJK59HXNNU/s400/IMG_4511.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvsoxv2hMEsNbQnkGNYxIU15lYOVHCQK2Jpmql9SyuqJixwfykW6mCSZgSXsySUmdSwLvqdKg5zR_dQ0c5x0maCclqAwugHqm-F_QKsb2rx6EgZpfXgkUo1GQHjM-k6zHQZqRhZliOMZj/s1600/IMG_4512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvsoxv2hMEsNbQnkGNYxIU15lYOVHCQK2Jpmql9SyuqJixwfykW6mCSZgSXsySUmdSwLvqdKg5zR_dQ0c5x0maCclqAwugHqm-F_QKsb2rx6EgZpfXgkUo1GQHjM-k6zHQZqRhZliOMZj/s400/IMG_4512.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally ready to start the return journey.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-79315220063908421792013-07-10T17:51:00.000+05:302013-07-16T11:32:04.984+05:30Emotions<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfDPH9e4D3zg5Nz6bTmTm3FAEXVrFHf9WKExTqLNOPWsmwW5EABOAHaDKFiFb063zvU-Y8ARFyCYZyYuTThD_5eAN5U4rz0e3n22cXXDSNPGbw0fUOhlY678POCDewpR9JSYEeRlmH4yr/s1600/IMG_4489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfDPH9e4D3zg5Nz6bTmTm3FAEXVrFHf9WKExTqLNOPWsmwW5EABOAHaDKFiFb063zvU-Y8ARFyCYZyYuTThD_5eAN5U4rz0e3n22cXXDSNPGbw0fUOhlY678POCDewpR9JSYEeRlmH4yr/s400/IMG_4489.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A Cat frequenting our home became pregnant. It was searching for a suitable hideout for confinement. Day before yesterday it was missing and my mother predicted that it could have made it some where. In the evening itself we could hear the baby cries. All of us at home were curious to locate them and finally my niece who is here on a similar mission found two little ones screaming. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjs_aSTjNgXSU8e14ljyxDZ3rHj4rB77thoYkNF3QKq3NG-TnzGif5WbKlOPbXOG2B3ybqcKlpfHpbRthXVWYddsoF86v7ytdWdu49X6Kbf6-FucCruL74ftHQqzLuuunXDch28I62f-uC/s1600/IMG_4412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjs_aSTjNgXSU8e14ljyxDZ3rHj4rB77thoYkNF3QKq3NG-TnzGif5WbKlOPbXOG2B3ybqcKlpfHpbRthXVWYddsoF86v7ytdWdu49X6Kbf6-FucCruL74ftHQqzLuuunXDch28I62f-uC/s400/IMG_4412.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Next day when the mom came to visit the kid seems to have complained about our intrusions.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tHdeerukXgBl62fAGMdtXHEBpzxBjErSUjzd2govT2Ii3NU4hyphenhyphenHJRVuZBB0axJJlXraGmxmau45SWdzQ4RJDA0qFTZboWXaQMmifmGflxJj3xrhyjrBlKeYmOJ9wTl0cfIyoPxkE6XiF/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tHdeerukXgBl62fAGMdtXHEBpzxBjErSUjzd2govT2Ii3NU4hyphenhyphenHJRVuZBB0axJJlXraGmxmau45SWdzQ4RJDA0qFTZboWXaQMmifmGflxJj3xrhyjrBlKeYmOJ9wTl0cfIyoPxkE6XiF/s400/1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcd7rlrFTEBMDTMi1RBXIp38l1Qt7v7Lta7n6_RjIb10i8wEtt881Aw3KBKlALAM5Quc5mief8q4DZ7DJQJqw2yAIsa4tbDkdpNicfgJd5moDvpjKUYDL90nS-UNc846SljJnyTSCnn7F/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcd7rlrFTEBMDTMi1RBXIp38l1Qt7v7Lta7n6_RjIb10i8wEtt881Aw3KBKlALAM5Quc5mief8q4DZ7DJQJqw2yAIsa4tbDkdpNicfgJd5moDvpjKUYDL90nS-UNc846SljJnyTSCnn7F/s400/2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After carefully listening she would have consoled </span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and fed them</span>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOg22KY83ASdhKSPfd4Yqc8GCFp52pdLaSS0HrnN0niLtDPLyEn5REmkm93ilAupdfUwOweddgIauMOoTnjl53EvPoOTlcRFw4hBZXuG_2tV1ux11uQtj7f12-ZENm-3io24YsZPfu4Ijb/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOg22KY83ASdhKSPfd4Yqc8GCFp52pdLaSS0HrnN0niLtDPLyEn5REmkm93ilAupdfUwOweddgIauMOoTnjl53EvPoOTlcRFw4hBZXuG_2tV1ux11uQtj7f12-ZENm-3io24YsZPfu4Ijb/s400/3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A little annoyed for being photographed</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUEwV8GmL3f6DwdY-PjtdsKCMI6ZBO1W9x8gNdB0_gPa3cMu5jtp9xI3UlL9H-37921xYl46uhuiBcsWHcvqK89qU67mINdu3qMsevOmZ3_8HTpsS2g-Ru7gZVUSOqZ5W4V2K85tMjM0_/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUEwV8GmL3f6DwdY-PjtdsKCMI6ZBO1W9x8gNdB0_gPa3cMu5jtp9xI3UlL9H-37921xYl46uhuiBcsWHcvqK89qU67mINdu3qMsevOmZ3_8HTpsS2g-Ru7gZVUSOqZ5W4V2K85tMjM0_/s400/4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And this one is perhaps waiting for an opportunity to make a meal of the babies!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nlaWF7fxrO3l9RkbkUP8y8vTp3aypRbgJXl73uS3PRBSQUrdnIin6z3WK9xvC6M64rr-aqXoFPZGPC1Yi8rgkYZnpYNK9P67zJ4SKklUPOu_b4OiBAkVmwQNYEBUdCmVP0Zy-uWLhJWq/s1600/DSC08672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nlaWF7fxrO3l9RkbkUP8y8vTp3aypRbgJXl73uS3PRBSQUrdnIin6z3WK9xvC6M64rr-aqXoFPZGPC1Yi8rgkYZnpYNK9P67zJ4SKklUPOu_b4OiBAkVmwQNYEBUdCmVP0Zy-uWLhJWq/s400/DSC08672.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-76774989158598085422013-06-09T12:41:00.000+05:302013-06-12T21:35:11.088+05:30Moods<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhu1p4t_ueBpvZoRclDNGb7uye1AA-0z0uiRIkWF1J65im-nWWG8puggQUyfSN-67OjG3aRIGBdg7P25LoGZewzv9ZiWyPPahrCMHLw06qlcD9okYAx6zCUscCBoSiO5ATM0dSS_YoVzx/s1600/16062012167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhu1p4t_ueBpvZoRclDNGb7uye1AA-0z0uiRIkWF1J65im-nWWG8puggQUyfSN-67OjG3aRIGBdg7P25LoGZewzv9ZiWyPPahrCMHLw06qlcD9okYAx6zCUscCBoSiO5ATM0dSS_YoVzx/s400/16062012167.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifC1bZIAt0ABsFBhdhOFgpHgGsW70bgYRCJvGYayYpM9wTCXxAZHd24vxqVX2OBnm1WL2IKhSw2vct8KmPkP86aOVPzio5m5TB8SC2uOjqaiJING6QegSAUiYe-DW6SQ3dh6l0TvnWCwTf/s1600/16062012168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifC1bZIAt0ABsFBhdhOFgpHgGsW70bgYRCJvGYayYpM9wTCXxAZHd24vxqVX2OBnm1WL2IKhSw2vct8KmPkP86aOVPzio5m5TB8SC2uOjqaiJING6QegSAUiYe-DW6SQ3dh6l0TvnWCwTf/s400/16062012168.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cfOLn6kyFazusiqi6cEhyphenhyphenjUqYPYinXo1WnlhxrIBlM8Nu1T3Rj501EaM6Muy0U_USXDkP_DKdGX3W5IGxJOqQxBL-78B82Lvopb19KHmafJJA3cC4SmnoIRbIWw_hAtrKzTz2c8lEqQ9/s1600/16062012169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cfOLn6kyFazusiqi6cEhyphenhyphenjUqYPYinXo1WnlhxrIBlM8Nu1T3Rj501EaM6Muy0U_USXDkP_DKdGX3W5IGxJOqQxBL-78B82Lvopb19KHmafJJA3cC4SmnoIRbIWw_hAtrKzTz2c8lEqQ9/s400/16062012169.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADKxuJpDL9qP4g6uMwVP9dmFvg4EMscMpKyGMICP8fQpjFQiPnZSU20y90rc8Jifkdo4YbSv0kVEvXrie8lxeKVC0tCgW5zSzbZhTedH0pQUgVkWTM8HZBh0-pJr3JznqNhYSX_eDVP_X/s1600/16062012174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADKxuJpDL9qP4g6uMwVP9dmFvg4EMscMpKyGMICP8fQpjFQiPnZSU20y90rc8Jifkdo4YbSv0kVEvXrie8lxeKVC0tCgW5zSzbZhTedH0pQUgVkWTM8HZBh0-pJr3JznqNhYSX_eDVP_X/s400/16062012174.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONWR5rI2NDCuwzlYgpjMtkQNxSh3sv8krb3_fSSfqcQafFbBMj83Q_wGBwyAAwOxt2LtWNHAtZb4OP-dNnFZQ-_-P4qb5eP7JSYOkZF1-uvuBqdgIMw8DCg-TTURn6UqRWlu8084K6ngq/s1600/16062012166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONWR5rI2NDCuwzlYgpjMtkQNxSh3sv8krb3_fSSfqcQafFbBMj83Q_wGBwyAAwOxt2LtWNHAtZb4OP-dNnFZQ-_-P4qb5eP7JSYOkZF1-uvuBqdgIMw8DCg-TTURn6UqRWlu8084K6ngq/s400/16062012166.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGvVmEugON2I6NM5dV0y1GJvGz6kWfOnlrVEfdpWxIb60I7Hcwd_gmrBR_ViryOk3Pc3vwEwXhqkvTArSMP1lmWDaiQxodK6ZPWBmgniD-lSLrBxGi0PdznQkVboscQHW6Dck41iRHrAf/s1600/16062012177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGvVmEugON2I6NM5dV0y1GJvGz6kWfOnlrVEfdpWxIb60I7Hcwd_gmrBR_ViryOk3Pc3vwEwXhqkvTArSMP1lmWDaiQxodK6ZPWBmgniD-lSLrBxGi0PdznQkVboscQHW6Dck41iRHrAf/s400/16062012177.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3c-Rvx8d5ixWCxbQkjLWCLGZKSq48oAKtAn1O5TdAveUVh9yEUZmqFBNtVGGUbWHoI7CAFoS3lq3ZyG3-li0O4Q24eiW5H0Sx6fywzdq9Nxugir1-tWjXpN7bgr90XQzyxc2yiVD9p9yF/s1600/16062012161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3c-Rvx8d5ixWCxbQkjLWCLGZKSq48oAKtAn1O5TdAveUVh9yEUZmqFBNtVGGUbWHoI7CAFoS3lq3ZyG3-li0O4Q24eiW5H0Sx6fywzdq9Nxugir1-tWjXpN7bgr90XQzyxc2yiVD9p9yF/s400/16062012161.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUqZMewGNW6wNO_odgxuy2bXR-5gabiP3dBesZSw4L4tiYgvgrQ9FFJvDV35nDqhDrsBl6m5BOgPtnz08BVODI-46fBnsfkUhGYEbR23XSkY_7CkzexFjN9k1_6_NaiihpmqLUh7Sx4_M/s1600/16062012175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUqZMewGNW6wNO_odgxuy2bXR-5gabiP3dBesZSw4L4tiYgvgrQ9FFJvDV35nDqhDrsBl6m5BOgPtnz08BVODI-46fBnsfkUhGYEbR23XSkY_7CkzexFjN9k1_6_NaiihpmqLUh7Sx4_M/s400/16062012175.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-77393924932880675302013-05-14T13:07:00.000+05:302013-05-14T16:45:35.971+05:30Coconuts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: #fcf0c8; font-size: 12px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“If you could count the stars, then you could count all the ways the coconut tree serves us.”</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: bold;">- </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Philippine proverb</span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="background-color: #fcf0c8; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #006600; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_T9ZgvFp2bA/UZHghocz0JI/AAAAAAAADsg/ZWb-Q8CaYgQ/w640-h480-no/Coconut.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_T9ZgvFp2bA/UZHghocz0JI/AAAAAAAADsg/ZWb-Q8CaYgQ/w640-h480-no/Coconut.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
W<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hile roaming about in Rattan Bazaar, Chennai, I came across broken Coconuts
being sold on the pavement. There is nothing strange about it but they had
reached the sprouting stage. There was a white sponge like ball protruding and I
was told that this growth is edible. It is tasty as also has great nutritional
value. I was unaware of any such thing. We never considered that part as edible
and never also attempted to have a taste of it. We just used to remove it and
throw it out. Therefore I was a little bit surprised. However, now I learn that
if that white portion turns yellowish, it becomes toxic.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Of3ZW0LfUCk/UZHgeYJyQaI/AAAAAAAADsY/PtI8BktpIC8/w640-h480-no/Cocomut1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Of3ZW0LfUCk/UZHgeYJyQaI/AAAAAAAADsY/PtI8BktpIC8/w640-h480-no/Cocomut1.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TkpCLdl6788/UZHgk_vHW8I/AAAAAAAADso/JlWzcoRjtgg/w640-h439-no/Coconut2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TkpCLdl6788/UZHgk_vHW8I/AAAAAAAADso/JlWzcoRjtgg/w640-h439-no/Coconut2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgaP34wNLOQ/UZHgpn79DVI/AAAAAAAADsw/NeCvHG9SvkY/w640-h480-no/Coconut3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgaP34wNLOQ/UZHgpn79DVI/AAAAAAAADsw/NeCvHG9SvkY/w640-h480-no/Coconut3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RtN-aBWA56o/UZHgtDmRCdI/AAAAAAAADs4/d1M6-HYtADU/w640-h480-no/Coconut4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RtN-aBWA56o/UZHgtDmRCdI/AAAAAAAADs4/d1M6-HYtADU/w640-h480-no/Coconut4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In our own garden we have some 60/65 Coconut palms and some times we do find
in fully matured Coconuts, a small spongy but a little hard ball. We used to get
rid of it in the manner stated above. If the Coconut is allowed to remain for a
longer period on the tree, the ball get enlarged by absorbing the water and the
meat inside the shell. During summers it is quite common to come across
Coconut water vendors on the streets. They may look big but are still in their
infancy. They may contain nearly 1 litre of sweet water to quench your thirst.
Incidentally this water could also be used as a substitute for Dextrose
therefore administered to patients intravenously. After consuming the water from
the Coconut the nut is broken in two halves. A thin layer of pulp which
sometimes resembles the egg white (boiled) is delicious.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If allowed to further
ripening the meat inside the shell becomes hard with lesser quantity of sweet
water. This is the stage at which Coconuts are generally plucked. The white semi
solid portion is used in various parts of India as an ingredient for various
dishes after grating. When the shell is broken and dried in Sunlight the white
meat could be peeled out. At this stage it is known as Copra. Coconut oil is
extracted from Copra in an expeller. There is one more method of extracting oil
by householders. The meat of the nut is removed, grated and squeezed (any good
method) and a milky substance gets extracted. This is the Coconut milk. When
this milk is heated in a pan, the residue is the Oil in its purest form. The
Coconut milk is used for making sweet dishes (Payasa/Payasam/Kheer). The Coconut
milk is also added while cooking fish.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gsfak6YlMyY/UZHgwfZj6aI/AAAAAAAADtA/gboH0ajkSh4/w640-h480-no/Coconut5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gsfak6YlMyY/UZHgwfZj6aI/AAAAAAAADtA/gboH0ajkSh4/w640-h480-no/Coconut5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IDzwojaX5WM/UZHgzP3lieI/AAAAAAAADtI/LEKxrNwxOCY/w640-h480-no/Coconut6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IDzwojaX5WM/UZHgzP3lieI/AAAAAAAADtI/LEKxrNwxOCY/w640-h480-no/Coconut6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If we take out the round shell from the outer coir casing, we find three eye
like formation on one of its poles. One eye is a little fragile and any thing a
bit sharp could be driven in and the water drawn out. If the nut is too ripe and
in its germination stage, a sprout will come out of that hole. Two roots will
also come out from the remaining eyes. When still on the tree and the Coconut
ripens fully, the outer layer would become brown and eventually fall on the
ground . They then sprout and the roots will try to pierce through the
ground.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Normally over ripening of Coconuts while still on the tree is very rare as
they get plucked much earlier. However due to paucity of farm labourers
particularly those who could climb the palm has made this possible. Even if some
one turns up, the fee demanded to climb one tree is prohibitive. If some
one with higher remuneration is engaged, the additional cost incurred for removing the
outer layer makes the economics to fail. Now a days I find a great influx of
farm hands from states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Assam and Rajasthan
and they are willing to work for less than 1/3rd than the locals demand.
However, climbing a Coconut palm is not their cup of tea.</span></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-30463302671274498732013-04-30T11:20:00.000+05:302013-04-30T13:10:00.625+05:30Victoria Public Hall, Chennai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">when you get down at the Chennai
Central Station and proceed towards the car parking , it would be difficult to
escape a grand old building staring at you at a distance. This building
happened to be an inviting curiosity for me even when I was a child. The need
to catch a taxi to reach home quickly was so overbearing that I could never find
time to go nearer to the imposing structure, except while passing by, seated in
the car. Now that I have been in Chennai for a couple of months , I ventured to
visit the building a couple of times with a view to gain an entry. However all
my attempts were thwarted due to the Chennai Metro Rail Project. They are
constructing the underground portion of the project and the tunnelling work was
in progress just adjoining the place. The area was cordoned off with corrugated
tin sheets and a watchman has been posted to prevent entry to the premises.
Therefore I had to satisfy myself with few snaps from outside. The building
referred to is the Victoria Public Hall commonly known as the Town
Hall. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9luFD-r2Cy4R9byv1_d-V022NHjZxG_QOnUxB_W0HOe63NMvGiVXOLQPDeMa10l06Qu0qcGtOs6srbinZ0uMYTBLtBbpMHSV7X807g-Y51RvCF-LUSnwgw1E4t7iCXe6Z2iKEWVG43aFq/s1600/IMG_1833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9luFD-r2Cy4R9byv1_d-V022NHjZxG_QOnUxB_W0HOe63NMvGiVXOLQPDeMa10l06Qu0qcGtOs6srbinZ0uMYTBLtBbpMHSV7X807g-Y51RvCF-LUSnwgw1E4t7iCXe6Z2iKEWVG43aFq/s400/IMG_1833.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIC-MyQDvMMhSyZItQ84yVzUxcO1LNwlHmUIMlWH1HpnWfvmk8fd7GP7PrmNn5N8RmfDQ-lxIp-fdKqcIN0fSeDyaxltKmFmf6mwE8aJ1rHsZn36KlVAOYHOWWIgCJwk6cvpQP-JHdKW5S/s1600/IMG_1840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIC-MyQDvMMhSyZItQ84yVzUxcO1LNwlHmUIMlWH1HpnWfvmk8fd7GP7PrmNn5N8RmfDQ-lxIp-fdKqcIN0fSeDyaxltKmFmf6mwE8aJ1rHsZn36KlVAOYHOWWIgCJwk6cvpQP-JHdKW5S/s400/IMG_1840.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Q5lni71uPUzRzvJo_aw93XNJYCRnDrmuEiwXu2AjJKobZRyyzjgZx7fAneslQd_OJNrRAQD_YyILwxI3xk-mUjhRI2Rr-CtutXfsGiTJtMoNZe9BhC4CVgqRKpoAyLHIin16TM9JPjHw/s1600/IMG_2225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Q5lni71uPUzRzvJo_aw93XNJYCRnDrmuEiwXu2AjJKobZRyyzjgZx7fAneslQd_OJNrRAQD_YyILwxI3xk-mUjhRI2Rr-CtutXfsGiTJtMoNZe9BhC4CVgqRKpoAyLHIin16TM9JPjHw/s400/IMG_2225.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5V_PRNEsry-LYGOltpzTKvXBi8kF-Ij62y8FoFGgMC_IDky245lSGBv0nN_S0E7nonyh7oFaBdIp4xzmJkdj9Wrg1iuS62FEjolVHOjYJ9Koz7Wf9kvfB6Pflm3qx_aYINvNsLqF3UpW/s1600/IMG_2222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5V_PRNEsry-LYGOltpzTKvXBi8kF-Ij62y8FoFGgMC_IDky245lSGBv0nN_S0E7nonyh7oFaBdIp4xzmJkdj9Wrg1iuS62FEjolVHOjYJ9Koz7Wf9kvfB6Pflm3qx_aYINvNsLqF3UpW/s400/IMG_2222.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">During the 1880s a need was felt to
have a community hall where cultural and social programmes could be held. A
meeting was organised by prominent citizens in 1882 and the participants had
contributed around Rs.20,000 for the purpose. A separate Trust was also created
to implement the project. The civic body i.e. the Corporation of Madras also
provided land admeasuring 3.14 acres on a 99 years lease. A foundation stone was
laid in December 1883 and by 1888 the construction could get completed. The
architect credited to have designed this beautiful building was </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fellowes_Chisholm"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Robert Fellowes Chisholm</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> and
as with many other buildings of Madras this too was a derivation of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Saracenic_architecture"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Indo-Saracenic architecture</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">.
To commemorate the Golden Jubilee of queen Victoria’s accession to the throne,
it was named after her.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwOQxCQtlgJQCT4RbEm_LhBQrj_KKRnjYx0rNjvB3ueDnLuQWNQfQBR-ZIj0MxlqXeujEiE2696_Wo3KrkzXBiU4f5vmMvv-RpqBol-RmJ_vHhHWO2UQtUmZgusDPILt80qWMA9aRLNxn/s1600/VMH.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwOQxCQtlgJQCT4RbEm_LhBQrj_KKRnjYx0rNjvB3ueDnLuQWNQfQBR-ZIj0MxlqXeujEiE2696_Wo3KrkzXBiU4f5vmMvv-RpqBol-RmJ_vHhHWO2UQtUmZgusDPILt80qWMA9aRLNxn/s400/VMH.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The main building has two floors.
There are four beautiful wooden staircases leading to the first floor. both
floors put together has an area of 26000 square feet and every floor has a
seating capacity for 600 people. Once having been opened to the public many a
social organisations jumped in. Plays were being staged every evening on a
regular basis. Swami Vivekananda, Subramania Bharati, Mahatma Gandhi, Gopal
Krishna Gokhale, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel were amongst the great men of yester
years who addressed public meetings at this venue. The hall was also used for
screening some 10 English films in 1892 by one T. Stevenson the owner of Madras
Photographic Stores. Incidentally by that time the Indian Cinema was yet to be
born. The first Tamil film “Keechaka Vadham” without a sound track was produced
only in 1918.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">With the passage of time, the health
of the building started deteriorating and by the second half of the 20th century
it became critically ill due to continued neglect. There had been some attempts
to rejuvenate it but they proved inadequate. For the last 45 years the hall is
in a state of Coma. In between the Trust leased out the spaces around it for
commercial purposes. Taking advantage of the situation certain unscrupulous
traders also made their intrusions to put up their stalls/shops. Disputes
surfaced between the Corporation and the Trust when the 99 years lease term
expired. Fortunately the Corporation was in a position to take over the building
after eviction of all those illegal occupants. Due to continued hue and cry made
by heritage lovers the Corporation sanctioned an expenditure of Rs.3.39 Crores
for complete renovation/restoration of the building and work started in 2009.
When the work was half way, the Metro Rail Project commenced its construction
work resulting in a temporary stoppage of the renovation project. However, the
Chennai Corporation has announced recently that by end of July 2013, the
Victoria Public Hall would be in its original shape. At the moment we do not
know whether the hall would get opened up for social/cultural purposes as was
originally envisaged.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15gSu65OIM4EJcHvFcqreQYI-QQ2yvb4cVbr-cvAIKSIUJzJbVo4tx6iNT5PZcOykuNS1lh_TTFmpbnSrhwj3de-POLnmCPKDpYS-CPJWBUcbh1PbpPwpsBwKZeNqRuucU61AyWT_S14_/s1600/The+stage+of+the+Victoria+Public+Hall+in+Chennai+being+restored..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15gSu65OIM4EJcHvFcqreQYI-QQ2yvb4cVbr-cvAIKSIUJzJbVo4tx6iNT5PZcOykuNS1lh_TTFmpbnSrhwj3de-POLnmCPKDpYS-CPJWBUcbh1PbpPwpsBwKZeNqRuucU61AyWT_S14_/s400/The+stage+of+the+Victoria+Public+Hall+in+Chennai+being+restored..jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Under the Chennai Metro Rail Project,
the trains are to travel over pillars and they will go underground in busy
areas. As has been stated earlier, the tunnelling work is in progress near the
Victoria Public Hall and they have also encroached upon the area in front of the
building. A beautiful fountain which existed thereat has since been removed and
moved to the right hand side of the hall. In the process some ornamentations
have been broken/lost. This fountain too has a story of its own.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIltVsArQHHUh-NT1yYQ9AdCA6pZZpYotANUM5Id9Q9Gq0aNb8x5TPh4ovs_cYT7dD64AweMJQkp8wJRF01S8hh3Yf0WKqrSWnDPPw1ZuTqf-nKy62fMXoL7Of8OwCZPZchTm45UjprLO/s1600/Trevelyan+Memorial+fountain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIltVsArQHHUh-NT1yYQ9AdCA6pZZpYotANUM5Id9Q9Gq0aNb8x5TPh4ovs_cYT7dD64AweMJQkp8wJRF01S8hh3Yf0WKqrSWnDPPw1ZuTqf-nKy62fMXoL7Of8OwCZPZchTm45UjprLO/s400/Trevelyan+Memorial+fountain.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvlaS5l-Xzh3ZHv0vUV-ehqbaOhyphenhyphen3CR9eC8HENLTVGaUjH6NHOEXiQHTGwKFMLXyN33SQgQOCnwzXKVQ1lmLlkqkaOUrZTbrbDUjKlAuldOZZmr8GqaLvga3ZsUBo5o59s3JqvWp6JcQO/s1600/Charles_Edward_Trevelyan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvlaS5l-Xzh3ZHv0vUV-ehqbaOhyphenhyphen3CR9eC8HENLTVGaUjH6NHOEXiQHTGwKFMLXyN33SQgQOCnwzXKVQ1lmLlkqkaOUrZTbrbDUjKlAuldOZZmr8GqaLvga3ZsUBo5o59s3JqvWp6JcQO/s1600/Charles_Edward_Trevelyan.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">During the British rule, Government’s
budget proposals were introduced by James Wilson in 1860 for the first time when
the capital of the country used to be in Calcutta. Losses sustained during the
Freedom Struggle of 1857 were sought to be bridged by taxing the personal income
of citizens. Every individual with an income of Rs.200 was within the ambit of
the proposed tax net. This move was highly resented and there was a hue and cry
amongst the people. Charles Trevelyan who happened to be the Governor of Madras
Presidency in those days, supported the people’s movement and expressed his
anguish by sending a telegram to Fort William, Calcutta. As an after effect
he had to compromise with his job. When Trevelyan was the Chairperson of the
Madras Corporation, he made available potable drinking water for the people and
also created a beautiful park in the heart of the city. A fountain was built in
front of the Victoria Public Hall in his fond memory which is known as Trevelyan
Fountain.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtZoaMyTYnZYoNW-jgLBdbXe9NKUkKHSppFcAiUfXAJWmWlAHi2uVRsRNRMoq6GOb7mm5RL70criJ3KSfa6w1X0xuSoS6Li_vbvYqCRceowRYWtTnoiXqIi4AOVleS0zJDtmt8TNqUONT/s1600/IMG_2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtZoaMyTYnZYoNW-jgLBdbXe9NKUkKHSppFcAiUfXAJWmWlAHi2uVRsRNRMoq6GOb7mm5RL70criJ3KSfa6w1X0xuSoS6Li_vbvYqCRceowRYWtTnoiXqIi4AOVleS0zJDtmt8TNqUONT/s400/IMG_2012.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Incidentally there is another
heritage building known as Victoria Memorial Hall which houses the National Art
Gallery. This building too remains closed for the last 10 years or so on account
of some cracks having developed inside. This building awaits
restoration.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-2013066841329187552013-03-01T11:01:00.000+05:302013-03-01T11:01:33.682+05:30Vypin Island – Pallipuram Fort<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After having taken our lunch, we had
two options in hand, either to go for a Siesta or for a long ride. My younger
brother with whom I am staying had no problems either as it way a Sunday.
However the cloudy weather was dissuading me from venturing out, for the camera
could not be put to use. Nevertheless the call of my brother to move out before
it really starts pouring made me get ready. When we drove out it was drizzling.
We headed towards the Marine Drive of Kochi yet the destination remained
undecided. Moving further we crossed over to Bolgatty island. Here we thought
of visiting the Palace now converted into a Hotel, Unfortunately we could not
gain entry due to some big gun having reserved the entire hotel for some private
purpose, presumably a marriage reception. Then I said let us now go to Vypin
Island. In between there an another island known as Vallarpadam which is a very
large container terminal. Here one could see hundreds of trucks lined up for
transporting containers to and fro from the hinterland. Soon thereafter my
brother stopped the vehicle at one point and told me come this is Vypin. I could
not believe it but then the signboards did say so. We got down and surveyed the
area, particularly the topography. I could visualise that we were standing at
the Southern end of the island and farther south it was Fort Kochi. From the
Boat Jetty we could see steamers arriving and departing with loads of passengers
and vehicles.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpoklWz4St90UwxQHpkLGOeHUZZCfsj_A40XhaD00KMj9Ulqmsqa_hPhw7noLE54M5SA3l8A_SsU29nQc67B6awH-Zs9LGan-nNUAeOm0BbDS3GhQYO8JgTtd6Gu_V5R7YIrIMiBjUhjR/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixpoklWz4St90UwxQHpkLGOeHUZZCfsj_A40XhaD00KMj9Ulqmsqa_hPhw7noLE54M5SA3l8A_SsU29nQc67B6awH-Zs9LGan-nNUAeOm0BbDS3GhQYO8JgTtd6Gu_V5R7YIrIMiBjUhjR/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9VkMXe4t3MNlkW8ivM3Mxskjb5r8Hjom9fDQzSIsD-wem12u9GROePaM3uUfbd2ytShdhniDR5fRZWUhyphenhyphen6dWNjExOn6evFlznd1GKIVSn_2eygvdP4jn_11sX7D-gTCU_qG9Qu5YXhgc/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9VkMXe4t3MNlkW8ivM3Mxskjb5r8Hjom9fDQzSIsD-wem12u9GROePaM3uUfbd2ytShdhniDR5fRZWUhyphenhyphen6dWNjExOn6evFlznd1GKIVSn_2eygvdP4jn_11sX7D-gTCU_qG9Qu5YXhgc/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Six major rivers emanating from the
Western Ghat Mountain Ranges submerge into the Arabian Sea near Kochi passing
through the Vembanad lake. The deltas and soil erosions appear to be the cause
of six scattered islands except Wellingdon which is man made. All the islands
are inhabited and movement of people used to be through waterways in the past.
Now all the islands are made accessible overland with interconnecting bridges.
From Fort Kochi if one has to travel by road to Vypin Island, it would be a
long distance and therefore the ferry service thrives carrying passengers as
well as all vehicles.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Thanks to trade relations with
China in the distant past, some amount of technology transfers have also taken
place in the area of fishing. The local fishermen deploy “Chinese fishing
nets” which were installed in the vicinity in large numbers. We could witness
them while they worked. However they have limitations as regards water
coverage. Nevertheless they have managed to sustain themselves by mechanising
the operations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2lMnUHRJBraFHKlrvgM2axsbFPoEV_sVRdjbLCrclUSg64jPV0oZ_6O4VDyvL0G6f6vh-RzFB4H0OQHsMrB_sIHwRzmt0-5zq2iRoDpEyhWufx8aoscVJvJEJ59naoyNm5OjkravwUrC/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2lMnUHRJBraFHKlrvgM2axsbFPoEV_sVRdjbLCrclUSg64jPV0oZ_6O4VDyvL0G6f6vh-RzFB4H0OQHsMrB_sIHwRzmt0-5zq2iRoDpEyhWufx8aoscVJvJEJ59naoyNm5OjkravwUrC/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After having observed the operations
at the boat jetty and the Chinese fishing nets, it was time for us to move. My
brother asked me, now where should we go. Vypin Island is a peace of land which
is around 26 kilometres long. The main light house of the Port of Kochi is
located in this island. There is also a beautiful beach known as Cherai at the
north western side. What I had in my mind was a Portuguese fort at the northern
end which I had seen some 5 decades back but at that time approached it from the
North and not from the South. Fortunately I could remember the place name and
told my brother to proceed to Pallipuram in the North direction. He also
instantly said Oh! Pallipuram. There is a fort there. I have heard about it but
the location was not known. I said, I am also not very much sure but the fort is
in the northern end.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5-i4wC_magy91y6N9-Ag6pIE6NAJ6efItYL1UrNoIVAsHCJne7403jnJQ18mMLF8-B1KpD6xptmYtVEDCspNaCu3tdBx-fucYTcZJjj-d_wZceB3F1nPcaBBGYuV5imUifNNWVfGXcbl/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5-i4wC_magy91y6N9-Ag6pIE6NAJ6efItYL1UrNoIVAsHCJne7403jnJQ18mMLF8-B1KpD6xptmYtVEDCspNaCu3tdBx-fucYTcZJjj-d_wZceB3F1nPcaBBGYuV5imUifNNWVfGXcbl/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After travelling for over 20 minutes,
we came across a hoarding to our right with the name of the fort. We parked our
vehicle on one side and got down. Although there was no need to consult any one,
my brother seeing an otherwise educated looking lady going that way, casually
enquired about the fort. She said Tipu Sultan’s fort is here and showed us the
pathway. She also said if the fort is locked, we may check with the guard there.
When I had visited long long ago, the fort could be viewed from the road but now
a school building has come up in front and the approach is round about.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiePCcoxsoAlpXxqFqgUvrhZOvXjXV10maNWc36Bb0UvWvlY1aQwtdjzhkVFRjlStkPdVpccbF3uqW_9NrvwNoUzylgyC_86r0ul6XsQV1gmpeiSrrJBCntRjhoXBjg6pptOvW8lPSPDvw/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiePCcoxsoAlpXxqFqgUvrhZOvXjXV10maNWc36Bb0UvWvlY1aQwtdjzhkVFRjlStkPdVpccbF3uqW_9NrvwNoUzylgyC_86r0ul6XsQV1gmpeiSrrJBCntRjhoXBjg6pptOvW8lPSPDvw/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Western side while we approach</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Pallipuram Fort in Vypin Island is
the oldest European construction anywhere in South East Asia. ‘Fort’ appears to
be a misnomer. It is a hexagonal watch tower constructed by the Portuguese in
1503 AD. This was the first building they constructed on the Indian Soil for
regulating/controlling sea farers from all the three sides. The Dutch defeated
the Portuguese and took over the fort in 1661 AD and sold to the principality of
Travancore in 1789. The entire construction is made of </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laterite"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">laterite</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> stones and the walls
are 6 feet thick. Each side measures 32 feet and the height of the three tiered
tower is 34 feet.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gRA8ak73Z97aLe7KANTK_OWk1KOCWSlnEECkgkcVpMqKsvDU_Ute2oOiy3iPMrWTKlEUhySbpw9_rRdTp3nsGhT3j1lXGbBrxAhg2Ssn46l8RlwU-Q9QfPM7CyFJwT5EyKQEHwpI7OVY/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6gRA8ak73Z97aLe7KANTK_OWk1KOCWSlnEECkgkcVpMqKsvDU_Ute2oOiy3iPMrWTKlEUhySbpw9_rRdTp3nsGhT3j1lXGbBrxAhg2Ssn46l8RlwU-Q9QfPM7CyFJwT5EyKQEHwpI7OVY/s400/6.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UIIe04VPZqP1t_vwALLUfrU6XOLSy7Sm87j4gbGgDbYrO3fiFw1H6oC_Nhyk8i519r_pR9ztIzmZA5TjB9A6p-4q1WJSXh6zzozSniRB8LCS0r12c4kymGNbLAikoAelcbv40LO3pITe/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7UIIe04VPZqP1t_vwALLUfrU6XOLSy7Sm87j4gbGgDbYrO3fiFw1H6oC_Nhyk8i519r_pR9ztIzmZA5TjB9A6p-4q1WJSXh6zzozSniRB8LCS0r12c4kymGNbLAikoAelcbv40LO3pITe/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The main entrance is towards the East
through a small iron gate and few stairs lead you onto a platform constructed
above 5 feet from the ground level. There is a small opening at the right side
and it appears that the space below was used for storing arms and ammunition.
Apart from the ground floor two more floors above would have existed as there
are spaces for mounting cannons at two different levels. In the middle there is
a circular plastered space and it is presumed that a heavy wooden pole could
have supported the two floors (also made of wood). This could have facilitated
reaching and manning the cannons positioned facing the sea on three sides.
Right now it is open to the sky.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGLrv_XmxYzdx-GFHn2qdobQkp4V8epABh6KDiXkoFLBp0rTV043R7GxEyLC6dx6Mz9kA6198EJUK4hSMhXOsbATKfBoWUX1y8eB-uv5z0AVCs1VtIN1oid-a1bqWHG6LPgFyRr4gSdzk/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGLrv_XmxYzdx-GFHn2qdobQkp4V8epABh6KDiXkoFLBp0rTV043R7GxEyLC6dx6Mz9kA6198EJUK4hSMhXOsbATKfBoWUX1y8eB-uv5z0AVCs1VtIN1oid-a1bqWHG6LPgFyRr4gSdzk/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1isFzpvbWlYPThAzhmlJiIkMsEYQn9VfbsPpjWHGoMQiA_2GlbAk1U-fPm6zLCMwstQnUVoCBbO-dOnlomjA0FclybDYdVojkOodRtPpqQ-3ACITWWeMW-gC4bBBKK8l0jqNfX2Dbzma/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1isFzpvbWlYPThAzhmlJiIkMsEYQn9VfbsPpjWHGoMQiA_2GlbAk1U-fPm6zLCMwstQnUVoCBbO-dOnlomjA0FclybDYdVojkOodRtPpqQ-3ACITWWeMW-gC4bBBKK8l0jqNfX2Dbzma/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaJbfLlt1D2wS8wa8skuhLG8gs22wpcTFTjVLX4JBOaVjvUGcb0P4wEMxYxWiMI3cGL_TB5caQ4WBGtYQtwob4xl0pYUYph9E8qWXcsXjUrHNbEEl74t5zkqaSsDQEJWmG11nOju5Kahf/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaJbfLlt1D2wS8wa8skuhLG8gs22wpcTFTjVLX4JBOaVjvUGcb0P4wEMxYxWiMI3cGL_TB5caQ4WBGtYQtwob4xl0pYUYph9E8qWXcsXjUrHNbEEl74t5zkqaSsDQEJWmG11nOju5Kahf/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCAiu6yGmp18XQyaP0t5BlDnwS2cUgXzGXaj7swZRDz-IVovdeGlr2_b7Tc1JEIyRimqQ_TSdc1Pvy_oG1R7VjmaLgLy21Z3S_J6KyimrxK5RbkrEpcEQ0T-1wa0PCPSinu_BYQgBbq_B/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCAiu6yGmp18XQyaP0t5BlDnwS2cUgXzGXaj7swZRDz-IVovdeGlr2_b7Tc1JEIyRimqQ_TSdc1Pvy_oG1R7VjmaLgLy21Z3S_J6KyimrxK5RbkrEpcEQ0T-1wa0PCPSinu_BYQgBbq_B/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Although the monument is under the
State Archaeology department, it appears to be grossly neglected. A broken lock
was found on the main gate and no care taker was found during the duration of
our stay at the place. There was lot of unwanted vegetation growing close by
obstructing a clear view. Some plants have also taken roots on its walls. If the
situation remains the same, the monument may not survive for long. </span></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-66346465993143437282012-11-16T18:57:00.003+05:302012-11-16T18:57:33.597+05:30Buffalo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijS7tEZcHPtjDbt8aoyTk_Za-daywonPRZLNgceKMGvkH7gbOrbnxdM72qWcrbbHM0ffVHshuLtnsrq50G6aLpFwj7QP2gt9KsfDwTBkezc1zJfOIDinJOKnB49OP88GVyE3_-dVDWHuSo/s200/Sampat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijS7tEZcHPtjDbt8aoyTk_Za-daywonPRZLNgceKMGvkH7gbOrbnxdM72qWcrbbHM0ffVHshuLtnsrq50G6aLpFwj7QP2gt9KsfDwTBkezc1zJfOIDinJOKnB49OP88GVyE3_-dVDWHuSo/s200/Sampat.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">A guest post by:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">P.N. Sampath Kumar,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Cochin Ship Yard, Kochi (India)</span></div>
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Not very long ago, in our villages,
when farming used to be our main vocation, there lived a kind of livestock,
Buffalo.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">This lazy looking cattle, unlike its
cousins, a cow or a deer, doesn’t converse with you with its eyes and erected
ears. It has a skin that matches much with the muddy waters where it always
desired to be in. The set of hones conveyed that it is always on an ‘attack’
mode.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU1MVTYZRcu6fA_i9WFMdlU0GsMagJsKzJ6TDUWdHj8AfuVMdA_GEZ3xvvPblZQPx5kS7OiAEpmdcBUiAUb_1iJiRp_9zXJLvfqNHcI1qKRePbXqsM5VrATpBXIZq0HAaJ9ht-i7Gl-4G/s1600/Bhains3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU1MVTYZRcu6fA_i9WFMdlU0GsMagJsKzJ6TDUWdHj8AfuVMdA_GEZ3xvvPblZQPx5kS7OiAEpmdcBUiAUb_1iJiRp_9zXJLvfqNHcI1qKRePbXqsM5VrATpBXIZq0HAaJ9ht-i7Gl-4G/s400/Bhains3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">No wonder, Yama, the god of death,
chose him to be his vehicle. Devi Durga (Mahishasura Mardhini) is portrayed as
the killer of “Mashisha Asura” (A devil in the guise of a Buffalo). In Kerala,
Lord Ayyappa is said to have killed ‘Mahishi’, the buffalo demon, who distracted
the Rishis from their rituals.</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Its milk is avoided for religious
rituals and in ayurvedic formulations. Local dialects have many examples of
abusive phrases synonymous with Buffalo, to address someone who is lazy and
insensitive.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Somewhere, man tamed him to work in
the farm to plough and subsequently for milk. Possibly taming them happened much
later than the Cow. Initially those who domesticated it would have been
comparatively uncivilised and hence possibly this animal continued to be the
paraya livestock.</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKKTfJtN3KRRsnEB6UuitxA5gx5Ur5EUuZxEH1U9yX9jmt3nWVus9n0Gno_w5FJ9LQFBnTufTlDKgEBVNgepsZ72LMNIRhplC9vg3W09PkZd5kIbk0yNpz6u64uvTatF1i-Bl8QWvvXn3/s1600/Bhains1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKKTfJtN3KRRsnEB6UuitxA5gx5Ur5EUuZxEH1U9yX9jmt3nWVus9n0Gno_w5FJ9LQFBnTufTlDKgEBVNgepsZ72LMNIRhplC9vg3W09PkZd5kIbk0yNpz6u64uvTatF1i-Bl8QWvvXn3/s400/Bhains1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Pakistan has a considerable amount of
Buffalo wealth. Those days, down south, “Ravuthars”, a group of Tamil speaking
Muslim community, travelled across the remote villages in Kerala, engaged in
trading buffalos amongst other things and popularised it in the villages. The
divinity associated with cow among Hindus would have prompted Muslims to take up
Buffalo rearing.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">With all these taboos associated with
this animal, it too formed part of festivities in some parts of our country.
During one of those ONAM days, in central Kerala, just before the muddy paddy
fields are prepared for planting, Pothottam (buffalo race) is celebrated, though
on a low key basis now a days.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">For a farmer, working in the field,
this is an important day. The rituals are held outside the house where the
animal is tied to a tree after it is washed and garlanded applying sandalwood
and other decorations. After the short prayers and other offerings including
alcohol to the gods, the animal is fed with the food items including alcohol.
The rituals are well supported by drum beats.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisy_DX0tntgiGs_OjhsCTygermMWjpCgS3VpncC4M_8fwhmdUFTundDVAbwfEOcjgThxi-zG1URQJclyrgGdzj5KzxneUJT7pgNTQ26qCVRLg-ykxrmIsBITugxBMHS1K-EYmTEzFKeHYB/s1600/pothottam+thalore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisy_DX0tntgiGs_OjhsCTygermMWjpCgS3VpncC4M_8fwhmdUFTundDVAbwfEOcjgThxi-zG1URQJclyrgGdzj5KzxneUJT7pgNTQ26qCVRLg-ykxrmIsBITugxBMHS1K-EYmTEzFKeHYB/s400/pothottam+thalore.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Once lunch is finished, it is time
for the buffalo to be taken to the village ground. It is a huge task to untie
the animal and guide it to the venue. It needs five six people on either side of
the big rope to manage and guide the already hyped animal. The rituals would be
reminding it of its feral origin.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">There are at least half a dozen such
groups assembling at the grounds. The community heads meet there, exchange
pleasantries and reaffirm the leadership of the chieftain, who subsequently sits
on the top of a tall stone seat, a throne and conducts durbar. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">In the evening they come back in a
procession dancing to their traditional tunes. It is difficult to make out
whether they are elevating the animal or reducing themselves to the animal.
Whichever way, it is recognition to the friend ‘Buffalo’ who partnered with them
in the field.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">When milk started selling in big
cans, house to house, and cow’s milk became scarce, people in towns opted for
buffalo milk. Its rich fat content made it an instant hit amongst the tea shop
owners, the main consumers of milk in a town, and buffalo milk started selling
at premium though the by-products, mainly butter, was often sold at a
discount.</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">When bullock carts were ruling our
roads, buffalos enjoyed better status elsewhere. In East and South East Asia, it
was used only as propulsion in carts and for ploughing farmland.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Veterinarians classify them into two
types, the ‘riverine’ and ‘swamp’. Riverine is the lactating breed found
throughout Indian sub continent whereas the swamp variety, dominant in the East
Asia and south East Asia is a power house to propel and till the farms.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The water buffalos that we would have
encountered in our childhood would have been the low yielding swamp varieties
which always loved to be submerged in mud. The black and white photo albums of
yester years by any photographer would be incomplete without having in it a
photograph of a herd of water buffalos led by a peasant boy on the back of one
of them with a long stick in his hand. No visitor to a village those days would
have missed the sight of village boys travelling on the back of a
buffalo.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SAfKsGPVloJPSCwVRA1zqbIUFeFoCbQS84nTKSLquOK1ANd5I3pl0zZkoiGlTZNZa_AwXpJk1fVAgmOlDQ8znHmEslzaRvnhvbk8iNlpqj3sHif1TgTQQDsjwkLbige2l_E0KYQUbHpH/s1600/Bhains4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SAfKsGPVloJPSCwVRA1zqbIUFeFoCbQS84nTKSLquOK1ANd5I3pl0zZkoiGlTZNZa_AwXpJk1fVAgmOlDQ8znHmEslzaRvnhvbk8iNlpqj3sHif1TgTQQDsjwkLbige2l_E0KYQUbHpH/s400/Bhains4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Thanks to the white revolution. Cross
breeding of local varieties with high yielding ‘Jaffarabadi’ and ‘Murrah’
varieties produced a new genesis of a hybrid variety, resulting in increased
milk production. 60% of total milk produced in India and around 70% in Pakistan
are from Buffalos. It will be surprising to know that India is the highest
producer of buffalo milk constituting about 65% and together with Pakistan, it
constitutes more than 85% of world production. We earn considerable money from
dairy products. Yet, it is pity that we are unable to develop an international
brand for our Paneer (cottage cheese) and Kowa. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Italy is the only country outside
Asia, which boasts of their water buffalo rearing tradition. Their pride, the
Italian mozzarella cheese, available world over, is made of water buffalo milk.
It is another surprise that they have less than 1% share of the total buffalo
milk production in the world. Italians are said to have set high standards for
the genetics, breeding and hygiene in buffalo rearing. But it is doubtful if our
buffalos can stand the so called ‘hygiene’.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">But the problem with cross breeding
is that it created a generation of cattle without a genetic identity having low
immunity level and inability to cope up with the extreme climatic conditions.
Their maintenance became a burden to the farmers whereas the traditional low
yielding variety produced high quality products with lesser care, though lower
in volume. Farmers attempting to milk the water buffalos with the assistance of
dummy calves made of straw and stuff like that has been a regular sight in our
villages. The calves have high mortality rate when domesticated.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9GgWHHI8Ci9ls3WGGrieb1yJqsScOiXEnKcOyXMv8dK0yByj93VuMWgUJhFwrRzzf3qrpW1yWc1AEPInMlUklKWWpVeW4qNLvmun8J3ainNrUz6JAaqIqge56XQsMHyb6PsFajazt1Vp/s1600/Bhains2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi9GgWHHI8Ci9ls3WGGrieb1yJqsScOiXEnKcOyXMv8dK0yByj93VuMWgUJhFwrRzzf3qrpW1yWc1AEPInMlUklKWWpVeW4qNLvmun8J3ainNrUz6JAaqIqge56XQsMHyb6PsFajazt1Vp/s400/Bhains2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">As in any other sphere, technology
eliminated these living tractors from the fields and roads. But occasionally,
during our long train journeys, we get as a surprise, visuals of a farmer
ploughing the fields with a set of water buffalos, singing a song, often coupled
with the rich smell of fermented mud, ready to take seeds and saplings into its
womb. We jump out of ecstasy. The poor farmer would not have heard the proverb
in Malayalam meaning “it is useless to chant ‘veda’ into the ears of a Buffalo”.
He believes that buffalos enjoy his song? </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">It was interesting to note a cultural
tip given to the visitors to Thailand in one of the tourist websites as
follows:</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">“Water buffalo are called “kwai” in
Thai. It is extremely rude to refer to a person as a ‘kwai’ because water
buffalo have a reputation for being stupid and stubborn.”</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Painfully, we still maintain the same
primitive attitude towards this very useful animal across different
cultures.</span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">He deserves some more dignity. </span></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-46979595176486180382012-11-06T09:43:00.000+05:302012-11-06T09:43:09.051+05:30Dragonflies/Damselflies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">During our childhood we used to run
after butterflies. Occasionally we used to succeed catching them (without the
net). At that time we learnt that the patterns/colours in their wings would get
transferred on to our finger tips instantly when caught. However their sheen
would also vanish. Since we were too young, we were not into collecting them and
it was simply for fun. After some time our attention was drawn towards a
different kind of flying creature which was equally beautiful. They were
dragonflies/damselflies and were easier to catch. When caught we used to have a
weight lifting competition. Each one of us would make one’s dragonfly sit on a
small pebble. When lifted up, the dragonfly would have the pebble underneath. We
will snatch the small pebble and make it to sit over a larger one. Every one of
us would do the same with the fly in their hands. This goes on and at the end we
decide as to which one lifted the heaviest pebble. That one will be the winner
and then it is freed to fly away. Other dragon flies undergo a second phase of
torture. A 5 feet thread is tied to the tail of each one of them. They are
released to fly keeping the other end in our hands. The one which flies higher
is declared the winner. They remain suspended in air for not being able to move
forward and after some time they seek the ground, fully exhausted. We used to
release them thereafter either by untying the thread or cutting it close to the
tail. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"> </span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFR0qbYn4qrELBQjFwh51WfJ9rE17Nmmh8rpJO72tr3b9FzPBg0bPyYGELtzf6QXSOP72y_zi37WiJWmOv5uWWfXbNkRiWnpSLhyphenhyphendIiKFFaBzGUMaluGMCNwlk_ae5pO0VBfSy9Zgfa26/s1600/IMG_3019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFR0qbYn4qrELBQjFwh51WfJ9rE17Nmmh8rpJO72tr3b9FzPBg0bPyYGELtzf6QXSOP72y_zi37WiJWmOv5uWWfXbNkRiWnpSLhyphenhyphendIiKFFaBzGUMaluGMCNwlk_ae5pO0VBfSy9Zgfa26/s400/IMG_3019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEm1DJnodAnHu0FsQGWdrc_S-qj-F77vi9NrWUGCVUBDi6KYeW-j7di7bgmvJJsHVFigs71g9Ds3tf2CPFt2qD3EBFghfcB8o-8o7X61BTzauCGBn3tuJoJBaJ6KNRplzOmgYeHQ90uiK/s1600/IMG_3033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEm1DJnodAnHu0FsQGWdrc_S-qj-F77vi9NrWUGCVUBDi6KYeW-j7di7bgmvJJsHVFigs71g9Ds3tf2CPFt2qD3EBFghfcB8o-8o7X61BTzauCGBn3tuJoJBaJ6KNRplzOmgYeHQ90uiK/s400/IMG_3033.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrY35jWJQFuAMQcVJ4-g2W1legCKoZqhwvxfIvfR3S2hCwiMeK6lGC0uzlClJVtaImgPouC6qfvOuPTeGScjrxEiQloKvEt-w59pQqz1jfPetU2wl7rWbjAxqgV6C477WfWop3wpG91N2/s1600/IMG_3041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrY35jWJQFuAMQcVJ4-g2W1legCKoZqhwvxfIvfR3S2hCwiMeK6lGC0uzlClJVtaImgPouC6qfvOuPTeGScjrxEiQloKvEt-w59pQqz1jfPetU2wl7rWbjAxqgV6C477WfWop3wpG91N2/s400/IMG_3041.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH_L12UREayOE-1s25Oy2B7U3UeuOFK-WMSxvrgiYYEMbX5gMsayesWIQHMbacqeQg6VZy07JHH1zCyVGHb0usSZ6iRaXcYdKpea2s2nBFCXqf2nNfOL1v4yj-1XHhHNbdYxcSU_utyzK/s1600/IMG_3064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH_L12UREayOE-1s25Oy2B7U3UeuOFK-WMSxvrgiYYEMbX5gMsayesWIQHMbacqeQg6VZy07JHH1zCyVGHb0usSZ6iRaXcYdKpea2s2nBFCXqf2nNfOL1v4yj-1XHhHNbdYxcSU_utyzK/s400/IMG_3064.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqsAJh1Fxw_E4H7C17VizyADQoAkx27bL5m0Zk7tzzkeV7IARspXXFzUIDw7OJACZ3oXFVjnAtQWlXaAOkfJqB3cUEuNWBD7JQs43rD6FaBpLcwH4sPGzghngiPAJXJydMgOyUphd9kPQ/s1600/IMG_3085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqsAJh1Fxw_E4H7C17VizyADQoAkx27bL5m0Zk7tzzkeV7IARspXXFzUIDw7OJACZ3oXFVjnAtQWlXaAOkfJqB3cUEuNWBD7JQs43rD6FaBpLcwH4sPGzghngiPAJXJydMgOyUphd9kPQ/s400/IMG_3085.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZOaZiVpB19LCZgOtHii-iaJkIHJwpJDtJOSr4SzUNTXn7jhYlizTvwc4FcIuLCOuCZzByprFcxVxlsjTdX8w4Pfs4yHZqJBw5XGzfNm1mvgyCCK5HGnmc3eTSG9SXmHcjO6rnkKyg5EM/s1600/IMG_3098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZOaZiVpB19LCZgOtHii-iaJkIHJwpJDtJOSr4SzUNTXn7jhYlizTvwc4FcIuLCOuCZzByprFcxVxlsjTdX8w4Pfs4yHZqJBw5XGzfNm1mvgyCCK5HGnmc3eTSG9SXmHcjO6rnkKyg5EM/s400/IMG_3098.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6BH0Pk5eSDpDtCPefJyN0JlX_8hoXGZhb0sMMxx_uZ79P8f0fdhBWIojaBQqpXgltwyX7I_VL8aMtpy1a8h6yFQoJo_MEPdPMinoV3aBmxU_-QcIYfZAoUVBRGN1IPxah3Mpx-8h6a1V/s1600/IMG_3390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6BH0Pk5eSDpDtCPefJyN0JlX_8hoXGZhb0sMMxx_uZ79P8f0fdhBWIojaBQqpXgltwyX7I_VL8aMtpy1a8h6yFQoJo_MEPdPMinoV3aBmxU_-QcIYfZAoUVBRGN1IPxah3Mpx-8h6a1V/s400/IMG_3390.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-Q_nk4Gnzkusx8K0p74MdBUuyxaOwThqfJJVU29OuoHYadSprnHbwz8-9DTCyHrcUETaCkf1jTMWRVv7ajS0vwl7n7mVGKG5EbBKLte0xnVUZ_FURAPi5tR-oH8qGlxV-Hnrnr42SeA-/s1600/IMG_3452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-Q_nk4Gnzkusx8K0p74MdBUuyxaOwThqfJJVU29OuoHYadSprnHbwz8-9DTCyHrcUETaCkf1jTMWRVv7ajS0vwl7n7mVGKG5EbBKLte0xnVUZ_FURAPi5tR-oH8qGlxV-Hnrnr42SeA-/s400/IMG_3452.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Certainly we were very cruel to those
harmless creatures but at that time our pleasure seemed to be more paramount
than the pains the creature were subjected to. Today while I was roaming about
in our village home, I came across many dragon flies of various hues flying
around. That enabled me to live in the past for a while remembering the
childhood days. When the trance was over, I picked up my small camera and went
after them. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Similar to Butterflies, the
Dragonflies too have a life cycle, Egg, Nymph and the Adult stage. Eggs are
dropped in still water bodies where they hatch and turn to a Nymph. The Nymph
sustains itself by eating smaller insects etc. and said to live up to four years
in that stage and then the metamorphosis takes place. The dragon fly emerges and
flies away in search of food in the open. Many of us could have observed
Dragonflies hovering over water bodies. Factually they are endeavoring to find
a suitable locale to lay their eggs. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFWDnuOSaPnafYPkuul6v6UkTAkva9EHuYvAR58EbJAsSKS2TPs-H8DCGMuRL2_EaOpSkwzY4p86FO5VdI81mtq2yJrnxloV8-EFdQ2pScVLYbO62EOx5jXdBQHltsjGcmzmQoLHvMV1x/s1600/dragonfly-life-cycle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFWDnuOSaPnafYPkuul6v6UkTAkva9EHuYvAR58EbJAsSKS2TPs-H8DCGMuRL2_EaOpSkwzY4p86FO5VdI81mtq2yJrnxloV8-EFdQ2pScVLYbO62EOx5jXdBQHltsjGcmzmQoLHvMV1x/s400/dragonfly-life-cycle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Here is a chart which depicts the
life cycle of a Dragonfly.</span></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-9543174427927720852012-10-23T13:50:00.000+05:302012-10-23T13:50:29.786+05:30Masala Dosa - an Indian Cusine<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijS7tEZcHPtjDbt8aoyTk_Za-daywonPRZLNgceKMGvkH7gbOrbnxdM72qWcrbbHM0ffVHshuLtnsrq50G6aLpFwj7QP2gt9KsfDwTBkezc1zJfOIDinJOKnB49OP88GVyE3_-dVDWHuSo/s1600/Sampat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijS7tEZcHPtjDbt8aoyTk_Za-daywonPRZLNgceKMGvkH7gbOrbnxdM72qWcrbbHM0ffVHshuLtnsrq50G6aLpFwj7QP2gt9KsfDwTBkezc1zJfOIDinJOKnB49OP88GVyE3_-dVDWHuSo/s200/Sampat.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">A guest post by:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">P.N. Sampath Kumar,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Cochin Ship Yard, Kochi (India)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">What is the most favoured Tiffin
across the world? I wrote my answer in one of the questionnaires supplied to me
through some magazine as ‘<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dosa">Dosa</a>’.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCssze_I4kyD6mDLvK_5UjDZVrPrCeuAhh1WaGEWvJeXmVbvQPwz_eaZowwr5LUjbGXATMJURwuq8ql5ws1Ui7_8fbUFhl2FpBeY3Z7mqRo6ySGJT8r4T5znlkgsoKcE_uAQjE76dzrgk_/s1600/Circular.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCssze_I4kyD6mDLvK_5UjDZVrPrCeuAhh1WaGEWvJeXmVbvQPwz_eaZowwr5LUjbGXATMJURwuq8ql5ws1Ui7_8fbUFhl2FpBeY3Z7mqRo6ySGJT8r4T5znlkgsoKcE_uAQjE76dzrgk_/s400/Circular.JPG" width="385" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.holycowvegan.net/2009/11/brown-rice-dosas.html">This circular magical recipe</a> made of
fermented batter prepared with rice, split black gram and fenugreek seeds in
some proportion, made on a flat iron pan, has been the lifeline of people south
of the Vindhyas. No mother in this region could be said to have not perfected
the art of making dosas. No child in these regions could be said to have not had
it as part of their regular menu. No wonder the moon like Dosa found its role in
many a lullabies and stories. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKgrYA5uATzQ5Af-xR2ADloZOUOaG5KXUAG9PSFTGL2aq2Bwjcleb2HoNYTYyZwaw5IsW8FvUpgEOoEvGLj_DR_0wlDHL2yBvxYfVXdtTCq7FbIAkYl35koKQ92kqJhvFnSOEcqwY7CVL/s1600/800px-Paper_Masala_Dosa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKgrYA5uATzQ5Af-xR2ADloZOUOaG5KXUAG9PSFTGL2aq2Bwjcleb2HoNYTYyZwaw5IsW8FvUpgEOoEvGLj_DR_0wlDHL2yBvxYfVXdtTCq7FbIAkYl35koKQ92kqJhvFnSOEcqwY7CVL/s400/800px-Paper_Masala_Dosa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Its first cousin, the Masala Dosa
should have been the invention of some creative hotelier less than a century
ago. Often semi circular in size, pregnant with potato curry stuffing in the
middle, served with steam hot <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sambar_(dish)">sambar</a> and <a href="http://www.tarladalal.com/Coconut-Chutney-(idlis-and-Dosas)-1653r">coconut
chutney</a> is the first choice of any south Indian foodie.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Masala dosas are not generally cooked
at homes, unlike ordinary dosa. I am certain that no house wife in this world
has ever perfected the art of making masala dosa. The testimony of it is the
high demand for masala dosas in restaurants.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEDj05k4tzR7yvoU74ayNdRZeUNovTgmO1niksUKPmVbXpXAidbSuulEHOWkJD30pFv6pS30Kw4-vgdwt8e7TzyWuCyoglx7Q5mXoTw5F8IuP-UaKVdNEjkvcM6cFwVQxrX9hwePb1PqN/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEDj05k4tzR7yvoU74ayNdRZeUNovTgmO1niksUKPmVbXpXAidbSuulEHOWkJD30pFv6pS30Kw4-vgdwt8e7TzyWuCyoglx7Q5mXoTw5F8IuP-UaKVdNEjkvcM6cFwVQxrX9hwePb1PqN/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Somehow, the name Mysore is
associated with masala dosa (as Mysore Masala Dosa) to show its superiority and
also suggesting Karnataka as the birth place of this recipe. Similar is the case
with Mysore Rasam and Mysore Bonda. The state of Mysore, which had been a very
strong princely state with connoisseur kings, had attracted to it, several
intellectuals, artistes, musicians and along with it, great cooks too. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivalli_Brahmins">Shivali Brahmins</a>,
basically from Udipi, Karnataka, who had the monopoly of south Indian Vegetarian
restaurants across the world, would have spread this connotation. The credit for
popularising masala dosa (along with filter coffee) throughout north India
should go to the Indian Coffee House restaurant chains.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">As Children, the word masala dosa
always rejuvenated our taste buds. Those were the days when a visit to a
restaurant was considered to be a luxury. My first adventure to a restaurant to
have masala dosa happened when I was in 8<sup>th</sup> class. I often skipped
the last period in my school and reached home late to give company to my
classmate so that he can skip his tuition class which he never wanted to attend.
The bribe offered to me was a masala dosa in the Krishna Bhavan Restaurant near
the school. And that was the best masala dosa that I have ever had in my life.
The aroma it had was awesome.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">One has to begin with a piece of dosa
from the corner, dipped in the chutney. The ecstasy ascends while approaching
slowly towards the middle where the spicy potato masala is hidden. Then the
potato curry starts getting invitingly revealing. By the time you finish the
last mouth with whatever chutney and sambar left in the plate, it was like
conquering the Everest or listening to a musical concert with a grand
finale.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The aroma of the mixture of the
masala, sambar and chutney stayed in my hand for hours and I often refused to
take the regular boring evening dinner at home to keep the fragrance. I
continued this friendship for want of Masala Dosa often risking myself getting
caught at home. At last Masala Dosa won and I failed in studies.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The physical properties and chemical
characteristics have been clearly sounded in the unwritten Masala Dosa Manual in
vogue with south Indian hoteliers. It should be crispy and of size 15 to 18<sup>
</sup>Inch dia. Unlike ordinary dosa, Masala dosa is not reversed while
cooking.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">As regards the chemistry, dosa’s
presence should be felt from a distance by mere fragrance of fried batter
particles in butter oil coupled with the flavour of the potato curry escaping
through the pores of dosa. Sambar, made of small local onion with asafoetida in
it adds to the overall flavour of the cuisine. The prescribed overall colour is
‘golden’ with more thicker golden colour towards the centre of the
circle.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The process is highly professional.
Slightly fermented batter is spread on a large flat hot pan that can take 6-8
dosas at a time, with the bottom of a bowl, which is also used to measure and
also to pour 2) By the time the cook spreads the eighth dosa, the first one
would have been ready to take the stuffing 3) Place stuffing made of a secret
combination of potato, onion, ginger, green chilly, turmeric powder and curry
leaves and 4) By the time stuffing is placed in the eighth dosa, it is time to
start folding the first dosa, into a half circle and serve with hot sambar and
coconut chutney. More creative cooks have changed its physical property by
presenting it in the form of flat cylinder, a cone, etc, depending upon their
artistic fervour.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-Np_aJyLVZMXdnucKHQELq4pFS-_xXTTm2za013zMLhq2DjYrLMfBlT4VIzdMebuYtpvAp6yt86uzGlRfioNrXgTDEWD44Yqc0smmmR1tSieFBWiwBNJnz5EM8kR_nZRhiWofpK9Zsjh/s1600/Dosa_and_ghee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-Np_aJyLVZMXdnucKHQELq4pFS-_xXTTm2za013zMLhq2DjYrLMfBlT4VIzdMebuYtpvAp6yt86uzGlRfioNrXgTDEWD44Yqc0smmmR1tSieFBWiwBNJnz5EM8kR_nZRhiWofpK9Zsjh/s400/Dosa_and_ghee.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">As a grown up, during my visits to
the Town (Trichur), I always ventured to visit few of the famous restaurants
that served good Masala Dosas. Prominent among them were Pathans, Ambadi,
Dwaraka and Bharat. Bharat is still going strong. The other names have vanished
over a period of time and new names appeared. I have heard my senior college
mates talking about one Modern Swami’s café in Trichur which was more popular
among masala dosa enthusiasts. By the time I reached college, this restaurant
was closed for ever.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uh9W9GsOgcYu7n7ckHRKVFeworxzpSP5-r7doxXLPmlvLmDT3Si2gutx6fIbteiYtWgOp_TYNBv7gVR-7w8idtHQ24YBfn5K8e4Ns43NH9byrZTaHytAWSJfLv00G4tIabRWd3x3ATot/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Uh9W9GsOgcYu7n7ckHRKVFeworxzpSP5-r7doxXLPmlvLmDT3Si2gutx6fIbteiYtWgOp_TYNBv7gVR-7w8idtHQ24YBfn5K8e4Ns43NH9byrZTaHytAWSJfLv00G4tIabRWd3x3ATot/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">This healthy, very affordably priced
food had/ has fans like Raj Kapoor and Khushwant Singh. Krishnaswami Sunderji,
one of our yester year army Generals remembers in his memoirs, his younger days
in Kashmir where they used to eat Masala dosa with mutton curry as stuffing in
it in one of the roadside eateries regularly. Such is the transformation this
wonderful dish has undergone over the years. Masala Dosa has travelled all over
the world. We are hearing about Masala Dosa being served at White house on
special occasions. I am sure that no town in the world which does not have a
restaurant that serves Masala Dosa in some form or other.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">But when I asked my son of his choice
of something to be ordered to eat, his immediate answer was Pizza. I am wrong
when I rated Masala Dosa as the most favoured in the beginning. My son’s taste
buds charge up when he thinks of cutting out a piece from a medium pizza having
abundant amount of sticky cheese spread on it, often flowing out, decorated with
pieces of capsicum and tomato over it and seasoned with salt, pepper and red
chilly flakes. The name masala dosa never evoked such a feeling in him.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">But I am not disappointed. Though my
town Cochin cannot boast of a great dosa tradition, there are a couple of places
where only ‘Dosas’ are served. The ‘Pai Dosa Centre’ at MG road is one which
serves 36 varieties of dosas. A recently started one near my home at
Tripunithura, named ‘Dosa Corner’ too specialises only in Dosas, having 50
variants including chocolate dosas.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">And at last the newspaper has come
out with their results rating masala dosa as one of the 10 delicacies one should
have in India. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">A number of recipes are available in
the net to attempt cooking Masala Dosa at home. But I wont’ suggest any as I do
not want any of you to attempt it at home. This delicacy is meant to be relished
while eating out.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;">Photo source: Wikimedia</span></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-9595548252134209402012-10-15T15:10:00.000+05:302012-10-15T15:10:10.900+05:30 Bio-diversity - After the Rains<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Fortunately I was at my village home
in Kerala during this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onam">Onam</a>. Incessant rains were downing my spirits. Later the
rains went on a casual leave and there was bright sunshine for a day or two.
Finally rains departed. The climate was soothing. I could see wild growth of
vegetation everywhere. Tubers, bulbs and seeds of various plants which were in
hibernation, under the soil, ran havoc. There were plenty of flowers everywhere
and they come handy during this festival season for decorating the courtyards
with beautiful patterns using the petals of flowers. Boys and girls start
collecting flowers in the wee hours well before Sun Rise. My village happens to
be at the North Western end of the village. There is a road in the front which
runs through the village and opens up on the Highway. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sQNezrmfGcnbHFloQ_4sg5y97xnRkQnSioeU7bxx0wJ-1kp-hp0vOI-d7BoQEndy5r0UqGvimUaOXBsigLAu88Y5LnYXC_TUsklYj9YW__Tr3IiN9GqICRWpIQnfu8ndzQU8jHIKZPcF/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sQNezrmfGcnbHFloQ_4sg5y97xnRkQnSioeU7bxx0wJ-1kp-hp0vOI-d7BoQEndy5r0UqGvimUaOXBsigLAu88Y5LnYXC_TUsklYj9YW__Tr3IiN9GqICRWpIQnfu8ndzQU8jHIKZPcF/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">My own home compound affords me an
opportunity of moving around seeking appointments with various plants and
flowers they bear. Since the land area is a little larger, I need to take
several rounds everyday. Many of the species happen to be known ones but there
were many others hitherto unknown or un noticed. Apart from flowers there is an
abundance of other life forms like colourful flying or creeping insects. I
regret for not having studied botany, insect science etc.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0hRqvUxvXiRzWQA1Lm3M3QUe16upYwe46devKV7ycifQTTv96aTAR9oSrD3GCEn7K0vAs_9qdpmCtponwb-WDfT0L4s3r9SSs_6eJVfPYoeXRGx5j-wiv6qs1qnxiRlo_cCZJd7SzrOj/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0hRqvUxvXiRzWQA1Lm3M3QUe16upYwe46devKV7ycifQTTv96aTAR9oSrD3GCEn7K0vAs_9qdpmCtponwb-WDfT0L4s3r9SSs_6eJVfPYoeXRGx5j-wiv6qs1qnxiRlo_cCZJd7SzrOj/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">One day while strolling around I
found a beautiful sparkling green beetle resting on a leaf. My mother was
telling me the other day that green grass hoppers were not to be seen these
days. Incidentally they were very much there. Probably they are not entering our
house enabling mom to sight them . She seldom moves out because of her poor
eyesight. Two more grass hoppers bent upwards and one over the other were also
sighted. When I went closer to them they got separated. They looked a little
peculiar for they were a little bent and their stomach portion had red dots.
Instinctively I thought of catching them for some careful examination of their
belly but something prevented me and I walked past them.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKg2LJSm-IVMaUgqAraC0g5Uq-QtrtJ4YGOhneX_RJ5QrBDvehRa2S38MmaE7ghCz0QpRJRpOXtfToTtsBw9LLgqWunzkSjJ8u3WFld25bHJ1SED5AQvEp0Nd1yPkvguV6sxRc7kXPUCS4/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKg2LJSm-IVMaUgqAraC0g5Uq-QtrtJ4YGOhneX_RJ5QrBDvehRa2S38MmaE7ghCz0QpRJRpOXtfToTtsBw9LLgqWunzkSjJ8u3WFld25bHJ1SED5AQvEp0Nd1yPkvguV6sxRc7kXPUCS4/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmNdrWlROgO3BStOguBT8HIZwKB0RTzb6-pCJnA-Fhew2bapKnlaAZA0x4utIvkpZjg0bS0ckBj5d-8V4B4aK015HL3GiDZCgObwHzhtR_nn1jP40aTV5HXo-IDLiU1Tv_3sgtEvu56Yz/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmNdrWlROgO3BStOguBT8HIZwKB0RTzb6-pCJnA-Fhew2bapKnlaAZA0x4utIvkpZjg0bS0ckBj5d-8V4B4aK015HL3GiDZCgObwHzhtR_nn1jP40aTV5HXo-IDLiU1Tv_3sgtEvu56Yz/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Beautiful butterflies were flying
over my head and one was too large. Although they sat on the tender leaves,
they never allowed me to photograph them. They flew away even before I could
focus my camera. Thus I was denied the opportunity of photographing some thing
extraordinarily beautiful. It could have been an endangered specie and I could
have won laurels for their discovery! Then there occurred a hairy larvae which
was also beautiful but can not say if it was something special.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9x3FASu2LeDLJCW2Wi66_x0hoP2vQwA6ppeNEBuYN9rpy8oQF_Qsa98CsiSO9G9GxTloVOM2vja0z5UAokRjoGTYt6ja7zYdRq7Gypdm_XyOYQzg2iLMBtL1-3kFFWm7V9Lz2EF3WxsE3/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9x3FASu2LeDLJCW2Wi66_x0hoP2vQwA6ppeNEBuYN9rpy8oQF_Qsa98CsiSO9G9GxTloVOM2vja0z5UAokRjoGTYt6ja7zYdRq7Gypdm_XyOYQzg2iLMBtL1-3kFFWm7V9Lz2EF3WxsE3/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">While reaching our front gate I found
few bright red beetle like insects examining a bud of a wild climber. On closer
look they were quite like ants but differed in their body structure. I wondered
as to why Nature has given such an attractive colour for they would be
susceptible to being picked up by birds. I discovered later that these ants were
in fact waiting for the Pub to open. The bud blossoms into a beautiful
flower and the ants would then have the nectar in it. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvB2jCLnMk_F4-8ZsE1s3JrvEVuKPGplqZYqrAkyxYJDMcqtmCNHLWwm64SW-Z-TCklxAsUxOc44CVh7vkbEVhtyJW0IKHBaHb1Wr_YkTOccC2D4gH43pdSpz3Op4-IqcYdRWCnzIorFe/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPvB2jCLnMk_F4-8ZsE1s3JrvEVuKPGplqZYqrAkyxYJDMcqtmCNHLWwm64SW-Z-TCklxAsUxOc44CVh7vkbEVhtyJW0IKHBaHb1Wr_YkTOccC2D4gH43pdSpz3Op4-IqcYdRWCnzIorFe/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbHVMGx-lo1sI0XwaaCH8DeZzrsx5zCYbMNuFTi_VoqECWJomzzTiY8280wIVjhjzEqbK5RLGmz6zimbkRSxhyzi3EeOgao3spqt5uB2uCNZ4cg0MNh6vIJXbbBpq8cJ8NSSXyoinGZ3Z/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbHVMGx-lo1sI0XwaaCH8DeZzrsx5zCYbMNuFTi_VoqECWJomzzTiY8280wIVjhjzEqbK5RLGmz6zimbkRSxhyzi3EeOgao3spqt5uB2uCNZ4cg0MNh6vIJXbbBpq8cJ8NSSXyoinGZ3Z/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ACHBA722CAXHyb442_ufJZhjh7zsC3Ixj8ZeZ9eFDyEK01FNITs4jfkCU_GPZR4we2PjXFLPVSDlPuygdPan8uXaj43_GGvglLX_EzRzCijCEC1ZON9Kyv3I6bifkRavKQsLsZ9R10ta/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ACHBA722CAXHyb442_ufJZhjh7zsC3Ixj8ZeZ9eFDyEK01FNITs4jfkCU_GPZR4we2PjXFLPVSDlPuygdPan8uXaj43_GGvglLX_EzRzCijCEC1ZON9Kyv3I6bifkRavKQsLsZ9R10ta/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIXQa-oNlbfNA65HQhi8ve2zzRH5W_Vocd07obYIs-fmEVJYn-Aad5PcLpcoUnaP3CtGPOkKD1QF8qRdHrfvJIhLQX2yNuDkH6Dw88zR6_bhd9OSyMLODLtkv-4_viisDcafjTkRWqYcA/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIXQa-oNlbfNA65HQhi8ve2zzRH5W_Vocd07obYIs-fmEVJYn-Aad5PcLpcoUnaP3CtGPOkKD1QF8qRdHrfvJIhLQX2yNuDkH6Dw88zR6_bhd9OSyMLODLtkv-4_viisDcafjTkRWqYcA/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWhGEKXkACa98N427GPfQOD47zgqNcATbOd3T8vTE5-Sp3baU76aEqs_LRGCDrvxjPfI0-QFBjNYDYVty6Hi_jxx3Z_XYdKp2kMkEWKF8WZbBZEe1w7mrTGUolUUc0b6dEtYzCgS2b_QM/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWhGEKXkACa98N427GPfQOD47zgqNcATbOd3T8vTE5-Sp3baU76aEqs_LRGCDrvxjPfI0-QFBjNYDYVty6Hi_jxx3Z_XYdKp2kMkEWKF8WZbBZEe1w7mrTGUolUUc0b6dEtYzCgS2b_QM/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUngkcQCXfbkcV3rX7nRkzg_5bKJmFA3-juHUoM6mB7OwSlyaaVDdujqFT2isuJ3eivPseB4yjdMmGi2h-I0h1V8Ix3FxzxV-lxIwumPqaHknpsblQ3_BYdiG9HDbYlpq9h_PWfsh6w24Q/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUngkcQCXfbkcV3rX7nRkzg_5bKJmFA3-juHUoM6mB7OwSlyaaVDdujqFT2isuJ3eivPseB4yjdMmGi2h-I0h1V8Ix3FxzxV-lxIwumPqaHknpsblQ3_BYdiG9HDbYlpq9h_PWfsh6w24Q/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoY0bRsWtofxTwomohJnjJCFXITzkmfg-Wg2tFKbe4OhQkp64kehgN7yt60FLWFYFuie5y1Q1kZqpdDTCvq1qsKEe3sycBcBNDSH35JIzGx7uQZLVTIiQ7NTUZB6RpFJ1wDWUiHTYS2_De/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoY0bRsWtofxTwomohJnjJCFXITzkmfg-Wg2tFKbe4OhQkp64kehgN7yt60FLWFYFuie5y1Q1kZqpdDTCvq1qsKEe3sycBcBNDSH35JIzGx7uQZLVTIiQ7NTUZB6RpFJ1wDWUiHTYS2_De/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">I happened to walk out of the main
gate and turn towards the right when I saw several buds, flowers and fruits
clinging to the fence of my uncles house. They belonged to the same
family. Buds turn flowers and when they wither a fruit comes into being. Yes
they are the phases I murmured. The ripe fruit is yellow in colour of the size
of a berry. I remember to have seen them in the past too. Let me consult mom I
thought as all my childhood learning are attributable to her. I plucked those
fruits and went straight to my mom. She felt happy for I still valued
her knowledge about such things. She informed me that the fruit is not normally
eaten. Some poor children do eat them. It tastes like one’s mucus coming out of
the nostrils. Immediately images of small children with a running nose licking
their upper lips came to my mind.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6C0vXTcX4-B87RmUSmtx8fWglGqJIaZkxLkcdo-sBpXBcgo6DQ40mWerOTkw7I3V9LMmq98oKNMeBnSQsnjQIPzbGCDdyZoQONJHYJ4w7SlGy8hKEFJmIC-iscYhPaFYA175MpqEuUpM/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT6C0vXTcX4-B87RmUSmtx8fWglGqJIaZkxLkcdo-sBpXBcgo6DQ40mWerOTkw7I3V9LMmq98oKNMeBnSQsnjQIPzbGCDdyZoQONJHYJ4w7SlGy8hKEFJmIC-iscYhPaFYA175MpqEuUpM/s400/13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJaT40KKNAwUv2Qd98Yoo3u729kQnShdo-Lb4-Mkj2iWJ80dJosDBQDl-PB0elEYYJNprrLaEX8ROQt-RYEG8YJHsjwEKdVguWEicRdMU1va2apm0dDkflYWDkKO01db_eC4AY2G1H0sc/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJaT40KKNAwUv2Qd98Yoo3u729kQnShdo-Lb4-Mkj2iWJ80dJosDBQDl-PB0elEYYJNprrLaEX8ROQt-RYEG8YJHsjwEKdVguWEicRdMU1va2apm0dDkflYWDkKO01db_eC4AY2G1H0sc/s400/14.jpg" width="342" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">That evening was spent at our
backyard which also had its share of some wild growth. There were plants around
four to five feet high and the leaves resembled that of ginger or turmeric.
Many of them had beautiful white flowers while some others of the same kind had
dark pink flowers which appeared to be much more beautiful. They are supposed to
be distantly related to Ginger plants and have use in traditional medicines. I
was told that the Ayurvedic practitioners send their people out hunting for the
roots of these plants.</span></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-72022188401187159462012-10-08T16:21:00.000+05:302015-04-18T09:18:02.493+05:30Avantipur (Kashmir)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We were actually heading to <i>Pahalgam</i>
but as we had instructed, our driver stopped the vehicle in front of the <i>Avantipur</i>
temple ruins which were on the way. In one of my earlier posts, I had mentioned
about a visit to this place which is around 30 kilometres South East of Srinagar
and the attraction being the ruins of a 9th century temple. My friends were
intrigued for they had known about one <i>Avanti</i> in central India, sometimes
misunderstood as being the ancient name of <i>Ujjain</i>. On the lines of the Greek
city states, India during its classical age had 16 republics known as
<i>Mahajanapadas</i> known to us through ancient literature and religious texts. Avanti
or Avantika was one such region. One of its capitals was Ujjain or Ujjaini.
Avantipur on the other hand was once a capital of Kashmir.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtagTKyQOSooppufomRncah0Yd4Tz9Kgd9K2nfymZa87hj8ZsfjU78mI-lNgUSCbsq5rjK2uWNtCU3kpC7Sn57ti9WO-QmTWYEnfWVVh9B5pGYd-N2ULm1TRL2rDvfE-5HOpvazzoHGP-C/s1600/IMG_2583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtagTKyQOSooppufomRncah0Yd4Tz9Kgd9K2nfymZa87hj8ZsfjU78mI-lNgUSCbsq5rjK2uWNtCU3kpC7Sn57ti9WO-QmTWYEnfWVVh9B5pGYd-N2ULm1TRL2rDvfE-5HOpvazzoHGP-C/s400/IMG_2583.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The imposing ruined structure was
before us. A watchman posted there advised to procure tickets from the counter
at the left. We obeyed the instructions and found a Sardarji (Sikh gentleman)
sitting there. There was a notice board which contained the entry fee payable.
Additional levies were prescribed for still cameras and video cameras. Before I
could tender the cash, Sardarji enquired “yes sir, where are you from”. We told
them that we are tourists and are interested in taking some photographs. His
next anxiety was to learn about me as to my vocation and if I am employed. I
said I am no more in service and casually (or may be to establish my
credibility) told him that I am an amateur archaeologist. Perhaps my words were
music to him as he instantly said Sir, you need not buy any tickets. For you it
is free. I apprised him that we are in all 10 to which he countered, so what?.
My next query was what about the cameras we are carrying. He said in a typical
Punjabi tone “who prevents you”. Thereafter I called in all the people who were
still tied to their seats in the vehicles. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">During the 12th century there lived a
highly learned sanskrit scholar and poet in Kashmir whose name was Kalhan. He
was the author of a work known as Rajatarangini (a history of ruling dynasties).
He states that Raja Avantivarman (855 – 883 AD) of the Utpala dynasty founded
the city of Avantipura in an area known as Vishwaiksara where Hindus performed
religious rites for the salvation of their dead. The jhelam river (ancient name
Vitasta) was also nearby. Such a presence of a water body is not only ideal, is
also necessary for the religious rites. We could infer that the place was
considered to be a holy one much before the establishment of a City named
<i>Avantipura</i>. Avantivarman, the King, was a follower of Vaishnava cult ( a
Vaishnavite – worshippers of Lord Vishnu) and he continued to be so till his
death. It was he who got a grand temple constructed for his Lord during the 9th
century. The central deity installed in the Sanctum Sanctorum was christened as
<i>Avantiswamin</i>. The King had a minister named Sura who was very dear to him but
Sura was a worshipper of Lord Shiva. Therefore Avantivarman got another equally
grand temple constructed for Lord Shiva just a kilometre away. The temple is
known as <i>Avanteeswara</i> which is also in ruins. Unfortunately we were not aware of
its existence at such a short distance and we missed it.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Sultan Sikandar Butshikan, the 14th
century ruler of Kashmir hailed from Afghanistan. To appease a spiritual leader
Syed Ali Hamadani in that country, Sultan Sikandar engaged himself in a crusade
and ended up in the massacre of Kashmiri people and destroying their holy places
ruthlessly. All kinds of stage plays including music and folk songs, folk dances
etc. were banned. Consumption of wine/liquor was made an offence. People were
compelled to embrace Islam for fear of life. It is said that in the entire
Kashmir only some 11 Hindu families escaped. We could perhaps draw a parallel
with the Talibans of Afghanistan. Along with other temples, the Avantipur Vishnu
temple was also not spared. However, it is said that the construction was so
strong that it took over a year to have it demolished, part of which still
remains to tell us its past glory. Sultan Sikandar’s title “Butshikan” itself
means a destroyer of Idols. Incidentally his second son Jain-ul-Abidin (1423 –
1474) was tolerant and considerate towards Hindus. He came to power after his
brother proceeded to Mecca for a pilgrimage. However by the time Jain-ul-Abidin
came to the scene, none of the Hindu temple structures had survived. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Pl3_zE3ZP-bjjDBURzQtguV36bZWF2l4UjX4hsPX_Vano-fwFxwgTuKALLzQllIkGvpbDwJMxFJmB3o16pL5mD8ztgwWtoCmt8BfjjHowq7YFpGuTXF4L7ldpIIIbTYu3IqpmFbaIAsu/s1600/IMG_2564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Pl3_zE3ZP-bjjDBURzQtguV36bZWF2l4UjX4hsPX_Vano-fwFxwgTuKALLzQllIkGvpbDwJMxFJmB3o16pL5mD8ztgwWtoCmt8BfjjHowq7YFpGuTXF4L7ldpIIIbTYu3IqpmFbaIAsu/s400/IMG_2564.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVoNLc0t7gjnuYHHphoOE8dfNdHxu-RndtW7IzDPWThvxtNp7f24gCAxlam__k7WtsszKrSkJUiTElN6-RgMFNJ4_F8C1q_6lyB3eiNNgQCFtJR7cMzXcrEXumrcwX43MCXPu_6fhBSJp/s1600/IMG_2565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVoNLc0t7gjnuYHHphoOE8dfNdHxu-RndtW7IzDPWThvxtNp7f24gCAxlam__k7WtsszKrSkJUiTElN6-RgMFNJ4_F8C1q_6lyB3eiNNgQCFtJR7cMzXcrEXumrcwX43MCXPu_6fhBSJp/s400/IMG_2565.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67sNGHaaWGerZcg1IqhuR16Ylou9fsNkexdkTpGGsehVQt9QwpENJWrZL-r000HVcB8C8aYMt3u-iDYr6hyphenhyphenVmie0nEHre37hZIP1guh5bIDnTselD7J1vJtJeKpRbctOnQ2Sq1TKT8AAR/s1600/IMG_2567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67sNGHaaWGerZcg1IqhuR16Ylou9fsNkexdkTpGGsehVQt9QwpENJWrZL-r000HVcB8C8aYMt3u-iDYr6hyphenhyphenVmie0nEHre37hZIP1guh5bIDnTselD7J1vJtJeKpRbctOnQ2Sq1TKT8AAR/s400/IMG_2567.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3Qz6_87q5vrsTLXo2Y0EHzX5edIYHjl9B1cC5_NaHKQB_VfioLX4RueWmCRlzVVhjDdIVc9NCBxERKJ92LNZdztKPJUwk0zVWzkCsDwouZD0R8Sp6CmzInHbia5tZOow37kJtQRNHBWP/s1600/IMG_2568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja3Qz6_87q5vrsTLXo2Y0EHzX5edIYHjl9B1cC5_NaHKQB_VfioLX4RueWmCRlzVVhjDdIVc9NCBxERKJ92LNZdztKPJUwk0zVWzkCsDwouZD0R8Sp6CmzInHbia5tZOow37kJtQRNHBWP/s400/IMG_2568.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_hLDUNBbp-aFMksYYlyBA6Hi9FEPVzVweLN_33ADivDynQ5gPPgfVnE5VSVKFHiq3xPArgbxMnqP5ohkHPbyTtWpreCQfVnsurp79x9M6BW_DNutcPA1GCGjsl-dWx2zaAzr0N78QjKt/s1600/Overview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_hLDUNBbp-aFMksYYlyBA6Hi9FEPVzVweLN_33ADivDynQ5gPPgfVnE5VSVKFHiq3xPArgbxMnqP5ohkHPbyTtWpreCQfVnsurp79x9M6BW_DNutcPA1GCGjsl-dWx2zaAzr0N78QjKt/s400/Overview.jpg" height="130" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">There was a well laid out pathway
leading to the main entrance. The huge door, made of lime stone blocks
approachable through a flight of stairs stood majestically. The upper portions
were in a broken condition together with the tall massive columns with
ornamentation. The intricately carved main entrance would have been a sight to
behold. Apart from the destruction it was subjected to, weathering has also
played its due role. Many of the sculptures are now difficult to be recognised.
The temple is rectangular with a huge courtyard measuring 170.6 x 147.6 feet.
After entering through the main entrance we need to go down for being in the
courtyard. There is yet another elevated structure at the middle with stairs
leading to the sanctum sanctorum. There is an array of cells arranged around the
periphery of the paved courtyard similar to Buddhist Viharas. We are not certain
as to the purpose of those small rooms/cells. Could only presume that either
they were used for meditation facing the central shrine or for placing large
sculptures.There are remains of four smaller shrines at the four corners of the
courtyard.</span> </div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuSqvbnzJzeYdVCa0j7AyXWolY8tJ8kgaszgHlrNb3v417Uf4enuEXIR_7uSWDhjhX0P-0fPX1yKrdchor31Nk-wxrIH5vfrs1WJ5sAchbqHxdlv34cbCSizmJqqXyT6RZAYHShLwM0od/s1600/IMG_2578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuSqvbnzJzeYdVCa0j7AyXWolY8tJ8kgaszgHlrNb3v417Uf4enuEXIR_7uSWDhjhX0P-0fPX1yKrdchor31Nk-wxrIH5vfrs1WJ5sAchbqHxdlv34cbCSizmJqqXyT6RZAYHShLwM0od/s400/IMG_2578.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCs3PT7HwR9qaMmJZuMC6-0GFy2LVrMrbodMir3O34vXNYFiD-AKwvM3pmcX-pc3sWqzmc1B0RABANsxNmqjuAkTBipmU4QpSJ7brVEyWamyziJqV7AFD-kLcn5VLaztkMd9gVQ4KfV6R/s1600/IMG_2579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvCs3PT7HwR9qaMmJZuMC6-0GFy2LVrMrbodMir3O34vXNYFiD-AKwvM3pmcX-pc3sWqzmc1B0RABANsxNmqjuAkTBipmU4QpSJ7brVEyWamyziJqV7AFD-kLcn5VLaztkMd9gVQ4KfV6R/s400/IMG_2579.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Fg15r9eEfu0SKZG7rqcCr4QG1QP4NUF0J6vRp765KCCJzRnFdacPFEvAioW8QlQTqHLFabzeCpMn5OUBd-YNyJbiWz4_B8IVebgLqIXudreR_VLVIHZJdJQmxN3otb1tAy-lLvrq27eR/s1600/IMG_2580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Fg15r9eEfu0SKZG7rqcCr4QG1QP4NUF0J6vRp765KCCJzRnFdacPFEvAioW8QlQTqHLFabzeCpMn5OUBd-YNyJbiWz4_B8IVebgLqIXudreR_VLVIHZJdJQmxN3otb1tAy-lLvrq27eR/s400/IMG_2580.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoRu6xV5l8Di8tfPCOlaEMv7pXu7crbNMCwUo-neuV0wZ_WOg7xBaQq4tG9BqnPQ_lGCDBOTVXUlavVTX0yY6WYhdQoa-nziWYwbXNFjWKk_vzpjjvx-scmLlxHGOdQErei0gEVXN00Ff/s1600/IMG_2571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoRu6xV5l8Di8tfPCOlaEMv7pXu7crbNMCwUo-neuV0wZ_WOg7xBaQq4tG9BqnPQ_lGCDBOTVXUlavVTX0yY6WYhdQoa-nziWYwbXNFjWKk_vzpjjvx-scmLlxHGOdQErei0gEVXN00Ff/s400/IMG_2571.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyOL6sVwI0FS3AjQMlZoR6JANqPOYiWiZaNG7Hy0G_z7PSSSs1izPNHiADcrIuNHBtO5T1N1HyTWz4aeqjJ2bMUXVLQ1xNcoFhnoEyXaZCIPVnrHere-Q6wYOOCprZ0dSTsugDPRzxpi5/s1600/Avantipur-1920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyOL6sVwI0FS3AjQMlZoR6JANqPOYiWiZaNG7Hy0G_z7PSSSs1izPNHiADcrIuNHBtO5T1N1HyTWz4aeqjJ2bMUXVLQ1xNcoFhnoEyXaZCIPVnrHere-Q6wYOOCprZ0dSTsugDPRzxpi5/s400/Avantipur-1920.jpg" height="241" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">During the early part of twentieth
century excavations were carried out by a team headed by D.R. Sahni resulting in
the reclamation of the temple ruins up to the floor level. The excavation
yielded a rich crop of antiquities including 121 coins issued by Toramana,
Sultans of the Shah Miri dynasty, Durrani Afghan rulers etc. Sahni also
excavated the quadrangle of the Avantisvara temple and brought to light a small
earthen jar having 108 copper coins issued by various rulers, fragments of birch
manuscripts containing accounts of articles of worship, inscribed earthen jar
etc. The sculptures from this site are presently displayed at Srinagar
Museum.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Temple architecture is supposed to
have reached its zenith during that period with some sprinklings of Gandhara and
Greek styles.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The <i>Avanteeswara</i> temple, a kilometre
away and the <i>Martand </i>Sun Temple 8 kilometres away from Anantanag (Islamabad)
built by Lalitaditya in the 8th century, though in ruins, are similar in style
and construction. However, we were not fortunate enough to visit
them.</span></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-8121573345346900842012-09-15T07:00:00.000+05:302012-09-15T07:00:00.830+05:30Around Pahalgam (Kashmir)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>11th June 2012</b></span><br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We got shifted to a new hotel closer to the main market early in the morning. Soon thereafter there was a call from the reception asking us to proceed to the dining hall for the complimentary breakfast. We had our fill and asked our driver to call for two local taxies to take us around. Strangely you are not allowed to take the taxies brought from Srinagar. The rates to various packages are predetermined and are prominently displayed at the Taxi Stand. The taxies need to line up at the stand after getting a token/number. Any body desirous of a taxi shall go to the booth for booking. The person manning the booth will in turn summon the waitlisted drivers in order of seniority. The rates prescribed are exorbitant compared to what prevails elsewhere in the Country. The gullible tourists have no other option but to get exploited. The important and most visited places around Pahalgam are <strong>Betab Valley</strong>, <strong>Chandanwari</strong> and <strong>Aru Valley</strong>. All of them fall within a radius of 16 kilometres and get covered in about 4 hours for which the minimum charges are Rs.1,500/-. The taxies arrived in due course of time and we were on the move.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Arrangements for the annual </span><strong style="font-family: Verdana;">Amarnath </strong><span style="font-family: Verdana;">pilgrimage, which will commence by 28th June, were in full swing. Pahalgam plays an important role in this pilgrimage (Yatra), it being the base camp. Tents were being erected at numerous locations for the purpose. We were heading to Chandanwari and the road runs parallel to </span><strong style="font-family: Verdana;">Lidder</strong><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> river (aka Lambodari) for quite some distance. Several families were picnicking on its banks. Vehicles were either parked on the road side or taken down, may be for reasons of safety. The gushing waters of the river, the meadows, pine/Devdar tree on the mountain slopes and snow covered peaks were lending a heavenly grace to the topography.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZz_cNV9X0lYZ3p_CeqR2R3mm3W3eRqPEyH16-24TQetYUk7lfBcDTKdrOAnbajJe6xthGuInTenejOuiPdSKel1I400o7Ytx3Q1_fNoA9ePPfAnXm2ulifTJ4VwHb0mcigQnN7BOTcoxw/s1600/IMG_2598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZz_cNV9X0lYZ3p_CeqR2R3mm3W3eRqPEyH16-24TQetYUk7lfBcDTKdrOAnbajJe6xthGuInTenejOuiPdSKel1I400o7Ytx3Q1_fNoA9ePPfAnXm2ulifTJ4VwHb0mcigQnN7BOTcoxw/s400/IMG_2598.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRU-uYT35jnlSaWTpHOwvebfTmLNtxJyEwfZQhG4piqr14D5aKoLFog2uz8O2yiMoV1Hawma-geaKrwpTOG353Q8pgAiaN5BwSa68zfcbyMCio9n9mrFQyggyUH402l7Ss2gE9T55Lyl2/s1600/IMG_2612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRU-uYT35jnlSaWTpHOwvebfTmLNtxJyEwfZQhG4piqr14D5aKoLFog2uz8O2yiMoV1Hawma-geaKrwpTOG353Q8pgAiaN5BwSa68zfcbyMCio9n9mrFQyggyUH402l7Ss2gE9T55Lyl2/s400/IMG_2612.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DyTpKxEWcJAo8uLVbO0xCuwX45fzcWUkSH0WHWgWlmZe8z7LUErR4Lfjefud5N2BjY13PXmihma1SMRfCKcRIaBg7UCLzdEM2NAc3cuU-AT2KiA5cBZyPAfPxSlnPQ_AqRPNdkc2wjV3/s1600/IMG_2618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7DyTpKxEWcJAo8uLVbO0xCuwX45fzcWUkSH0WHWgWlmZe8z7LUErR4Lfjefud5N2BjY13PXmihma1SMRfCKcRIaBg7UCLzdEM2NAc3cuU-AT2KiA5cBZyPAfPxSlnPQ_AqRPNdkc2wjV3/s400/IMG_2618.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecNNNPEsbImoLAcaEwgmlkqEMpRbbIv_v49WrRCT5fosmLCoXLIdEa82J9Ib1w9uUUDPUGvo2Kq1Q2XcKZzeM1tNHyoZtM4-6QbxvnCwai1Zglfh1x3jemQdfd8zq53KiDxcK2VTPSvsP/s1600/IMG_2619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiecNNNPEsbImoLAcaEwgmlkqEMpRbbIv_v49WrRCT5fosmLCoXLIdEa82J9Ib1w9uUUDPUGvo2Kq1Q2XcKZzeM1tNHyoZtM4-6QbxvnCwai1Zglfh1x3jemQdfd8zq53KiDxcK2VTPSvsP/s400/IMG_2619.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1dQvUbwLrXVWmk2BbGO7yK6-W10Ptow7d7GKzgvZ54aveqY6RuUPKU0b9HjDclYjc6Jo-Fn-HEbQZxSDHTnkuJOBFZru73KgGnnJry7VMZA9oRmqbTLq4rEeHLT-rinR2WuFSR4iGpZU/s1600/IMG_2620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1dQvUbwLrXVWmk2BbGO7yK6-W10Ptow7d7GKzgvZ54aveqY6RuUPKU0b9HjDclYjc6Jo-Fn-HEbQZxSDHTnkuJOBFZru73KgGnnJry7VMZA9oRmqbTLq4rEeHLT-rinR2WuFSR4iGpZU/s400/IMG_2620.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywU6FekTJ45ybjdkv0eeKUzJUsff6mR8fJYe9WMdXXZU7r-ip-dHuTovx8LJthHCtaP512RiyoZuPuZmU59ubi9h6DkYC_I5C7c3vYNUCnIPn8Y1krGB10JZfDc9nIT3Z55Nzhl7B0CHQ/s1600/IMG_2641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywU6FekTJ45ybjdkv0eeKUzJUsff6mR8fJYe9WMdXXZU7r-ip-dHuTovx8LJthHCtaP512RiyoZuPuZmU59ubi9h6DkYC_I5C7c3vYNUCnIPn8Y1krGB10JZfDc9nIT3Z55Nzhl7B0CHQ/s400/IMG_2641.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;">The road further ahead was winding through mountain ranges/passes at a higher elevation and by the time we were around 6/7 kilometres from Pahalgam, we came across a very quiet beautiful valley with a river which had masonry embankments. There was a pucca walkway by its side for a long distance enabling people to stroll along. The area has been developed as a picnic spot by the local authorities with certain basic amenities. A bollywood film was shot here in the 1980’s titled Betab. “</span><em style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;">Jab ham jawan honge, jaane kahan honge”</em><span style="font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;"> a song from that film was a hit and is still liked for its lyrics and music. From that time onwards the valley is being referred to as Betab Valley while its original name was Hajan Ghati (Valley).</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwzXSU1JESoocKYYuiAymMExV0ja2ypSnO1hnAjsrUzHUwGd1iDAC4S8EFQn43ydgWj0H6YmLmNFVJ3_MOw6r2vfOlIejZe0EKcklpnGJtqQeJXea3kfAcgOmNi8oKV34DGtD5bwQfDbO/s1600/IMG_2633.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwzXSU1JESoocKYYuiAymMExV0ja2ypSnO1hnAjsrUzHUwGd1iDAC4S8EFQn43ydgWj0H6YmLmNFVJ3_MOw6r2vfOlIejZe0EKcklpnGJtqQeJXea3kfAcgOmNi8oKV34DGtD5bwQfDbO/s400/IMG_2633.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYgI-7ICFXCuWcNqHVvnGVQkv92XbwSWyH_75x7TZjDiPCIlgBARVKrxscZz6ff54Tpwgs0B53ZbXzew0GAPN3VGlp9IouvSV5x6T5NikpIUMAsnj97XbGvvP9e8OgqUpiKSHIMz4OwXC/s1600/IMG_2634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYgI-7ICFXCuWcNqHVvnGVQkv92XbwSWyH_75x7TZjDiPCIlgBARVKrxscZz6ff54Tpwgs0B53ZbXzew0GAPN3VGlp9IouvSV5x6T5NikpIUMAsnj97XbGvvP9e8OgqUpiKSHIMz4OwXC/s400/IMG_2634.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHVJObcytUsQw7sy-moaV0VicDkCIV4H0RIPAJIMm9VDg7WAsSTuiBPxzWvBJfh1pFzKwhpMq9XCKU9VNiheW9g5JhuUIbd-PNgfZGmAVcWP_Qy90-EPPqsxhKKixnnSbLMb-lVT_oVwn/s1600/IMG_2635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHVJObcytUsQw7sy-moaV0VicDkCIV4H0RIPAJIMm9VDg7WAsSTuiBPxzWvBJfh1pFzKwhpMq9XCKU9VNiheW9g5JhuUIbd-PNgfZGmAVcWP_Qy90-EPPqsxhKKixnnSbLMb-lVT_oVwn/s400/IMG_2635.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9f9ndQbWEc7dEuvoWEC48vfVfhvPfALNnRCBEldL0YbATBy7hsWMj7v0VNWQuvcCdLr4IpqIxMw574jkxfp462bnvz-hhcGVjbhEgYajnOSFj8kqsLrluBS57CpHLc3Uv1PalpD49Rie/s1600/IMG_2636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9f9ndQbWEc7dEuvoWEC48vfVfhvPfALNnRCBEldL0YbATBy7hsWMj7v0VNWQuvcCdLr4IpqIxMw574jkxfp462bnvz-hhcGVjbhEgYajnOSFj8kqsLrluBS57CpHLc3Uv1PalpD49Rie/s400/IMG_2636.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Though there was a separate road diversion leading to the valley, our driver seemed to be in no mood to take us there. Instead he started explaining to us that the view from above is quite satisfying and that if we go down we need to pay Rs.150/- per head in addition to parking charges. The later part made some sense and we refrained from climbing down. We clicked our cameras to capture whatever was visible and continued our journey.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZT-4hSMscIyezv97K1ccsknqUpClKehxklctic3Rjcw-chj5sm6U-bVP4g4uIGk47liMhnVxEtkGlODXP2IyqlTRZqZ_o-JCk-ae_l4M9rLDV34_3JX_T-Hg5D2cghe1lgvVPr338pOjc/s1600/IMG_2613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZT-4hSMscIyezv97K1ccsknqUpClKehxklctic3Rjcw-chj5sm6U-bVP4g4uIGk47liMhnVxEtkGlODXP2IyqlTRZqZ_o-JCk-ae_l4M9rLDV34_3JX_T-Hg5D2cghe1lgvVPr338pOjc/s400/IMG_2613.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwE37Joka9zXSTWqJtQUWG7Qg91B1SP_XS8zju-MyjfL_zxife4rCyfCHqkITHSNcurZJ5ztAZ9hX3StIdXZ9tmcmRu8liiL3YAVKAi-oui_Tcw1fmaf4k1_jVxTalV_UZv8G-6KppaWB/s1600/IMG_2614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwE37Joka9zXSTWqJtQUWG7Qg91B1SP_XS8zju-MyjfL_zxife4rCyfCHqkITHSNcurZJ5ztAZ9hX3StIdXZ9tmcmRu8liiL3YAVKAi-oui_Tcw1fmaf4k1_jVxTalV_UZv8G-6KppaWB/s400/IMG_2614.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUB5BP13nOit168xTddSvqCUaR_ULtD58HOGpSN_d9iu5F-LmMYT7zDHX-X9S08XXuNynY6nEwQ6cyBg3P1KjYwwasDBg2pJwwnN2FqKlMjbxWzAc6SmtaZtUTYxfG8cNC5LTTv_tvxq_/s1600/IMG_2615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUB5BP13nOit168xTddSvqCUaR_ULtD58HOGpSN_d9iu5F-LmMYT7zDHX-X9S08XXuNynY6nEwQ6cyBg3P1KjYwwasDBg2pJwwnN2FqKlMjbxWzAc6SmtaZtUTYxfG8cNC5LTTv_tvxq_/s400/IMG_2615.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Once again we were travelling through lush green hilly terrain with devdar/pine trees</span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"></span> <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">lending their own charm. On reaching Chandanwari, the vehicles got parked appropriately and we walked down. Finally when the spot came under view, it appeared more like what we had seen at Sonmarg. However, the glacier was not there instead we see waters flowing from the hill frozen for a very long stretch. People enjoy frolicking on its bed. Whenever there a fresh snow fall people get more jubilant for the fun it affords. There was quite a number of families with their kids enjoying at the spot. The snow was a little brownish as there had been no fresh snow fall for a day or two. A pathway exists to the left which goes to Amarnath. The actual trekking for the annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine starts from this point i.e. Chandanwari covering a distance of around 30 kilometres.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYSBLLhQbYcJErncsCXw1s3Hwy3IHm-LgwjgAjU0ZY1skTm9VtcT7lJwf4UmufYG5qlY9B7uygWp86o5AOa22fBMYsbnHGT1Gj1KKgspb68gdE5F_UVnccyrr98eqBh3cVOqkRcFvR68R/s1600/IMG_2643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYSBLLhQbYcJErncsCXw1s3Hwy3IHm-LgwjgAjU0ZY1skTm9VtcT7lJwf4UmufYG5qlY9B7uygWp86o5AOa22fBMYsbnHGT1Gj1KKgspb68gdE5F_UVnccyrr98eqBh3cVOqkRcFvR68R/s400/IMG_2643.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt_1SlYMHrKCrU-q23NfR-lVgvnjNggMdIn3o__aLIkgJzo7bvd4ac96TZ5fxaVPtuvDpRS48ZMA_7SMVgx8kkf27xCsLHlFUrnu-UMARWgndi2Z6OfcqVPnhvlNEjvFOZ5CdXnRDY_AE/s1600/IMG_2654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt_1SlYMHrKCrU-q23NfR-lVgvnjNggMdIn3o__aLIkgJzo7bvd4ac96TZ5fxaVPtuvDpRS48ZMA_7SMVgx8kkf27xCsLHlFUrnu-UMARWgndi2Z6OfcqVPnhvlNEjvFOZ5CdXnRDY_AE/s400/IMG_2654.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIn1NT4RqF0jDxFGnhKP-IV5IKWVMuQbAK0KF0h9Bx9XBS51gWv6cB2-Cn8TLaB94B26SdUu22UhOF8NZvM887qCeR4_30rkVZULU7IhBC1ITfCjS7nj7ccuMNw9PKGAbiPWsJw9jRyRqr/s1600/IMG_2655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIn1NT4RqF0jDxFGnhKP-IV5IKWVMuQbAK0KF0h9Bx9XBS51gWv6cB2-Cn8TLaB94B26SdUu22UhOF8NZvM887qCeR4_30rkVZULU7IhBC1ITfCjS7nj7ccuMNw9PKGAbiPWsJw9jRyRqr/s400/IMG_2655.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9R-sWxdqLNROTrIhB8iE7oyYR2ZkNYTREhobnlsH1urjDvVZ9YmI_er8m_Gjwor2YtHK3n9TtV5Xa8MjxHe7i3RCyrwcCCpS9lnt-ruWkyguscO41twzxHN6S5NS60XNhCba_fyRpDnKF/s1600/IMG_2659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9R-sWxdqLNROTrIhB8iE7oyYR2ZkNYTREhobnlsH1urjDvVZ9YmI_er8m_Gjwor2YtHK3n9TtV5Xa8MjxHe7i3RCyrwcCCpS9lnt-ruWkyguscO41twzxHN6S5NS60XNhCba_fyRpDnKF/s400/IMG_2659.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">After having enjoyed Chandanwari for over an hour, we decided to leave and proceed to Aru valley. As usual the road to Aru was also winding through the mountains. By and large the road was OK but it was narrower than what we had experienced so far. It started raining when we reached at the Bus stop. It appeared to be a little town depending on tourists for its survival. We could get into a covered space to shelter ourselves from the rains. Within moments an old man arrived with few umbrellas. He was making a livelihood by renting out his umbrellas when it rained. We perceived this as an innovative service which was not capital intensive. But then the rentals quoted appeared to be more than the cost of an umbrella!. However every day is not a rainy day. He demanded Rs.100 for one which made us to ask him whether he is selling them or lending them. He blushed and came down to Rs.70/-. When he understood that the rains may stop any time, he agreed to take Rs.150/- for all the five he had. This enabled us to come out of the shed and follow others who were going in one direction. The road was lined up with small shops and restaurants. We had a glimpse of the meadows ahead. There were horses/ponies available to take you round but we preferred to walk. Even before coming here we were advised to walk around to enjoy the surrounding beauty. We had a divine experience looking at the meadows, streams, snow capped mountains, devdar trees all in one place. There was a Lavender Farm with a medium sized nursery and a hotel (Alpine hotel) run by the tourism department at a distance.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">There was not much to do here unless one chooses to opt far trekking to several points in the vicinity. Kolahoi glacier is one where some people prefer to go. We also came across a hoarding regarding guided tours to various destinations from here. There is also a wild life sanctuary deep inside. These visits need to be pre arranged with advance bookings.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We started feeling hungry and decided to return. The rains had vanished by then. The owner of the umbrellas came to us all the way to collect them back. Finally we landed at a way side hotel and were fortunate to get good food. We were told that the cook was from Gujarat. While coming out of the hotel, we could meet the cook as well and thanked him for the nice preparations.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXa7Uvt-Oow7x08Nddtj2HLIoPnvee4SzYJSnsYP6z0XtrCovzk7ltu4amyQ8uZ3EUkRz0peeMQJ7NSNWGv92OiAZqWYUoL_pIyY1Ug63R8gRJ4-OR84nJqed7PuasUE1JAZvRwtadtRap/s1600/IMG_2660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXa7Uvt-Oow7x08Nddtj2HLIoPnvee4SzYJSnsYP6z0XtrCovzk7ltu4amyQ8uZ3EUkRz0peeMQJ7NSNWGv92OiAZqWYUoL_pIyY1Ug63R8gRJ4-OR84nJqed7PuasUE1JAZvRwtadtRap/s400/IMG_2660.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We were back at Pahalgam by evening and many of us spent time roaming about in the market area. </span></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-773840025930521452012-08-25T07:00:00.000+05:302012-08-25T07:00:01.392+05:30Nageen Lake (Srinagar - Kashmir)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">On our return from Gulmarg, we were
lodged in a House Boat with all amenities. The location was away from the
madding crowd at a serene Nageen (Nagin) lake. The house boat itself was named
“Peace of Mind”. It was not very difficult to get a House Boat in the Dal Lake
which is the general choice. Then it seemed that the Dal Lake is too much
crowded and you are saddled with the problem of so many vendors calling on you
in their boats. After settling down, we enjoyed some late evening views of the
lake and then went for our dinner. Dinner was arranged in another floating
restaurant nearby. In fact Nageen lake is also a part of the famous Dal Lake
separated by a bund. </span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sQso1uu44Wm7_lcidyIIXxcyD1oSOqwGeuRJSK0YA48dL4T_5vOJVnoPb6POT9FgDpWqLZOd6bNT7QGFddsBbw9D0gB1pxtmBu81qVMb-iCMWNDrXvOXJ0IjlvAcwvVM6plgOdX-DB-C/s1600/IMG_2509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sQso1uu44Wm7_lcidyIIXxcyD1oSOqwGeuRJSK0YA48dL4T_5vOJVnoPb6POT9FgDpWqLZOd6bNT7QGFddsBbw9D0gB1pxtmBu81qVMb-iCMWNDrXvOXJ0IjlvAcwvVM6plgOdX-DB-C/s400/IMG_2509.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2TuokThwT37iRcJ911Bkj2CLnRhTN94SdnyEUieuWEiLkHC3-OObcEKSDMgUrgCS6K0_OaUeMr53fnG7r_PJRMzZ2NmYBkXP221vh9Ps5ZCyaQzj3Cn8M2PnxaMr3UIrMtqCZD_nk6I1/s1600/IMG_2510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2TuokThwT37iRcJ911Bkj2CLnRhTN94SdnyEUieuWEiLkHC3-OObcEKSDMgUrgCS6K0_OaUeMr53fnG7r_PJRMzZ2NmYBkXP221vh9Ps5ZCyaQzj3Cn8M2PnxaMr3UIrMtqCZD_nk6I1/s400/IMG_2510.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qR-al_JRzRYfEgqOKDyfVQW7Dedb1xsO3WpLpatf4lgxc3T-QrtORSAHzYje9cB3xsMob31EhH0dvUX8_1wy2066AOAhdpWXYI8LNTYxEZ4JRUt1daDFjP-090MPn2t7CPIpZ1LqQ15e/s1600/IMG_2511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8qR-al_JRzRYfEgqOKDyfVQW7Dedb1xsO3WpLpatf4lgxc3T-QrtORSAHzYje9cB3xsMob31EhH0dvUX8_1wy2066AOAhdpWXYI8LNTYxEZ4JRUt1daDFjP-090MPn2t7CPIpZ1LqQ15e/s400/IMG_2511.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAAl0HXEkm_dzLolRTWCCuxo5y3bPJ6UD56vqAuL20etXf1d3GEz5Llf6obEBwcv_uxLICelfZXM48A-jYNypULIp6dJwKJ9Tko6MMoupvWDbFeqPNGMoa56ZhyXLClJP4FnNPgF0vFP4/s1600/Hari+Parbat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibAAl0HXEkm_dzLolRTWCCuxo5y3bPJ6UD56vqAuL20etXf1d3GEz5Llf6obEBwcv_uxLICelfZXM48A-jYNypULIp6dJwKJ9Tko6MMoupvWDbFeqPNGMoa56ZhyXLClJP4FnNPgF0vFP4/s400/Hari+Parbat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwENZwFGwPzd7KDYuah1BLpcMbJKJIrEUIUPNUiW6JDnJ9hKkn_T3xNvHcgO2HgOLcbuenCLKFguprWC3wb2Eo1h0Z3rMZFPB2JRiEEsimLsj59GKm9H2HgpeSE7sQteoT6ZBRoRCcRIH/s1600/IMG_2501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwENZwFGwPzd7KDYuah1BLpcMbJKJIrEUIUPNUiW6JDnJ9hKkn_T3xNvHcgO2HgOLcbuenCLKFguprWC3wb2Eo1h0Z3rMZFPB2JRiEEsimLsj59GKm9H2HgpeSE7sQteoT6ZBRoRCcRIH/s400/IMG_2501.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Our house boat was anchored (should
rather say grounded) on the Eastern Bank of the lake. Early morning we could
only see, the Sun rays falling on the lake waters and beyond and a beautiful
view of the Hill opposite (Hari Parbat) over which a fort stood. Some people in
boats were busy fishing deep inside as also closer to its banks. In between
Stray flower vendors did visit us in their boats. After enjoying the views from
the boat, we were at the table in the dining area for our breakfast. After the
breakfast we were on Shikaras (boats with a canopy) for a two hour trip. Ours
oarsman was one Mr. Shafi and amidst his renderings of ethnic songs. we sailed
through the still waters. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2J5H9VFw2AfYvPFNxKH4ZO75k_6JqxtQqel1oXw2eGgNE8I9v5gzeNClcPKHXLjSfZ3LFoV4fulcw0aQSfZKKNgjhCNTD5HAJRzWBIWhZUWhsIy9Q9-zijhyphenhyphenCGXuyaBbF3O26_WMW_PJ/s1600/IMG_2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2J5H9VFw2AfYvPFNxKH4ZO75k_6JqxtQqel1oXw2eGgNE8I9v5gzeNClcPKHXLjSfZ3LFoV4fulcw0aQSfZKKNgjhCNTD5HAJRzWBIWhZUWhsIy9Q9-zijhyphenhyphenCGXuyaBbF3O26_WMW_PJ/s400/IMG_2521.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">While we were still enjoying the
traditional songs sung by Mr. Shafi, another boat with merchandise drew closer
to us. He wanted to show us various items made of <em>Papier</em>-<em>mâché</em>
for which Kashmir is well known. We had seen them earlier at various curio shops
at Srinagar and elsewhere. We also had an idea of the prices of certain items.
Our ladies had a dig and also obliged him by purchasing few pieces about which
they were comfortable. It is customary for the Kashmiri traders to quote more
than 100% of the real price and they know for certain that the gullible tourist
may not seek a reduction of over 50%. Therefore logically the fair price should
be around 40% of what he has quoted. When the other boat was away Mr. Shafi
consoled the men folk stating that, had we been in the Dal Lake, we could not
have had time to move around as we will be confronting some one or the other all
the time. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">When we were at peace, we prompted
Mr. Shafi to speak about himself. He told us about his stint with an Orchestra
group for about 5 years. Then he bought a Shikara and started earning by
becoming a part of the hospitality business. He is also a part of an
International organisation engaged in providing rafting experience in the rapids
of rivers like Lidder, Jhelam etc. He knows several languages because of his
interactions with people coming from different lands. However he could not
cultivate any writing skills as he had no schooling. Nevertheless he is ensuring
proper education to his own children. Kashmir has a high literacy percentage and
the women folk are also not far behind. He told us that his family stays on the
other side of this lake on a small island kind formation very close to the main
land. The area is known as Khayarbal and is very close to the old city but lacks
a proper approach. The villagers have constructed two bridges making use of the
local timber which has become old now. The Government does not do anything as
the habitation there is considered to be unauthorised. It was quite interesting
listening to his story which prompted us to ask him if it would be convenient
for him to take us on a visit to his place. It seems he was very happy to do
that and enthusiastically said it would be his pleasure. Now we were sailing to
the far end on the other side of the lake. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGTMuPeR2Fj9EQCgklhdYhD22h5xSMrwKihJRLkIq-S-eNeM7neBF4RJ1TgCFh9n-hSGz9vbIP5EI3FTDiN-cPthtFxKI1L3z4p2wCHLK1BSi-WpRKt-XAqhormgPQNpArqGheeeMlgXa/s1600/IMG_2523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisGTMuPeR2Fj9EQCgklhdYhD22h5xSMrwKihJRLkIq-S-eNeM7neBF4RJ1TgCFh9n-hSGz9vbIP5EI3FTDiN-cPthtFxKI1L3z4p2wCHLK1BSi-WpRKt-XAqhormgPQNpArqGheeeMlgXa/s400/IMG_2523.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuXJ9b7BuQDjKjs2HgHX6AhdvZGh1iY90nFK96bwj1wGYirItRo643EaNozNhBWX2x6Hf4_cA9pFvvgcsapgAv0t7Edkh2gN9iiNpFUUsPMZzO0XzWE3GQ2A7hNFH00nnJoCLIaTO67K7/s1600/IMG_2522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuXJ9b7BuQDjKjs2HgHX6AhdvZGh1iY90nFK96bwj1wGYirItRo643EaNozNhBWX2x6Hf4_cA9pFvvgcsapgAv0t7Edkh2gN9iiNpFUUsPMZzO0XzWE3GQ2A7hNFH00nnJoCLIaTO67K7/s400/IMG_2522.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOouH1emRh25tKPb1JoCX0X9z55iMl2ubR4rQEtzVXmIShFmMHLl1Dh7QW9z5cA6DaiSgrEd6aZAj8y5kBekc3ozE-IDbVvtbEvp7DIqFozggB-T2QEKSvhQC_SoaohopOEOHgSSKsw0v/s1600/IMG_2524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCOouH1emRh25tKPb1JoCX0X9z55iMl2ubR4rQEtzVXmIShFmMHLl1Dh7QW9z5cA6DaiSgrEd6aZAj8y5kBekc3ozE-IDbVvtbEvp7DIqFozggB-T2QEKSvhQC_SoaohopOEOHgSSKsw0v/s400/IMG_2524.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZCD8PT-tqzg_tKLFFfSDxOQK6JOZz_b0vPAsJ1cB2TjILR_EKeM-NSfNNsu1ekqWzOCaNuCkv_9QnMUnI9kB80Iy6SburirpLdrE3wiytfg2H5F-mA2ZoNHz0mp7M1Ps_Xg6TzM4idPw/s1600/IMG_2525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZCD8PT-tqzg_tKLFFfSDxOQK6JOZz_b0vPAsJ1cB2TjILR_EKeM-NSfNNsu1ekqWzOCaNuCkv_9QnMUnI9kB80Iy6SburirpLdrE3wiytfg2H5F-mA2ZoNHz0mp7M1Ps_Xg6TzM4idPw/s400/IMG_2525.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8Sa_7BYgezTvPxSBmT-Sb8F6ClsXZJTKJl_bjlZv9aTYowo_1Pzzj5c-vp6BKDJF0oBpgYe4P-a7vh8rMDi50paFKN_IN3nrF8AzY3E8lqpEYum1cNR4hszeJJYktBf8p56xN7a2OUwB/s1600/IMG_2527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO8Sa_7BYgezTvPxSBmT-Sb8F6ClsXZJTKJl_bjlZv9aTYowo_1Pzzj5c-vp6BKDJF0oBpgYe4P-a7vh8rMDi50paFKN_IN3nrF8AzY3E8lqpEYum1cNR4hszeJJYktBf8p56xN7a2OUwB/s400/IMG_2527.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yJUxyoxRbiZSB7v-v6MbA8Yrih9EKREVS2mPBzHbo8AmhGtrc3HENFbj8sdeaMGzit00RuXE991uktEx0o6gHdUTGEF1kqZEEykjXwNdKJrTcHN4H16E6wxgOBslppEwY5r1LoSihu0b/s1600/IMG_2530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3yJUxyoxRbiZSB7v-v6MbA8Yrih9EKREVS2mPBzHbo8AmhGtrc3HENFbj8sdeaMGzit00RuXE991uktEx0o6gHdUTGEF1kqZEEykjXwNdKJrTcHN4H16E6wxgOBslppEwY5r1LoSihu0b/s400/IMG_2530.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GCf65vPzD3jDnTjHR_0SlcLVqV2Bw6RoaMHAnYugaQ2GzsoMLTS92Setob6aNFRNB0CdP_h6u_h83Pa1dpTlstec50p7d-hzKRhYFMyb1LbfRazISFGIyJcys9EuSRent67MzxIUbn7y/s1600/IMG_2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GCf65vPzD3jDnTjHR_0SlcLVqV2Bw6RoaMHAnYugaQ2GzsoMLTS92Setob6aNFRNB0CdP_h6u_h83Pa1dpTlstec50p7d-hzKRhYFMyb1LbfRazISFGIyJcys9EuSRent67MzxIUbn7y/s400/IMG_2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v0QrygCo0B1Ik97m1f3tv6s8gXtseVT4FsMs2WCynXG1N_tM6evpJ4km4aOGylrajy_tD2KAE8GIvMAghH2dGX2FCBd3p1H1XWCfnrRV23KVAXFS-pGuI1GSNXjDZY9WlrtFRY3Z92SK/s1600/IMG_2531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v0QrygCo0B1Ik97m1f3tv6s8gXtseVT4FsMs2WCynXG1N_tM6evpJ4km4aOGylrajy_tD2KAE8GIvMAghH2dGX2FCBd3p1H1XWCfnrRV23KVAXFS-pGuI1GSNXjDZY9WlrtFRY3Z92SK/s400/IMG_2531.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">From a distance itself it appeared as
if we were moving to yet another paradise. We passed through an area where water
lilies were being cultivated. There were very many floating islands for
vegetable cultivation. Although they looked like any other aquatic
vegetation/growth, we learnt that a wide platform is built with reeds with an
overlay of soil mixed with organic manure to form a bed. This remains floating.
This is the backyard farm of the settlement there. These explanations came a
little later and by that time the floating vegetable gardens were beyond the
range of our ordinary cameras. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMDfXZonWRrF_yoU2IDCL3F5ejUl94iNz0FMojNsV5PocX_B_-8y09Jf0ZKZFiyjULJdcb4OBHSCZtGSvRbDWorficucMnRwqRvjqKBdpLFiYtpMEuh4zZcLJJvkM7WBYtXWewARcP6Bv/s1600/IMG_2532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMDfXZonWRrF_yoU2IDCL3F5ejUl94iNz0FMojNsV5PocX_B_-8y09Jf0ZKZFiyjULJdcb4OBHSCZtGSvRbDWorficucMnRwqRvjqKBdpLFiYtpMEuh4zZcLJJvkM7WBYtXWewARcP6Bv/s400/IMG_2532.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxvpGk1_QdoJMv0S_LDWSafbzwrQnJq9_xMG5nZJsr1qRjudACDvxAyeW2DvcT6Kh6d9RCGCl-y7Ru-050_0Bb8jSlSZ8bvIGsgdPqEdJtYYXnnEQZySAVBt_-LveQt9A9Nx-XJTyH7vj/s1600/IMG_2533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxvpGk1_QdoJMv0S_LDWSafbzwrQnJq9_xMG5nZJsr1qRjudACDvxAyeW2DvcT6Kh6d9RCGCl-y7Ru-050_0Bb8jSlSZ8bvIGsgdPqEdJtYYXnnEQZySAVBt_-LveQt9A9Nx-XJTyH7vj/s400/IMG_2533.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Soon our Shikara slowly stopped by a
wooden platform enabling to disembark and proceed towards the village. Some of
the houses there appeared to be partly on the land and partly fixed up over
wooden pillars drawn into the waters of the lake. It was some thing very
beautiful to look at. Mr. Shafi’s house was less than 100 metres away. The area
surrounding his house was pretty neat and clean. We could meet Mr. Shafi’s
mother, sister and his daughter-in-law in the court yard of his house. Once we
were introduced, we were warmly invited and led into a hall on the first floor.
A wooden staircase goes up. The floor was fully carpeted in the traditional
manner and a lone sofa was lying at a corner. Therefore all of us made ourselves
comfortable sitting on the floor, the side wall supporting our backs. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Soon we were once again interacting
with Mr. Shafi. We wanted to know as to what use the big hall serves and he told
us that during marriages people sleep here. Conversation got shifted to the
militancy and hostilities in the valley. We learn that the Kshmiris hate the
Indian Army as they visit house holds at odd hours and harass people. They pick
up any one during nights suspecting them to be terrorists. Many innocent people
suffer on this account. This resulted in mass resentment and many youths
preferred to cross over the border (to Pakistan), get trained and come back with
arms for retaliation. But then this backfired. The armed youth started harassing
their own people. They started lootings at gun point by identifying the well to
do. The guns made them to go mad. While they were able to elicit initial
sympathy from the general public, their own high handed actions made them
unpopular and became unacceptable in the society. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4jc-HZ5X1jgrmTAvIC_Bv-ckGUcvz9oZGqJ6C1X8dxZyH-fhJX03BFS6TyeX2PtvAB_w4bUesTyNR7YSb55bONq5trcQaWtOXcCY1_Mwt3SDObcMRouFcYcFpBYr6vmFYlwpYnfcSWEW/s1600/IMG_2534-Hadeesa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4jc-HZ5X1jgrmTAvIC_Bv-ckGUcvz9oZGqJ6C1X8dxZyH-fhJX03BFS6TyeX2PtvAB_w4bUesTyNR7YSb55bONq5trcQaWtOXcCY1_Mwt3SDObcMRouFcYcFpBYr6vmFYlwpYnfcSWEW/s400/IMG_2534-Hadeesa.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Y1tVa8ad2bTnSyAE_gok4hr5n0C5xRGIPUh-d6Bq08A8pI-X3lBmPwo8VJu8Le-PdphHJ5LIOBf7Ylnft_yqH0r5UVsD3aDV3ZSRjGBh_9Z8lbIR20FKxl9U3pIfpULTsUVLsLUM8x6u/s1600/IMG_2535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Y1tVa8ad2bTnSyAE_gok4hr5n0C5xRGIPUh-d6Bq08A8pI-X3lBmPwo8VJu8Le-PdphHJ5LIOBf7Ylnft_yqH0r5UVsD3aDV3ZSRjGBh_9Z8lbIR20FKxl9U3pIfpULTsUVLsLUM8x6u/s400/IMG_2535.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">While we were conversing, Mr. Shafi’s
daughter named Hadeesa brought us some snacks with tea, which she served
personally to each one of us. She was studying in a nearby school in the Xth
standard. Soon thereafter, Mr. Shafi’s wife came along with two girls. One was
again their own daughter while the 2nd one named Reshma (2nd on the photograph)
was from Laddakh studying at Dalhousie who was on a visit. All of them
obligingly lined up for a photograph. We got invited by Reshma to Laddakh who
offered a home stay arrangement at their house.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHswj2GFkSkHSwsGPToD3pzjicPDGcLi4z2MKLSsiCJG0nAPH44O1MYBqticQW-Dp4wRctaLC5khUIP024DcCi_B6KrB0GwKSTG2IdWhMM2ffbXxFX6VkyczXKF4WUTqYg2iGk2tOzeACX/s1600/IMG_2538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHswj2GFkSkHSwsGPToD3pzjicPDGcLi4z2MKLSsiCJG0nAPH44O1MYBqticQW-Dp4wRctaLC5khUIP024DcCi_B6KrB0GwKSTG2IdWhMM2ffbXxFX6VkyczXKF4WUTqYg2iGk2tOzeACX/s400/IMG_2538.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">After remaining there with that family for some
time, we sailed back to our house boat thanking them and bidding good bye. The
entire family came to see us off at the small wooden jetty. We profusely thanked
Mr. Bashir for the hospitality extended by him. In turn he wanted us to stay
with him on our next visit to Kashmir.</span><br />
<br /></div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-29725977468416752822012-08-18T07:00:00.000+05:302012-08-18T07:00:00.168+05:30Nature has its own crayons<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">This morning I was checking my blog
to find out as to how my previous post is faring in terms of “comments”
received. There were no new additions to make me feel happy about. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">However, an uncharitable invite was peeping out to join the
bandwagon of competitors for </span><a href="http://www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/capture-the-colour/"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Capture the color</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">
contest. Though it was not something unfathomable to identify photographs with
the 5 colours but it was the thought of roping in 5 more gullible bloggers that
was agonising. I also strongly feel the way <a href="http://www.lemonicks.com/Travel/2012/08/12/colors-of-my-travel/#more-8709">Nisha</a>
has indicated while writing on the subject. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Its has now become incumbent on my
part to make a quick search and produce whatever I have. I shall, however,
desist from explaining the attributes, significance or otherwise of the various
colors as they have been dealt with at length by many of my fellow bloggers so
far.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">THE RED:</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPqd4vIXjvLDJMgDEn7NqaJ6fBepJPeh0It6-pqpko7ftfKZVsxvzYppaumlRjzinJnig_vF9OMcjMLfDUcjlFQGi3wAOCV-uSqJdc58uZObwx0_sfD8WPxOnEL2LwQ-C5692Yid1GIwp/s1600/IMG_2747R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAPqd4vIXjvLDJMgDEn7NqaJ6fBepJPeh0It6-pqpko7ftfKZVsxvzYppaumlRjzinJnig_vF9OMcjMLfDUcjlFQGi3wAOCV-uSqJdc58uZObwx0_sfD8WPxOnEL2LwQ-C5692Yid1GIwp/s400/IMG_2747R.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Recently when I was on a visit to a
wholesale fruit market in Chennai, I came across some red fruits looking like
plums. On my enquiry, the vendor told me something in the vernacular which could
not be registered in my brain. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">GREEN:</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv3l5b2Vy65Z192NAK3gQoLEAwy3SH-3XHVMD1SPqjXqHPbGCP5Vr8b0_lXf7QPGiO7EN7n00S0jPKKHzf2KWBNo_2-7OgbUhF6ZOGhT4kFzJhQsB44_N4PkNAFX7IJMXZIDoFCJAQLON/s1600/IMG_2775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitv3l5b2Vy65Z192NAK3gQoLEAwy3SH-3XHVMD1SPqjXqHPbGCP5Vr8b0_lXf7QPGiO7EN7n00S0jPKKHzf2KWBNo_2-7OgbUhF6ZOGhT4kFzJhQsB44_N4PkNAFX7IJMXZIDoFCJAQLON/s400/IMG_2775.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">On the 3rd of this month I received a
telephone call from Coimbatore asking me to come out of my apartment at Chennai
and to look at the sky to witness a beautiful view of the Sun having a disk
around it. I went up and looked at the sky from the terrace of the building. It
was all black clouds preventing the Sun to show off. This phenomenon was
reported by our friend R. Ramakrishnan the same day in his post titled </span><a href="http://sankriti.blogspot.in/2012/08/disc-around-sun.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Disc around the Sun</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">. While
still on the terrace I looked around and noticed the Neem trees below full of
fresh foliage. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">WHITE:</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxVpaBYUmuBqXfxHXHbJP6aeFNG08G7hhY7HnTx6QE2BcD-s8mXfr1r149KzONtzrIBj1Fo5PlDQQmnfuEJs5wEQUo51lwD5yvXQA2UDuh7yUBLvYoX5H2dCd-Kkc-3qQs90i4MC4tLhK/s1600/Magnolia+grandiflora.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxVpaBYUmuBqXfxHXHbJP6aeFNG08G7hhY7HnTx6QE2BcD-s8mXfr1r149KzONtzrIBj1Fo5PlDQQmnfuEJs5wEQUo51lwD5yvXQA2UDuh7yUBLvYoX5H2dCd-Kkc-3qQs90i4MC4tLhK/s400/Magnolia+grandiflora.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">White too has many shades. While at a
garden in Srinagar, this flower known as Magnolia Grandiflora with its thick
petals seemed something exotic.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">BLUE:</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIifdK9hAfN8qkHVtSU59N5moW5OQzUKOFCdVz_w32EU_hU1Cczee8PGhRBY5aFxQLwpt_Zhyphenhyphenpnv2SVgd0gy99bNb7bsM0QFk6QiGchsyqcwG7qGwiEjhcBUU9C-ffl5nGXM_wXd6CBiY/s1600/IMG_2166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIifdK9hAfN8qkHVtSU59N5moW5OQzUKOFCdVz_w32EU_hU1Cczee8PGhRBY5aFxQLwpt_Zhyphenhyphenpnv2SVgd0gy99bNb7bsM0QFk6QiGchsyqcwG7qGwiEjhcBUU9C-ffl5nGXM_wXd6CBiY/s400/IMG_2166.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Blue skies and blue waters have
always been soothing to ones eyes. The Ekambareswara Temple tower (Gopuram) at
Kancheepuram has a beautiful sky as its backdrop. I am yet to write about the
splendid architecture of this temple complex. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">YELLOW:</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcLqMqrIw5AvXb6x4PkGdyt4i9VlxwjmWCm1ZoByHeFagm01hi-28IL_Qz8acDQioAjt28tgi8YRniQLfHwdS_7h4A81kddWu4RZEAagybxtnlYHFpB_ET5n-Dfw20O8gNHARKGrIkt2G/s1600/Papaya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmcLqMqrIw5AvXb6x4PkGdyt4i9VlxwjmWCm1ZoByHeFagm01hi-28IL_Qz8acDQioAjt28tgi8YRniQLfHwdS_7h4A81kddWu4RZEAagybxtnlYHFpB_ET5n-Dfw20O8gNHARKGrIkt2G/s400/Papaya.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The Papaya fruits on sale at Chennai
fruit market. They have great medicinal properties apart from being tasty.
“Pepsin” is derived from raw Papayas used in many stomach ailments. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Now the most undesirable and
uncharitable part of this post is to rope in 5 more blogger friends to carry the
contest forward. With due apologies I list them hereunder:</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">1. <a href="http://pulikotilthomasjoseph.blogspot.in/">A man on the
move</a></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">2. <a href="http://sankriti.blogspot.in/2012/08/disc-around-sun.html">Ramblings and
Musings</a></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">3. <a href="http://redrose-tomotomowriting2.blogspot.in/">Green Tomato</a></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">4. <a href="http://speakingthruthelens.blogspot.in/">Speaking through the
Lens</a></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">5. <a href="http://magictravels.blogspot.in/">Travel Magic</a></span></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-20557226025433291812012-08-10T08:58:00.000+05:302012-08-10T21:10:20.537+05:30Moving to Pahalgam – Sayonara Srinagar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">10th June 2012:</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">It was an unique experience to be
able to meet the family of our Shikara operator at their residence and be able
to have a glimpse of the traditional houses in the secluded quarters. We were
bidding good bye to Srinagar and were proceeding to Pahalgam where we intend to
stay for two days. Our vehicles were being loaded with our luggage. Looking
back, we had regrets for not having been able to visit many other places of
interest and importance in or around Srinagar. The Shankaracharya Temple
(Takht-e-Sulaiman), Tulip Gardens, Shalimar Gardens (Our group is to be blamed),
Pari Mahal, A boat cruise in Jhelum cutting through Srinagar, The fort on the
top of Hari Parbat and shrines of Sharika Bhagawathi, Hamza Makhdoom and the
Gurudwara (Chatti Padshahi) are some of them. They called for a further stay of
2/3 days to explore.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FBDm2FOd6krZhexHFyFp1idgPWZqzYNiited4kmwyj0ErJ_k08Xudj5DCyiGtVnnjXY7-PbHT7m3X1ofqzLmx7uy8Qa9unpbwpHnVu7_WBoXWw7UMB9PrbREMHj4hJYfu7oZn5rmnwvd/s1600/IMG_2560+Kathi+Darwaza+Rainawari.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FBDm2FOd6krZhexHFyFp1idgPWZqzYNiited4kmwyj0ErJ_k08Xudj5DCyiGtVnnjXY7-PbHT7m3X1ofqzLmx7uy8Qa9unpbwpHnVu7_WBoXWw7UMB9PrbREMHj4hJYfu7oZn5rmnwvd/s400/IMG_2560+Kathi+Darwaza+Rainawari.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Front View</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY04y9ylgaGXhfKs1t7esmpCq3J9moqN46bpN1Ut3fBT4XF8YbZ-p5hj6IRJv5MHnADn667LnXTkEd37vqSyv0SWlMhjlbtCiJqN5ltl4Vz9jqQmbafg2A8DHasFtYS0c4OmFV7rkaHr8T/s1600/IMG_2562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY04y9ylgaGXhfKs1t7esmpCq3J9moqN46bpN1Ut3fBT4XF8YbZ-p5hj6IRJv5MHnADn667LnXTkEd37vqSyv0SWlMhjlbtCiJqN5ltl4Vz9jqQmbafg2A8DHasFtYS0c4OmFV7rkaHr8T/s400/IMG_2562.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Backside View</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjY2kZmp9g5nbOfICPQuaH5htR_46dk5a0zsrD4TodulZx6VZjLJ_AEjTUw7jbgjWNnbmeXNkKC6s1rzwOQVIuRnG7KZlU3SdoXqaAU5-ZdmO5TtQfb8l2T-eT9_E3PGfWZh-dxuOzBA5h/s1600/Hari+Parbat+The+Gate+old+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjY2kZmp9g5nbOfICPQuaH5htR_46dk5a0zsrD4TodulZx6VZjLJ_AEjTUw7jbgjWNnbmeXNkKC6s1rzwOQVIuRnG7KZlU3SdoXqaAU5-ZdmO5TtQfb8l2T-eT9_E3PGfWZh-dxuOzBA5h/s400/Hari+Parbat+The+Gate+old+photo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Very old picture</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Pahalgam is also a much sought after
tourist destinations in Kashmir which is 94 kilometres South East from Srinagar.
While making a move, we requested our driver to make a brief halt in front of
the arched gate at the foot of Hari Parbat. The locality is known as Rainwari and the massive gate itself is called Kathi Darwaza. The vehicle stopped as requested and without wasting time I jumped
out and went inside to have an appreciation of the inhabited area there. Once
the Moghul emperor Akbar wanted to etablish a township in the fort precincts to
be known as Nagar Nagor and a wall running round the hill was constructed. I
was looking for some kind of centuries old ghettoes but the houses/buildings
seemed to be of recent origin. The present settlement inside is supposed to be
unauthorised but then they are not devoid of civic facilities.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">I had to remain contended with whatever
I could see, although there was a road which probably leads to the top of the
hill fort. Getting inside would have entailed delays because of other
inviting monuments in its precincts. After traversing through the narrow lanes
we entered the highway within the city. There were many shops displaying
colourful bowls and household utilities made of a kind of local reed. Farther
ahead were shops selling carved stoneware. Shortly we were out of the city
limits and were proceeding to our destination at optimum speed. We had also
requested for a stopover at Avantipur, 30 kilometres ahead. I was on the look
out and while passing through a small town, a ruined structure to our left made
its appearance and immediately I asked for the vehicle to stop. The vehicle was
already slowed down and the driver responded that he remembered it. Yes this was
the Avantipur I had in mind. The ruins still majestic in appearance stood there.
It was a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu built by a king known as Avantivarman
during the 9th century CE which was destroyed by the non-believers as a part of
their crusades in the 14th century CE. This deserves a separate post.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCf7zXf4Q6abWWZVGXLfQsJXOGOWZtnadHZdItjEikzc6I4SsbADwu6J1ZMQleolCqG7rFfwhw5iGetVSeAv3aJZYXkRktEHuXL6gYdJAxnXD3WjVs92zstSjfvbtaTyz2vJ4mppm-bSPv/s1600/IMG_2564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCf7zXf4Q6abWWZVGXLfQsJXOGOWZtnadHZdItjEikzc6I4SsbADwu6J1ZMQleolCqG7rFfwhw5iGetVSeAv3aJZYXkRktEHuXL6gYdJAxnXD3WjVs92zstSjfvbtaTyz2vJ4mppm-bSPv/s400/IMG_2564.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Avantipur Ruins</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">En route we came across several
traditional houses in a state of disrepair and looked as if they have been
abandoned. Some one amongst us also screamed “look at those houses, there is no
life”. As a matter of fact I was so much engrossed looking at the beauty all
around, I did not pay much attention. I remained oblivious of the fact that
these were the houses of the original inhabitants of Kashmir, known as Kashmiri
Pandits. Infiltrations and militancy in the valley made them to move out en-mass
in 1990 leaving behind all their possessions. For a moment I was sad but then
thought of diverting my attention. I requested the driver if he could take us
through the country side so that we can have a feel of the rural life. Soon we
came at a point where there was a diversion towards the right with a small
hoarding which read “Apple Valley”. The driver was kind enough to heed to our
request and leaving the highway drove through the narrow road. We came across a
shepherds driving their flock of sheep for grazing. Our driver clarified that
the name Pahalgam has been derived from these shepherds. Pahalgam means a Valley
of Shepherds. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFi1omKQ7FG2d9DpGeFj8oDkkkXnmhuVpcTkyG9mkLRXeZ7XP2zHAqcP2BhbiSUtLtjUWSKW5JeRmhzShdgDWl0UOr2ZOru3L2Aou4lund7hofX6fDrPJeYT7KU4Z7i4WsJDb363YhVS_Q/s1600/IMG_2587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFi1omKQ7FG2d9DpGeFj8oDkkkXnmhuVpcTkyG9mkLRXeZ7XP2zHAqcP2BhbiSUtLtjUWSKW5JeRmhzShdgDWl0UOr2ZOru3L2Aou4lund7hofX6fDrPJeYT7KU4Z7i4WsJDb363YhVS_Q/s400/IMG_2587.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPS-EvQOqIdiDrpv-idB8FXC-pz4sH5N7L6dnRZFPBb_pythUQMyjP-uZRqprdrL52sOX_8I4D8xL3BSf8Cg9mqTauMSw16T7M6YCBneN0_l3TDuzqc7V6b6o5ymdR9tPzMN-3MdxSMMty/s1600/IMG_2593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPS-EvQOqIdiDrpv-idB8FXC-pz4sH5N7L6dnRZFPBb_pythUQMyjP-uZRqprdrL52sOX_8I4D8xL3BSf8Cg9mqTauMSw16T7M6YCBneN0_l3TDuzqc7V6b6o5ymdR9tPzMN-3MdxSMMty/s400/IMG_2593.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TxA6YJTG44e0ZaIizuBo9P6krpaxICUzzZBU9uGODc849_Bsus228edFdq20iqywPsv-9nqidRiLIHJhDcjk4hhIm6qFRmqc70tvoi1o93NjxyDLDXGeeBt4CKXvCyoMBr3MoHr1jsLl/s1600/IMG_2585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2TxA6YJTG44e0ZaIizuBo9P6krpaxICUzzZBU9uGODc849_Bsus228edFdq20iqywPsv-9nqidRiLIHJhDcjk4hhIm6qFRmqc70tvoi1o93NjxyDLDXGeeBt4CKXvCyoMBr3MoHr1jsLl/s400/IMG_2585.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">There were plantations of Walnut
trees followed by Apple and Cherries. The fruits were either not visible or were
too tender and small. Cultivation of Apples for which Kashmir was famous is now
dwindling. The farmers have switched over to Cherries and Kiwis (native fruit of
New Zeraland). The later largely gets exported to various countries. Then there
were paddy fields as far as we could see. Women folk was engaged in
transplanting operations in the water filled slushy fields. This sight was
similar to what we could see elsewhere in India except that women here were well
clad. There was a small village in between where they had good houses and some
remnants of the past also existed. They were the wooden two storied houses since
abandoned. There were similar structures where the lower portion had the shop
and the upper portion was used as a dwelling. It seemed that the rural
population is also fairly affluent. There were no traces of any poverty as could
be encountered elsewhere in India. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ1SevhMxYveDlnxvL-9gff3eldVGodszrOjZj-C5sCFARvNybiuGeS6L6RjH49K2IHLMQZJzby5yRHdOIiXeJtjTAByhOE2zGAre2K9ngYcoj_-DrHJmTupujib0IbkWY3Df_z-aBNER/s1600/IMG_2588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ1SevhMxYveDlnxvL-9gff3eldVGodszrOjZj-C5sCFARvNybiuGeS6L6RjH49K2IHLMQZJzby5yRHdOIiXeJtjTAByhOE2zGAre2K9ngYcoj_-DrHJmTupujib0IbkWY3Df_z-aBNER/s400/IMG_2588.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinGPlnI5KLO5n3k9q_7VmoQM0vPdm6zEONRVyTlWr6l8FXtxksA6XVqrEI_ms-s_oFHwEV12tKpOeVwjBtykIjY1HAx5Fz4s3lUJPBbu2PQlwoY5rSOJEHZo6DtzGJMiVVB0eivgDSkaM/s1600/IMG_2589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjinGPlnI5KLO5n3k9q_7VmoQM0vPdm6zEONRVyTlWr6l8FXtxksA6XVqrEI_ms-s_oFHwEV12tKpOeVwjBtykIjY1HAx5Fz4s3lUJPBbu2PQlwoY5rSOJEHZo6DtzGJMiVVB0eivgDSkaM/s400/IMG_2589.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">After passing through few more
villages, we were once again on the highway leading to Pahalgam. The Liddar
river (originally Lambodari) on the way mesmerized us and we stopped on its
banks to have a photo session with the beautiful views behind. This river is
full of rapids and had we stayed there for some more time we could have had a
rafting experience.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtI_IiiOLYmsbwgnhkPxE_ksIO9zweaq7_RjhQ39Dt0pyaEZutAIi7oarN8uK5gejMrA8E_KMOCeLsb8u6T5DTvHz4UC8HhP6KYH89nBBD-Wy1Zo-Eo8f9ggUI3hOqrZtuQE8-J3dWoG8v/s1600/IMG_2590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtI_IiiOLYmsbwgnhkPxE_ksIO9zweaq7_RjhQ39Dt0pyaEZutAIi7oarN8uK5gejMrA8E_KMOCeLsb8u6T5DTvHz4UC8HhP6KYH89nBBD-Wy1Zo-Eo8f9ggUI3hOqrZtuQE8-J3dWoG8v/s400/IMG_2590.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vZdpwlaeXfcTa7cFsvp_h3_GcguvvtALHb66x9Bh9WBmIy7WiNaxepiIgxrvmZ1Qta9ejt-yEw3Jh9VfUroH61z2Jqf7_ZrkdsuewkUNFDKEXU9tFQO6ZpW3CTpC2xWl12OFlY30TGL_/s1600/IMG_2591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vZdpwlaeXfcTa7cFsvp_h3_GcguvvtALHb66x9Bh9WBmIy7WiNaxepiIgxrvmZ1Qta9ejt-yEw3Jh9VfUroH61z2Jqf7_ZrkdsuewkUNFDKEXU9tFQO6ZpW3CTpC2xWl12OFlY30TGL_/s400/IMG_2591.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Finally we arrived at the main bazaar
area of Pahalgam and had a late lunch at the Nathu’s Rasoi, one of the best in
the town. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPasdBQ4ECK8kBlXJnSkLR0cEw-bEun8wkzk_Rnv5P_9S1zBlBaGMFiXiDQhiQpJ-IupL6YiqJsHdViPCu6her3QPM8XUl6frCegYA5vMyWUwpDK98lFi0yuVJXv644j1or4bX3QDR7Wp/s1600/IMG_2595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPasdBQ4ECK8kBlXJnSkLR0cEw-bEun8wkzk_Rnv5P_9S1zBlBaGMFiXiDQhiQpJ-IupL6YiqJsHdViPCu6her3QPM8XUl6frCegYA5vMyWUwpDK98lFi0yuVJXv644j1or4bX3QDR7Wp/s400/IMG_2595.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxSjdEYGE0e0DBg0PvrZ3K1NrGyDDJzXrnvXApJNRObsxKLu0FOMcjHjC7ycOppmz3lfu_H32cp7lVTCWZfjn8kAEAFGBj0Ijxz_1bIKltSw9WO24gdwrKZr8ZipSFhF5p-z3_SmDXIcv/s1600/IMG_2596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxSjdEYGE0e0DBg0PvrZ3K1NrGyDDJzXrnvXApJNRObsxKLu0FOMcjHjC7ycOppmz3lfu_H32cp7lVTCWZfjn8kAEAFGBj0Ijxz_1bIKltSw9WO24gdwrKZr8ZipSFhF5p-z3_SmDXIcv/s400/IMG_2596.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Thereafter walked through the streets window shopping. We were booked
at Hotel Baisaran but due to some communication gap, we could not be
accommodated there. After several telephonic calls to the Hotel Centre Point at
Srinagar (they were the people who arranged the package) we were led to a
nondescript (but good) hotel some where up in the hill. Probably the village was
Ladipura. However the surroundings were scenic. We checked in for a night there,
only to move out next day early in the morning to a central location.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_xEYoPH6wrwQUu6WylYhlSe1qgWmomPddQf4bDRE3W_hTmyJIz12pmFk9fZpzfXqVFXPVcLmG1xljwBBJ-qLo8hyQJgw-vU3YOL9dPZ_rBFBgekNuRml8wF_DEdZ32Q9MndkhoCSDmfr/s1600/IMG_2609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_xEYoPH6wrwQUu6WylYhlSe1qgWmomPddQf4bDRE3W_hTmyJIz12pmFk9fZpzfXqVFXPVcLmG1xljwBBJ-qLo8hyQJgw-vU3YOL9dPZ_rBFBgekNuRml8wF_DEdZ32Q9MndkhoCSDmfr/s400/IMG_2609.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8P_wGoFhibjOgAzTeC9tbq7XoZEngWQfRI6PNKwv7asmbV75VAl4FbrALcN5vf4anUtlVz2tYbtx38qPBXYy4X3H_FPEIvz89LzKlN40QkFpo01eFNTJEouLlAr13kt6ZA99OB7KDtb-/s1600/IMG_2611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX8P_wGoFhibjOgAzTeC9tbq7XoZEngWQfRI6PNKwv7asmbV75VAl4FbrALcN5vf4anUtlVz2tYbtx38qPBXYy4X3H_FPEIvz89LzKlN40QkFpo01eFNTJEouLlAr13kt6ZA99OB7KDtb-/s400/IMG_2611.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Father and Son</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-31895247995166478262012-08-01T06:00:00.000+05:302012-08-01T08:30:31.850+05:30Gulmarg (Kashmir)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Literally the term Gulmarg refers to
a place with abundance of flowers. Situated at a distance of 56 kilometres South
West of Srinagar, Gulmarg attracts the largest number of tourists among all hill
resorts in Kashmir. It has one of the longest and highest (12000 feet) ski
slopes in Asia. This apart, the World’s highest (8700 feet) Golf Course is also
located here. Many of the foreigners who come here are skiing enthusiasts,
though there were very few of them when we visited. We were told that they
arrive in large numbers during winter when the competitions are organized.
Gulmarg was known as Gourimarg centuries back but in the 16th century Sultan
Yusuf Chak excitedly called it as Gulmarg and the name lives on. This place was
a favourite with the Emperor Jehangir of the Mughal Dynasty. He used to come
here frequently and seems to have attempted to make out an inventory of various
species of flowers growing here. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We were camping at Srinagar. By the
time we were ready to proceed to Gulmarg it was nearly 10.00 AM. The hangover of
our visit to Sonmarg a day earlier made us to sleep a little longer. The extra
sleep energised us and we were geared to enjoy Gulmarg to the fullest extent.
We commenced our journey without wasting further time. Our driver had foretold
the desirability of reaching Gulmarg as early as possible. He was also in touch
with the Guide who was waiting for our arrival. The road was quite wide and
straight except a diversion. Soon we were at a township known as Tangmarg and it
took only 40 minutes to cover the distance of 40 kilometres. From here we had to
climb a mountain on a narrow winding road. But before that we were required to
equip ourselves with heavy winter clothing, e.g. gum boots, hand gloves, fur
caps etc. We also procured long rain coats as well, keeping in mind the previous
day’s experience at Sonmarg. All these gears were available on hire at that
point. As said earlier, the road up the hill was narrow. We were told that
during winter tourists can come up to this point only and thereafter they need
to board special vehicles which are equipped with chains on their wheels. This
facilitates navigation through the snow covered path. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-xyOGzEnVidPNdmL5SRd8iKanCMBxuW8_rOJkVpe-4D41N0hPLw2yvQQJ-aOvVZydgUTTf5HxgP4JYgsP8KNlllQ2b4NTKdsfWqJaqiiyRBa0EWvYeo_Qwbtwxz23z-yustssggubwWv/s1600/IMG_2491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-xyOGzEnVidPNdmL5SRd8iKanCMBxuW8_rOJkVpe-4D41N0hPLw2yvQQJ-aOvVZydgUTTf5HxgP4JYgsP8KNlllQ2b4NTKdsfWqJaqiiyRBa0EWvYeo_Qwbtwxz23z-yustssggubwWv/s400/IMG_2491.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We continued our journey on the
mountain road with Pine trees all around. This stretch needs about 30 minutes
drive to cover around 15/16 kilometres. Finally we arrive at a point with a gate
to the left and disembark from our vehicles as tourist vehicles are not allowed
to enter. Nevertheless there was a road leading inside with meadows to the
right as far as the eyes could see. To reach the snow covered mountain ranges,
we had three options. We could go on horse back up to the foot of the snow clad
mountains or reach the base station for the Gondola (Ropeway) service.
Horses/Ponies were available to our right but we decided to walk the distance
and followed many others who were on their foot. Although we could have covered
some 2 kilometres, it was a pleasant walk passing through the beautiful tourist
villas/cottages to our left. Very soon we were at the Gondola Station which had
a very long queue in front of the ticket counter. Fortunately our Guide was with
us who volunteered to fetch our tickets for the Gondola ride. We escaped from
locating the tail end of the queue and standing there for our turn. Perhaps the
guide had only such jobs to perform and was fully experienced. Incidentally
Kashmir is also plagued with corruption at every level. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK34k7IEUZT58IYqgMoSRxfUihB_wC5mjtx8QteFfKVO-SeHCyKO1GPTx100oCxGplUP26EuzSFo5fiSLD18Y1QxPXlpnqEJl338UZANedk3EzP6TUwMDEisSNC7JoIQO1hr2_hs8IErW_/s1600/IMG_2492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK34k7IEUZT58IYqgMoSRxfUihB_wC5mjtx8QteFfKVO-SeHCyKO1GPTx100oCxGplUP26EuzSFo5fiSLD18Y1QxPXlpnqEJl338UZANedk3EzP6TUwMDEisSNC7JoIQO1hr2_hs8IErW_/s400/IMG_2492.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The cost of the ticket was Rs.300.00
per person including children above 3 years and that too up to the 1st stage at
<strong>Khilanmarg</strong> (Kungdoori). On getting the tickets we proceeded to
board the Gondolas. After a little wait we moved in. The Gondola has a seating
capacity for 6 and is fully covered. One can, however, get the beautiful views
through the transparent panels (wind screen). Use of cameras got restricted as
the wind screen was not clear enough to obtain sharper images. During our upward
journey we came across small huts with flat roofs beneath. Some kind of
vegetation was visible over the roof tops, a rustic kind of roof garden for
growing seasonal vegetables. It did not take much time to reach the first stop
at <strong>Khilanmarg</strong> where we were required to get down. Once again we
needed to buy tickets for our onward journey to the 2nd and final stage
at<strong> Apharwat</strong> costing Rs.500.00 per head. Now we were very close
to the snow covered hill slopes of another mountain. The ticket counter here was
also over crowded but we were not much concerned as we had with us an
experienced guide!. </span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBA5BTgEEykRxbsSCZ6j7Kbsf7MnfN1ciaRk5DeS2obccn2J7ne6DU6IWm9qsCt5L5ltW4xw35yOmpP6hxgB7RuGHHtn1JBgQEgq0kP2jNIl77_TiTLFfeoz9FsjKyRB6OaJhBSfbNrage/s1600/IMG_2494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBA5BTgEEykRxbsSCZ6j7Kbsf7MnfN1ciaRk5DeS2obccn2J7ne6DU6IWm9qsCt5L5ltW4xw35yOmpP6hxgB7RuGHHtn1JBgQEgq0kP2jNIl77_TiTLFfeoz9FsjKyRB6OaJhBSfbNrage/s400/IMG_2494.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguAtoazzXsxITa1Cxoo0BWjuKtbDNZYj5YsS_i7Dd56Tes7myDhNCHKa4Db83aUcAZ37RDvQ-4iJsaEtJz-UuZ98Zaz4bil4Vb87B_2hOlc0nT6lAjz2ZLTIgkf_ZvI-5gajAFinc2lBL/s1600/IMG_2495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguAtoazzXsxITa1Cxoo0BWjuKtbDNZYj5YsS_i7Dd56Tes7myDhNCHKa4Db83aUcAZ37RDvQ-4iJsaEtJz-UuZ98Zaz4bil4Vb87B_2hOlc0nT6lAjz2ZLTIgkf_ZvI-5gajAFinc2lBL/s400/IMG_2495.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We observed that the the issuance of
tickets was being interrupted followed by announcements about the bad weather
conditions uphill. It was resumed within 20 minutes or so and then again a
similar announcement followed. We, leaving our guide back, engaged ourselves in
exploring the area. We learnt that another rope way from here, a Chair Lift,
which was not operational at that time, goes up to the snow covered mountain
slopes ahead where skiing competitions are held during winter. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #191a1c; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Snow Rugby</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small; text-align: left;"> matches are also organised occasionally. The skiing slopes
known as <strong>Marry Shoulder</strong> is supposed to be one of the best in
the world. They charge Rs.200.00 per head but children below the age of 10 are
not permitted to board the Chair Lifts which have a capacity for four. </span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMjbPoTh9GQJNpY7j5iQLuDYzQhM4qeDc5SPLZtaRk9qPXEWARmVla3PYA8n4sKotTp4_1htD0e3BSx_Gv-oVlxEGpO0rJebtrku3GYHvYHauLf9T2SJz3_6LiBU9YexME2BEd0bTkEFh/s1600/GulmargSking1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMjbPoTh9GQJNpY7j5iQLuDYzQhM4qeDc5SPLZtaRk9qPXEWARmVla3PYA8n4sKotTp4_1htD0e3BSx_Gv-oVlxEGpO0rJebtrku3GYHvYHauLf9T2SJz3_6LiBU9YexME2BEd0bTkEFh/s400/GulmargSking1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">After about an hour and half, we had
our tickets and could board another Gondola to take us to Apharwat. The onward
journey commenced. After some time we found ourselves amidst clouds and it
started raining. The gondola stopped in the mid air and after remaining
suspended for some time we were on the go. Finally we entered the Gondola
station where we readied ourselves to get down but the doors refused to open.
Lo! we were returning. We could perceive that the weather conditions were not
conducive thereat. Finally, after being airborne for over 40 minutes, we were
back at Khilanmarg. Another ride on the Gondola brought us to the base from
where we walked back to the main road. We reached our vehicles and headed to
Srinagar.</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjhXl3HuAH9okxs9qgdes49ROx0A5lsvnPZwGpqtx1YWZx90CfJGCejiV6SlNBVh91lmJU2-jnfdPnOCXwsCYLF8cPBRCtjTLOsGwTAKbdpPmGGk6IMnWoTXUQ2uo9Wmw-LJMm8fvsuk5/s1600/OmKeAC1342704356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjhXl3HuAH9okxs9qgdes49ROx0A5lsvnPZwGpqtx1YWZx90CfJGCejiV6SlNBVh91lmJU2-jnfdPnOCXwsCYLF8cPBRCtjTLOsGwTAKbdpPmGGk6IMnWoTXUQ2uo9Wmw-LJMm8fvsuk5/s400/OmKeAC1342704356.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small; text-align: left;">Though we regretted for not having
been able to disembark at the top of the mountain, at least I was a bit relaxed
for I could have had problems in breathing at that height of over 13500 feet.
Nevertheless all of us were happy for at least having had an opportunity of
riding the most elevated ropeway in the world. Gulmarg is an all-weather resort
with refreshing summer meadows and pastoral scenes. Its legendary beauty, adventure opportunities, prime
location and proximity to Srinagar naturally makes it one of the premier hill
resorts in the country.</span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; font-size: small; text-align: left;">The beauty all around
is heavenly.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Note: Online booking facility
(E-Tickets) for Gondola tickets for both the stages is available at:</span>
</div>
<div align="justify">
<a href="http://www.gulmarggondola.com/">http://www.gulmarggondola.com</a></div>
</div>P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-62512060110430401302012-07-23T08:01:00.000+05:302012-07-23T08:01:13.695+05:30Sonmarg (Kashmir)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Memories of Sonmarg bring shivers
into my spines. I am just recapitulating the enthusiasm we had while proceeding
to this place which withered away eventually. That could have been one of the
most enjoyable trips but we underwent extreme suffering due to our own faults
and lack of proper guidance. <b>Sonmarg</b> which means '</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 17px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meadow of Gold'</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;">lies some 87 kilometres North East of
Srinagar on the highway leading to Leh in Laddakh (topmost area of India). If
one continues the journey on that highway for another 9 kilometres, one would
reach Joji La (Pass) which is a vital link between Srinagar and Leh. Since we
were not heading towards Leh, we stopped at Sonmarg. An important glacier known
as <b>Machoi</b> is approachable from here at a distance of 8 kilometres towards the
right. The melting ice of the glacier forms a river known as Sindhu which flows
for 108 kilometres and becomes a tributary of the river Jhelam. On the way to
Sonmarg this river flows parallel to the highway (NH 1D) most of the time and
affords a beautiful view against the backdrop of the mountain ranges. The
flowing waters, greenery created by the Pine trees and other vegetation makes
the drive enjoyable. We were happy for we thought we were seeing the famous
river Indus (called Sindhu in India) but we were mistaken. The river Indus has
its origin in Tibet and passing through Laddakh it flows through Pakistan.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUt9GkM1Mn5uIZIGJd_u65iWWcBLMF_PkwCLfisrAP3c9JCcucLit1vgpTRoMCDhVEz4gbNFp-uuTvHH9lELHxBSQjPcwKyjl03r3_aIERBjolgegZ25CAl6bN2enlk-DtEm2Ar4TUk8K/s1600/IMG_2486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKUt9GkM1Mn5uIZIGJd_u65iWWcBLMF_PkwCLfisrAP3c9JCcucLit1vgpTRoMCDhVEz4gbNFp-uuTvHH9lELHxBSQjPcwKyjl03r3_aIERBjolgegZ25CAl6bN2enlk-DtEm2Ar4TUk8K/s400/IMG_2486.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6f8qLuEekD3qLdZdeLlTxrMBJ57XAa0hHP5-guxY3bhVVmTGPaSEhtJBIRUJ-B-bBbY3GSINWjdpS0mrKshRatb9c0utwBIc0DRfGk3VP8yY5GeDM_6juDOGAGkPeAGA0qdMp4AKMT2e/s1600/IMG_2487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6f8qLuEekD3qLdZdeLlTxrMBJ57XAa0hHP5-guxY3bhVVmTGPaSEhtJBIRUJ-B-bBbY3GSINWjdpS0mrKshRatb9c0utwBIc0DRfGk3VP8yY5GeDM_6juDOGAGkPeAGA0qdMp4AKMT2e/s400/IMG_2487.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhwYp5s4B2suKDNH7CrJhfaZknMsx25NPy2ocGWfWjBLXK4BqQsxTB8z2mFZRVyO2Vt8WSUFNk4exRrl632mwawDKfBlYBWnN6GWNRiSApPEJr2g2V9Mf446eDMP5gDjT-TjLYe777NDD/s1600/IMG_2473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhwYp5s4B2suKDNH7CrJhfaZknMsx25NPy2ocGWfWjBLXK4BqQsxTB8z2mFZRVyO2Vt8WSUFNk4exRrl632mwawDKfBlYBWnN6GWNRiSApPEJr2g2V9Mf446eDMP5gDjT-TjLYe777NDD/s400/IMG_2473.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">On 8th June 2012 we had our breakfast in the morning
at Srinagar and could reach Sonmarg by Noon. There were several temporary shops
on the left providing overcoats, hand gloves, woollen caps, gum boots etc. on a
rental basis. The ground in front had wet mud all around and was slushy, a place for all
the ponies waiting for customers. The shops there arrange for everything you
need, including ponies. The economic principle of demand and supply becomes
operational when it comes to determination of per head charges. It is obvious
that it varies from time to time.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQRcI7rN3HrJEvXJhiH4KdaAlc_jr78UCg1qxYjKjzZSgMPbLQpwxasPoQIzR8_zoJPYItTHW688BtyFQ1j16FcZeJCajLIcK0q5MDCK3-Tm9-qNa-MpizVy-8xoXj9hN5Wo-OGwzzCHU/s1600/IMG_2475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtQRcI7rN3HrJEvXJhiH4KdaAlc_jr78UCg1qxYjKjzZSgMPbLQpwxasPoQIzR8_zoJPYItTHW688BtyFQ1j16FcZeJCajLIcK0q5MDCK3-Tm9-qNa-MpizVy-8xoXj9hN5Wo-OGwzzCHU/s400/IMG_2475.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">It was drizzling when we reached
there but soon the sky was clear and the weather looked inviting. We geared
ourselves putting on the overcoats and other things and finally were on the
horse back for the 8 kilometre ride. The caravan proceeded towards the glacier
scaling the steep ups. While we were mid way, it started raining. We were
wearing woollen overcoats which got soaked in rain water and created discomfort.
By the time we were at the foot of the glacier, we were completely drenched and
shivering because of extreme cold. All of us were riding a horse/pony for the
first time in life. Fortunately at the point we got down, there were numerous
temporary sheds where hot tea was available. There was a fire place where we
could get some warmth. But that was of no avail because the moment we got out
it was a back to square one situation.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRR5eVSAacc9Mfd4Nmx3EDDoRDFo4xtpr74pS8yyTW7sm7j1lIdaorxFKqWnZyeR_fpvLx9sHv8Xwy5PcqZLn7AD74YQEijlQqYgnSNFE24N1nvPviU9IdGDxW1uhBU87Y4FxEU4PJk16T/s1600/IMG_2483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRR5eVSAacc9Mfd4Nmx3EDDoRDFo4xtpr74pS8yyTW7sm7j1lIdaorxFKqWnZyeR_fpvLx9sHv8Xwy5PcqZLn7AD74YQEijlQqYgnSNFE24N1nvPviU9IdGDxW1uhBU87Y4FxEU4PJk16T/s400/IMG_2483.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The glacier stood before us and some
how we prepared ourselves for the climb. You are pulled up on a sledge which is
a wooden plank by the people rendering this service. Their charges are also
negotiable. There are some imaginary points across the glacier viz, 6, 12, 24
and so on. One could choose any one of them and the farther you wish to be
carried, you need to pay more. We settled for a point described as 24. The
journey upwards over the sledge was cumbersome as you need to balance yourself.
I fell down twice. We were still shivering and the height at 13500 feet had a
telling effect. Abruptly, even before we could reach the so called point 6, the
man pulling the sledge asked us to get down and cover the steep stretch by foot.
We did the short trek but then got exhausted. We were unable to breathe
properly. There was no strength left to go any further. We settled ourselves on
the snow unable to make any movements. There were cries in the air. A child aged
9 or 10 was weeping profusely. We then decided to return back. Even on our way
back we got thrown out of the sledge because of the steep slide. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTU-KP1JDvQyURIMtsSC4iPnZ90XnzJ1gTSq7yiqs8kF3CbQpAym6QiHTIDD0MzgIoTUQKP7GwgzhSBBetS1400ZVB9WxTRKLzfHkDpF22Jsehd8c2-1qejxn5n2Tb8UbpQ4ewHkp9EoU/s1600/IMG_2481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTU-KP1JDvQyURIMtsSC4iPnZ90XnzJ1gTSq7yiqs8kF3CbQpAym6QiHTIDD0MzgIoTUQKP7GwgzhSBBetS1400ZVB9WxTRKLzfHkDpF22Jsehd8c2-1qejxn5n2Tb8UbpQ4ewHkp9EoU/s400/IMG_2481.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzSn0FTDepkvqz8oU4Ms9vOJnYKW_vlw7wniQDpOtwy3RFOGA_Ks4KtUQEFJsxn1haXY2_yPwprncnezQVMRKT1zQ31_IklyoEGlq37WzHcHEVHx1WTca5SHTc1xkNgKGsXn1nTgHronh/s1600/IMG_2482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzSn0FTDepkvqz8oU4Ms9vOJnYKW_vlw7wniQDpOtwy3RFOGA_Ks4KtUQEFJsxn1haXY2_yPwprncnezQVMRKT1zQ31_IklyoEGlq37WzHcHEVHx1WTca5SHTc1xkNgKGsXn1nTgHronh/s400/IMG_2482.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibExOj7mGa4xTKkSqtHnyjaWy4j2GbJqDvyJhh5XWLEf0XbM6ZpwfijheDgO8puZdvL6Eeaf3q76g6WrEw6Y6s2k7vnNDkW_kM6x8MFg6vYU2b3B9-fhjTwsOwRYbydCyLkcbNkBx4tdfX/s1600/IMG_2485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibExOj7mGa4xTKkSqtHnyjaWy4j2GbJqDvyJhh5XWLEf0XbM6ZpwfijheDgO8puZdvL6Eeaf3q76g6WrEw6Y6s2k7vnNDkW_kM6x8MFg6vYU2b3B9-fhjTwsOwRYbydCyLkcbNkBx4tdfX/s400/IMG_2485.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdLxBQInBCv8DGEE1NyenAbgN9xuLJfvpxHuWv3krma4kjcUO5dsZAZBxHQRQ-C5KTY93T8hxC9sbLR8xetpwdMdcrDkFAmLRhcu-FEIBHQG7cw5EEYPDB2NIq8rLXoJogZ3TuJO1IAXJ/s1600/IMG_2484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdLxBQInBCv8DGEE1NyenAbgN9xuLJfvpxHuWv3krma4kjcUO5dsZAZBxHQRQ-C5KTY93T8hxC9sbLR8xetpwdMdcrDkFAmLRhcu-FEIBHQG7cw5EEYPDB2NIq8rLXoJogZ3TuJO1IAXJ/s400/IMG_2484.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">Ready to go back</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana; text-align: left;">We came back to have another round of
hot tea and getting some warmth at the fireplace of the tea shops. Looking back
at the glacier we realized the beauty of the place but failed to appreciate it
to the extent it deserved because of fatigue, physical as also mental. Now we
were looking for our horses/ponies and they got located soon. While returning
from the glacier, over the horse back, we were going down and at many places it
was very steep. It seemed to be a very tiring exercise to remain at 90 degrees
and balancing ourselves while the horse was manoeuvring through very narrow
passages circumventing large boulders, stones and cavities. Finally we reached
the place where our vehicles were parked.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Our driver immediately came to our
rescue. He pulled out our gum boots and socks and to our horror we found ice
pieces coming out along with water. Thereafter we removed the drenched overcoat
and other things which were sent back to the shop owner. We also removed our
shirts and pants and got seated inside our vehicles. The heater was turned on
and we were feeling better after 10/15 minutes.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We had observed that there was a good
road going to the glacier from Sonmarg but only the local vehicles (other than
taxies) were permitted. Probably this practice is in vogue so as to enable the
local horse/pony keepers to make a living.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The greatest blunder we committed was
by not insisting for rain coats. The weather conditions in high altitudes are
not predictable. But then we were provided with woollens only which got drenched
and created all the problems.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEZlDXQ9TusA_1qA1mslzW6aKLFxdUHaFFRu86q7MtDxcjfoinsyIDahv2m0dmioRsQHDl8VWyV_LimNq18mFybuz0f1wxfAguV8MZHzQZn9gHm-kQ0DXOk3gfGuCeDL737EowgbTfYFA/s1600/IMG_2488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPEZlDXQ9TusA_1qA1mslzW6aKLFxdUHaFFRu86q7MtDxcjfoinsyIDahv2m0dmioRsQHDl8VWyV_LimNq18mFybuz0f1wxfAguV8MZHzQZn9gHm-kQ0DXOk3gfGuCeDL737EowgbTfYFA/s400/IMG_2488.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">While returning to Srinagar, we
stopped at a wayside restaurant and had our late but hot lunch. The Alu Parathas
(bread with potatoes) was heavenly. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Nevertheless it was an experience
more akin to an adventure. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
</div>P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-15669184419904344682012-07-12T15:11:00.001+05:302012-07-17T13:47:47.521+05:30Jamia Masjid (Mosque) - Srinagar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">After having visited Hazratbal, we
thought of going to the Jamia Masjid (Mosque) at Srinagar. However, our driver
had some reservations. He informed that the Mosque is at the centre of the old
part of the city and is a disturbed area. Cannot be considered to be very safe.
Then he remembered that it was a Thursday and not a Friday. Fridays are special
when the area is fully crowded for the prayers at the Mosque. (Before I could
make out a post, there was a news that a 300 year old “Dastagir Sahib”a holy
shrine of the Sufi order, went into flames under mysterious circumstances. To
contain the violence that followed, curfew has been clamped through out Kashmir.
Even people have been restrained from offering their Friday prayers at Jamia
Mosque on the 29th June) Therefore the driver obliged us and took us through the
streets of the old city. From an otherwise thinly populated areas we were
proceeding towards high density area. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjwPEBR9TV-RpabBr0cz1edEe2X0VrEr6UcWiyVGDUTA9iaburLcU7v4BAkZZJoPr7feSCV27hDwy7AYoV7E3IyhnRt0u5DuOfUbinMwlIswNeiCEMDEQF8RUmQkmVj-edL5g9xYEfg_2/s1600/IMG_2453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjwPEBR9TV-RpabBr0cz1edEe2X0VrEr6UcWiyVGDUTA9iaburLcU7v4BAkZZJoPr7feSCV27hDwy7AYoV7E3IyhnRt0u5DuOfUbinMwlIswNeiCEMDEQF8RUmQkmVj-edL5g9xYEfg_2/s400/IMG_2453.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBt5b7zDZawtAysM79HUVkqIaAJJEtLN-F8uFLXLRL_yzKWeSkUcW9BN7n1H_Qrh1-wNuVOrit4PlOwv8ArgGOVLUhpl99cHgBP_2_FhR0rCM67zTsNPIHpWa-Sy4UYCrsKG8GcmLVukEs/s1600/IMG_2454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBt5b7zDZawtAysM79HUVkqIaAJJEtLN-F8uFLXLRL_yzKWeSkUcW9BN7n1H_Qrh1-wNuVOrit4PlOwv8ArgGOVLUhpl99cHgBP_2_FhR0rCM67zTsNPIHpWa-Sy4UYCrsKG8GcmLVukEs/s400/IMG_2454.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTA1IUBJC4GbFc1MI8NIEvxpMC3Zi7r73Rs_oNzHaXLrJULIn4KR5kzwwad1E1zKiCbacYZE_9eVT_Yn7n286LZJpTh6sc4aEO7uuvqQ_wui8AAJfbjbO78aWGEv6Mp-tdQQxICQgbIUeG/s1600/IMG_2455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTA1IUBJC4GbFc1MI8NIEvxpMC3Zi7r73Rs_oNzHaXLrJULIn4KR5kzwwad1E1zKiCbacYZE_9eVT_Yn7n286LZJpTh6sc4aEO7uuvqQ_wui8AAJfbjbO78aWGEv6Mp-tdQQxICQgbIUeG/s400/IMG_2455.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYPUFvqsIXIjfXvAFWKybAMvvRLRtq_i5eiPHuMkv_74Sc8o-nAhlIybJIPdF12hT7wNr39lG5cccUwDUuZcRuMSZwgAXvhvnrgOiLXw8v5UT2o3DttYIE4hcyiQYfMDu1feNV1ERKq-E/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYPUFvqsIXIjfXvAFWKybAMvvRLRtq_i5eiPHuMkv_74Sc8o-nAhlIybJIPdF12hT7wNr39lG5cccUwDUuZcRuMSZwgAXvhvnrgOiLXw8v5UT2o3DttYIE4hcyiQYfMDu1feNV1ERKq-E/s400/IMG_2456.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The houses and buildings on our way had
a an old world charm and we could not resist clicking our cameras. Soon we
noticed a tall tower at a distance resembling that of a church but then our
driver corrected us saying that it is the Jamia Masjid.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzloWcyiA-T9uo1qnHhM2GavMjfHpOrvFnQUsPX-5xAt71tyDeIS0n2sAiFXQKBdfdygnhGWzdNtvH7btPCaQICr8cbTC7OAvOZLvIbHW-bQ2DXe4uMTH3J3UIovhLaLr3xBzlREkNTKWE/s1600/IMG_2459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzloWcyiA-T9uo1qnHhM2GavMjfHpOrvFnQUsPX-5xAt71tyDeIS0n2sAiFXQKBdfdygnhGWzdNtvH7btPCaQICr8cbTC7OAvOZLvIbHW-bQ2DXe4uMTH3J3UIovhLaLr3xBzlREkNTKWE/s400/IMG_2459.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUFWMNEajHJaaijgTjM6BmgiruhnzFbJKxuJ7fmXEAO0JHdMtnAU17EazGqJiAw1FaAqbt4_84r4OULVrZcLxx9ZcJY3J_M2FgklnIhOoiVyy4iPpxe15ParIvBeQkd3O2BNs7v-QDALl/s1600/IMG_2460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcUFWMNEajHJaaijgTjM6BmgiruhnzFbJKxuJ7fmXEAO0JHdMtnAU17EazGqJiAw1FaAqbt4_84r4OULVrZcLxx9ZcJY3J_M2FgklnIhOoiVyy4iPpxe15ParIvBeQkd3O2BNs7v-QDALl/s400/IMG_2460.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We were now crossing a main road to
go down. The mosque was at a lower elevation and now it was in full view. The
main entrance is from the Southern side. The mosque seems to have had entrances from
North and East as well. There is a broad lane surrounding the mosque with show
rooms and shops on one side stocking items ranging from cloth, utensils,
handicrafts and other domestic needs. It is said that the market here is cheaper
as they primarily cater to the needs of the local population. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcbgR47aMwJ7UCErpBW-s-mX8AGOUCPi6dbG5yQKpiYZsgzgh5u4ylGyjzwrH5rlVJdxsf5nZ6dIErX4KYGN-g_JtF9YIbaJRlvBAVz7m42kyNjP-V3whCvI4TRaoV1NTNMZn1Y6HVi_L/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcbgR47aMwJ7UCErpBW-s-mX8AGOUCPi6dbG5yQKpiYZsgzgh5u4ylGyjzwrH5rlVJdxsf5nZ6dIErX4KYGN-g_JtF9YIbaJRlvBAVz7m42kyNjP-V3whCvI4TRaoV1NTNMZn1Y6HVi_L/s400/IMG_2470.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The arched doorway is huge but then
the pagoda type superstructure resembles that of a Buddhist shrine. There are
no domes and minarets which we generally find associated with mosques.
Practically all mosques in Kashmir are devoid of domes. The mosque is supposed
to be a unique representation of the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Saracenic_Revival_architecture">Indo-Saracenic architecture.</a></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJWm1jauGkJygLhdJM2NtPBKdb_DfJ6AmzaaqpY6X0wQSq_JOKJCQLG2E2YGrKWJWKCCFLeiTitTQa4WHtDo_g47kD3dVO_wQBHq4D1XaKn0XBxwI20P-E44-XGzTX4LkdGKXlsyli9Dt/s1600/IMG_2461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJWm1jauGkJygLhdJM2NtPBKdb_DfJ6AmzaaqpY6X0wQSq_JOKJCQLG2E2YGrKWJWKCCFLeiTitTQa4WHtDo_g47kD3dVO_wQBHq4D1XaKn0XBxwI20P-E44-XGzTX4LkdGKXlsyli9Dt/s320/IMG_2461.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR-XmcOvfQpRgn1rPo_NVT1RelP2lb7Tkw1bwYNfJpAhj8w1Q4iNWax-79ZVqihh8nnINQK9JoeAWhnf4IS85ieqGhjMPfrLmoXBNZlkOkFT4ntSS6ppXqcTnAWQeJHkFwz5-Si7k75ZH/s1600/IMG_2463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR-XmcOvfQpRgn1rPo_NVT1RelP2lb7Tkw1bwYNfJpAhj8w1Q4iNWax-79ZVqihh8nnINQK9JoeAWhnf4IS85ieqGhjMPfrLmoXBNZlkOkFT4ntSS6ppXqcTnAWQeJHkFwz5-Si7k75ZH/s400/IMG_2463.JPG" width="363" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MeVowimhOS4huG-iQdfS4qSuGVvVcxL-B2cT8GmKrSXa7FDzZwQABctmF4rCtJ9VHYXet6V3psOHlB-8nqkQPFn1-I8-nDdXFPKwUlPNkpMpkmaLNb6llyTBnE6LBXLcR4-PGbM6o5-y/s1600/IMG_2466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MeVowimhOS4huG-iQdfS4qSuGVvVcxL-B2cT8GmKrSXa7FDzZwQABctmF4rCtJ9VHYXet6V3psOHlB-8nqkQPFn1-I8-nDdXFPKwUlPNkpMpkmaLNb6llyTBnE6LBXLcR4-PGbM6o5-y/s400/IMG_2466.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheK1888XBh_0d4367WeExS-9Vw9UZ6ASvkWNQpjrxurlHuMdC5RXS9_Dw5oycV-Bwc2ZGk2VTEHy09JTjDqtbLR96TqRljXQ002KWCgwbvBIdLCYvFtJHPYngvsesodCSjk3MFEg0ENI8b/s1600/Mehrab.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheK1888XBh_0d4367WeExS-9Vw9UZ6ASvkWNQpjrxurlHuMdC5RXS9_Dw5oycV-Bwc2ZGk2VTEHy09JTjDqtbLR96TqRljXQ002KWCgwbvBIdLCYvFtJHPYngvsesodCSjk3MFEg0ENI8b/s400/Mehrab.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89XqCucMjAC9g0Zda2pQlyV0LOh9MbZ2GNhImNgLgnKMO1sqCDQ47GLoqJtjQfsxtsOrnKIQwJreu3tZMs2s-2EnqQAGG2Wos2fFYEhA3T8OIT3grx1DvNvNTU2iH-3zp8Yv0QWUN4XA2/s1600/IMG_2468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89XqCucMjAC9g0Zda2pQlyV0LOh9MbZ2GNhImNgLgnKMO1sqCDQ47GLoqJtjQfsxtsOrnKIQwJreu3tZMs2s-2EnqQAGG2Wos2fFYEhA3T8OIT3grx1DvNvNTU2iH-3zp8Yv0QWUN4XA2/s400/IMG_2468.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">On entering through the main doorway,
we find a magnificent square courtyard with well maintained lawns and ornamental
trees. Towards the West is the main prayer hall wherefrom the Imam (Head Priest)
directs the congregation. Just in front of the main prayer area there is a large
square pool with flowing water used for ritual washing of hands before entering
the hall for praying. There is a LED display board inside which shows the exact
timings for the 5 times a day prayers. This main complex is surrounded by a
very broad corridor on the other three sides with fully carpeted flooring.
</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8a80tl9URG1BIV7-xxyyoJFtb_f7LehoFXBkwLFHF-Wl0iwW1hxWuiWa2wBfZLQqB5JhWICJ3xbK9Hu1BVV68aaxmoPq1-DTDIFCenyNZHFBWRWxYhTanXUgWifSRT3y66OqmAjtxjBd/s1600/IMG_2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8a80tl9URG1BIV7-xxyyoJFtb_f7LehoFXBkwLFHF-Wl0iwW1hxWuiWa2wBfZLQqB5JhWICJ3xbK9Hu1BVV68aaxmoPq1-DTDIFCenyNZHFBWRWxYhTanXUgWifSRT3y66OqmAjtxjBd/s400/IMG_2462.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The Jamia Masjid is located in the
Nowhata area of Srinagar. This was got constructed by the local ruler Sultan
Sikandar in the year 1400. Later extensions were carried out by his son
Jain-ul-Abidin. As said earlier the architecture is of Indo-Saracenic type. As a
matter of fact it is an amalgam of Gothic, Mughal and Indian styles. Here they
have used fully baked bricks for the whole construction. It has a wooden ceiling
over which corrugated tin sheets have been placed angularly to facilitate easy
clearance of snow during winters. the ceiling is supported by 370 very tall
pillars made of pine timber. The mosque has a capacity to accommodate a
congregation of 33333 people under its roof. Unfortunately this mosque too had
to suffer great amount of loss due to fire which broke out at least thrice so
far. The last renovation after a major fire was carried out by a Hindu ruler
Maharaja Pratap Singh during the later part of 16th century.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Amongst all the mosques we have seen
in India, this one is unique and justly called the pride of Srinagar.</span></div>
</div>P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-49230207128350841272012-07-12T15:04:00.000+05:302012-07-25T17:31:26.947+05:30Hazratbal (Srinagar)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Very close to the Nishat Baug at
Srinagar there is a very famous place known as Hazratbal. Once it was a village
which now is a suburban locality of Srinagar. “Bal” literally means a place and
it is some times misconstrued as “Baal” meaning “hair”. Hazratbal if literally
translated could mean a holy place. Interestingly it does have an association
with the “hair” of the Prophet Mohammed, the precursor of Islam. It is believed
by the muslim community of Kashmir that a strand of hair from Prophets beard is
preserved at a shrine thereat which is also referred to as Hazratbal. A gang of
terrorists even occupied the shrine with an intent to take away the holy relic
and in the shoot out that followed, the security forces succeeded in eliminating
them. Even thereafter there had been few skirmishes. Now it seems that peace has
finally dawned. There are hundreds of pigeons here and people say that the white
ones, representing peace, are on an increase. Because the entire area is
sensitive, security forces have been posted at the shrine.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECbYwlthBIE29WPKp5SGGrt6kD_q3cUoH-BzefQqgvISmY7c0vepz4jkPVZJHiF41GR7g04eg26AROLUSO8bHzx6QFNsyA5k_UM825aWXADZ5p7ylxpJuWv-JVfX4V31kTJAVwVjeOMLA/s1600/old+photograph+of+hazrat+bal+1920s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECbYwlthBIE29WPKp5SGGrt6kD_q3cUoH-BzefQqgvISmY7c0vepz4jkPVZJHiF41GR7g04eg26AROLUSO8bHzx6QFNsyA5k_UM825aWXADZ5p7ylxpJuWv-JVfX4V31kTJAVwVjeOMLA/s400/old+photograph+of+hazrat+bal+1920s.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;">The structure as it appeared in 1920</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The holy relic gets exposed to public
view five times a day for the whole week during during Eid-e-milad and
Meraj-un-nabi celebrations. Thousands throng to this shrine during those
occasions just to have a glimpse of the relic. It is said that during the
beginning of the 17th century a high official of Shahjahan’s court got
constructed a beautiful building (Isshrat Mahal) with gardens spread out. In those days the surrounding area was known as Sadiqabad. When Shahjahan visited
the place in 1634 he ordered the building to be used as a prayer hall.
Historians are of the view that the relic was brought to India from Medina by
one Syed Abdulla a descendant of the Prophet, who settled down at Bijapur in
Karnataka. After his death the relic came into the possession of his son Syed
Hamid. But then the area came under the attack of Mughals who annexed it. During
the turmoil, Syed Hamid lost all his properties and was not able to take care of
the family relic. He, therefore, sold it to a rich Kashmiri merchant named
Khwaja Nur-ud-din Eshai. When Aurangazeb (Mughal emperor) came to know about
this, he got the holy relic confiscated and sent it to the shrine of Khwaja
Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer. Nur-ud-din Eshai was arrested for possessing the
relic and jailed at Lahore (now in Pakistan). It seems that after some time
Aurangazeb’s conscience deplored his own actions and then he decided to return
the relic to it’s owner Nur-ud-din and set him free. However by that time
Nur-ud-din, while in jail, had already departed to his heavenly
abode.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">It was in 1699 that the remains of
Nur-ud-din Eshai’s body as also the holy relic were brought to Kashmir. Inayat
Begam, daughter of Nur-ud-din got the remains of her father’s body cremated and
a shrine erected at Hazratbal. She also took the holy relic under her
protection. The present structure made of marble was constructed by the Muslim
Aukaf Trust administered by Sheikh Abdulla (a renowned politician of yester
years). The construction started in 1968 and got completed in 1979. The shrine,
apart from religious activities, was also a nerve centre of all political
activities at Srinagar. Sheikh Abdulla used to address the public from this
venue and became very popular. After his death, his son Dr. Farooq Abdulla
desired to have control over the affairs of the shrine but terrorists had a
upper hand from 1990 onwards. The shrine proved to be a safe heaven for
them.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rNle3lqIMkvt4_IK8R9NnZypVPlM85kssObZ7FM7ROaAINGPQcaSP3EvMDeo6W_wGQz6P_MjkGEHHERpMSU1vJjU3jnUGrjGYSInjzBCMlJwWdUFZd-JBoqUuxdZA7bAs_U8S7_oN2-R/s1600/IMG_2444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rNle3lqIMkvt4_IK8R9NnZypVPlM85kssObZ7FM7ROaAINGPQcaSP3EvMDeo6W_wGQz6P_MjkGEHHERpMSU1vJjU3jnUGrjGYSInjzBCMlJwWdUFZd-JBoqUuxdZA7bAs_U8S7_oN2-R/s400/IMG_2444.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CKooPG9NwakZeuKWV_LPuW0DMMygd3VAzTT0b5vMs6GCA-uZpM4EgWXKGk7Epe-jjWKddeJdrQfWUYyFRe_zAualicLjaG9GTLyqKfTNIGtju0noaPtUBVfxoEyjl-katXCIp4W_Tw0-/s1600/IMG_2445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5CKooPG9NwakZeuKWV_LPuW0DMMygd3VAzTT0b5vMs6GCA-uZpM4EgWXKGk7Epe-jjWKddeJdrQfWUYyFRe_zAualicLjaG9GTLyqKfTNIGtju0noaPtUBVfxoEyjl-katXCIp4W_Tw0-/s400/IMG_2445.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXBzD7yCQBISUCp3SHlgsP4YkhGtwziK2rG9i1f4RTStElzQQ87Fh7QTqNa5rQG2ioBVhT_FU2HVXSqkwblfh98VDt_kHPWSzsz32xmVUwyUA3CKxbbptjX1iO4PcvldYkOLZoCJ1HC5M/s1600/IMG_2448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXBzD7yCQBISUCp3SHlgsP4YkhGtwziK2rG9i1f4RTStElzQQ87Fh7QTqNa5rQG2ioBVhT_FU2HVXSqkwblfh98VDt_kHPWSzsz32xmVUwyUA3CKxbbptjX1iO4PcvldYkOLZoCJ1HC5M/s400/IMG_2448.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI87DSEiCtYopptZZ0byqOnZdlo2GSSZCjFwsP3Ch-ENVgEsRcZuW9tBmq121NjfvMfcByQqwadtoUIXUerhVZ1YL5rLpZ7SacN0t0pbu2NuEX-LtQ03kO_lcLpczzdlE1nPEZEf0Vi-S/s1600/IMG_2449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzI87DSEiCtYopptZZ0byqOnZdlo2GSSZCjFwsP3Ch-ENVgEsRcZuW9tBmq121NjfvMfcByQqwadtoUIXUerhVZ1YL5rLpZ7SacN0t0pbu2NuEX-LtQ03kO_lcLpczzdlE1nPEZEf0Vi-S/s400/IMG_2449.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2AXd-fVBDRGfAKgnuF1FBCvKpzHIQwfSZMU_vHeLzdXr5IkdN9RmURTDrsMfEtM19Bgw04BAimmiEiQJj2iYWnAbO7bRHo4PM4ChY-rRaCEC2h1zmFMkXaXzTUWKrizL7JOHmticNjnh/s1600/IMG_2450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2AXd-fVBDRGfAKgnuF1FBCvKpzHIQwfSZMU_vHeLzdXr5IkdN9RmURTDrsMfEtM19Bgw04BAimmiEiQJj2iYWnAbO7bRHo4PM4ChY-rRaCEC2h1zmFMkXaXzTUWKrizL7JOHmticNjnh/s400/IMG_2450.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We roamed about the residential areas
adjoining the Shrine and then proceeded towards the left. The road was going
down, not steep though. To our right there was one opening leading towards the
left side of the Holy Shrine. Amidst a well laid our lawn, there were some
ornamental trees. The main dome of the shrine had scaffoldings and it appeared
that some restoration/repairs were being undertaken. There was a group of
Kashmiri women at the extreme end of the lawn singing and rejoicing. We asked a
gentleman there, probably belonging to that group, about the happenings. We were
told that a family from a nearby village had no issues and they had prayed at
the Shrine earlier. As a result a baby was born and that the family has brought
the child here and were expressing their gratitude. We sought their permission
to take few photographs and they gladly agreed. After enjoying their traditional
group song with the accompaniments, we proceeded towards the shrine. There were
not many tourists. Most of the people there were local women who were entering a
side hall to offer their prayers. We had a peep through a window. When we were
proceeding towards the front side, we encountered few security personnel. We
once again enquired if it would be proper for us to take photographs. We were
advised not to do so inside the hall leading to the main Shrine (tomb). There
was a covered porch outside through which we could enter the main hall, The hall
was fully decorated and carpeted and looked like the hall of a church without
the seating arrangement (benches). Thereafter we came out and we were on the
main street after passing through an arched gate. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijofjmMyb1pY067tkhrbatxQ-LebIArX5LHsKk_peVg273zr4wzzZC0eSmU20ZYhu_OGufLmNbsvNQHISu5rCpejaV0vrQJvmvMFiE3raVd57yTzddZPi03L8P1JxwQUWnGqPD1moMOlPS/s1600/IMG_2451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijofjmMyb1pY067tkhrbatxQ-LebIArX5LHsKk_peVg273zr4wzzZC0eSmU20ZYhu_OGufLmNbsvNQHISu5rCpejaV0vrQJvmvMFiE3raVd57yTzddZPi03L8P1JxwQUWnGqPD1moMOlPS/s400/IMG_2451.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The visitors from different parts of
country generally pay a visit to the shrine. In the past, even the political
delegations, including from the BJP, also made it a point in the past to pay
obeisance at the shrine. Former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Atal Behari
Vajpayee, and Presidents Neelam Sanjiva Reddy and APJ Kalam had also visited the
shrine. But now a days <span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">It seems that tourists are not
very comfortable coming here as it is perceived that any thing could happen
anytime.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Here is a small video:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/0XNjsPONVkU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
</div>P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3450414145182080212.post-27985493260446597792012-07-05T12:23:00.000+05:302012-07-12T15:12:34.952+05:30Nishat Bagh and Harwan Garden (Srinagar)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">After having spent about 2 hours at
Chashme Shahi we had to return taking the same road via the Governor’s residence
(Raj Bhawan). The second largest Mughal garden known as Nishat Bagh was again
located on the main road on the Eastern bank of Dal Lake with the same Zabarwan
mountain ranges as its backdrop. The waters flowing out of the garden has been
made to slide down from about 15 feet high into a rectangular pool by the side
of the road.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOl245ZOx4MK02ynyFRXdFXzRPPB-nCeAAMK73LjkaFP28iy0Gg-3_htiTOxhXlrI4VzKwDJ-lER5kTff6Aj5t2-0GkKf9QOwHlAYR4dcGebJpi2nGXUkb6Ak4MU-92yvoV3bsVGvufy62/s1600/IMG_2418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOl245ZOx4MK02ynyFRXdFXzRPPB-nCeAAMK73LjkaFP28iy0Gg-3_htiTOxhXlrI4VzKwDJ-lER5kTff6Aj5t2-0GkKf9QOwHlAYR4dcGebJpi2nGXUkb6Ak4MU-92yvoV3bsVGvufy62/s400/IMG_2418.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Once upon a time the waters straight away fell into the lake but
now there is the road in between. Nishat Bagh literally means a garden of joy or
merriment which was got created by Asif Khan the brother of Noor Jehan (Mughal
Empress) in the year 1633. It is rectangular in shape running some 1800 feet
towards the mountains with a width of over 1100 feet. The mountain slope has 12
terraces, representing the Zodiacal signs. There is a mountain spring at the top
which has been made to flow down through water channels built with polished
stone. There are pools on every segment of the terrace with beautiful fountains.
The entire length of the water channel also has fountains at regular intervals.
</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQJ50lG7UsLMNh5KPS1mfAfcaAzSKt8SpqvJwhDdajY-xa6qJoytXr7bD8EtdASV4GqB6Bd5_Gu7Qd_n0SEMtqBt6QXs0ozhdqDLcBO8Mag6eokWxZpbZFzCRGLAB1aSCjIJTRCzbpTZ_/s1600/IMG_2419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQJ50lG7UsLMNh5KPS1mfAfcaAzSKt8SpqvJwhDdajY-xa6qJoytXr7bD8EtdASV4GqB6Bd5_Gu7Qd_n0SEMtqBt6QXs0ozhdqDLcBO8Mag6eokWxZpbZFzCRGLAB1aSCjIJTRCzbpTZ_/s400/IMG_2419.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">There was a large crowd at the ticket
counter and almost all of them were Indians. We too joined them and after
getting our tickets we could gain entry. At the far end there were large Chinar
and Cypress trees. Their number seems to have dwindled and instead a new variety
of flowering trees have come up whith a lotus like large fragrant white flowers
identified as “Magnolia Grandiflora”. They are known as “Him Champa” in
Hindi.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxVpaBYUmuBqXfxHXHbJP6aeFNG08G7hhY7HnTx6QE2BcD-s8mXfr1r149KzONtzrIBj1Fo5PlDQQmnfuEJs5wEQUo51lwD5yvXQA2UDuh7yUBLvYoX5H2dCd-Kkc-3qQs90i4MC4tLhK/s1600/Magnolia+grandiflora.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxVpaBYUmuBqXfxHXHbJP6aeFNG08G7hhY7HnTx6QE2BcD-s8mXfr1r149KzONtzrIBj1Fo5PlDQQmnfuEJs5wEQUo51lwD5yvXQA2UDuh7yUBLvYoX5H2dCd-Kkc-3qQs90i4MC4tLhK/s400/Magnolia+grandiflora.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK-z2i6ku1grn8CO4Vgkn1x8lfbkNXE5Sicq3hFD2HnY0-xTQAzGoETRKWP0fmUei1dwvIf-yPOQCzHg34Btuqx4HJpEp96ia8-oRO7-Nk3o-Ia5Fm6CoBt6QSjOIWg_nhxW09Wsk33_S/s1600/IMG_2416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeK-z2i6ku1grn8CO4Vgkn1x8lfbkNXE5Sicq3hFD2HnY0-xTQAzGoETRKWP0fmUei1dwvIf-yPOQCzHg34Btuqx4HJpEp96ia8-oRO7-Nk3o-Ia5Fm6CoBt6QSjOIWg_nhxW09Wsk33_S/s640/IMG_2416.JPG" width="433" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxT3ZvoRDJGsdQt48ama6x3xZUvkDHLAcT_jUaHazy1yDhppd7XSxHylOf4L90iitES_t2FBNexcTB1wugRaS5T9JcOeiBbqGh1bFoiBKgawbFIN6p_dvK8YhzIb7Ku6hFgYru5PnLUmS/s1600/IMG_2421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxT3ZvoRDJGsdQt48ama6x3xZUvkDHLAcT_jUaHazy1yDhppd7XSxHylOf4L90iitES_t2FBNexcTB1wugRaS5T9JcOeiBbqGh1bFoiBKgawbFIN6p_dvK8YhzIb7Ku6hFgYru5PnLUmS/s400/IMG_2421.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXo14oYIU50sy9TsX-efjpO67m1O_76LGycFtRnwHypDkfqF08QAs0vSYs6EczEyey8s2XCxbAT282TWCCcWkeYr12jH4_-FeTiPEyuLs26VuPqYGwKHsJFCTDm7vx3CYDE80dzA4r7uD/s1600/IMG_2422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXo14oYIU50sy9TsX-efjpO67m1O_76LGycFtRnwHypDkfqF08QAs0vSYs6EczEyey8s2XCxbAT282TWCCcWkeYr12jH4_-FeTiPEyuLs26VuPqYGwKHsJFCTDm7vx3CYDE80dzA4r7uD/s400/IMG_2422.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeE86zeeIX2HB7dRXx6eeV5iFybN1Sosg0ovuXxbpwG9qyL47z-QtJPmneTur9o8181gjjOfkUAmR35cRCsLebg2NyjdMcMQl7svhNeLY7XrC-39rmgaDPa9aGT2JEVwXkiUG8_yHFSA5/s1600/IMG_2428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeE86zeeIX2HB7dRXx6eeV5iFybN1Sosg0ovuXxbpwG9qyL47z-QtJPmneTur9o8181gjjOfkUAmR35cRCsLebg2NyjdMcMQl7svhNeLY7XrC-39rmgaDPa9aGT2JEVwXkiUG8_yHFSA5/s400/IMG_2428.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4efSx1sGeir_LzcvkwSUqw-sqJTcNd1aB9-oHt1_L_lydJ28r5oTRgm7B9qdLWbRTOu26iuJYPeOvjYxmMiWHzjtYiTrMkVe9q7cxXUSztj4-025HbMWQA0HBKEiYJS6zR0fIFqcgDzN8/s1600/IMG_2432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4efSx1sGeir_LzcvkwSUqw-sqJTcNd1aB9-oHt1_L_lydJ28r5oTRgm7B9qdLWbRTOu26iuJYPeOvjYxmMiWHzjtYiTrMkVe9q7cxXUSztj4-025HbMWQA0HBKEiYJS6zR0fIFqcgDzN8/s400/IMG_2432.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The long water channel with pools and
fountains and flower beds were really a feast to our eyes. Our group members
were not very much inclined to explore all the terraces fully as it seemed that
their earlier visit to Chasme Shahi was very much fulfilling. In fact the upper
reaches are said to be much more beautiful. However, the group as a whole was
not keen to invest more time here and wanted to move to other destinations. It
was some thing like a kind of dictatorship of the proletariat. The majority had
the say. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">After having visited Nishat Bagh we
were to visit Shalimar Gardens as per schedule but before we could take our
seats in our vehicles the group members started shouting in unison. The question
was what is going to be there except the same flora and fauna. Sensing
disinclination to visit Shalimar Gardens, our driver said “well I shall take you
to a place which is different and not visited by any one except the locals”. It
was again a garden, couple of decades old and not centuries. The location of
Harwan garden was beneath a dam.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGZt5-rMNPiB6XTTedZos_Q1b-Y7Uq5rgfHdUJf0pKKz5_xyglpSAVqTTJL-WLTXd-Q9Qy0J838-32rN68LMDCi-ikEGhGvto-Z01bECylEOoSw0BR0fDF8Cu-mliIPfD7dTWeHKYdeYJ/s1600/IMG_2434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGZt5-rMNPiB6XTTedZos_Q1b-Y7Uq5rgfHdUJf0pKKz5_xyglpSAVqTTJL-WLTXd-Q9Qy0J838-32rN68LMDCi-ikEGhGvto-Z01bECylEOoSw0BR0fDF8Cu-mliIPfD7dTWeHKYdeYJ/s400/IMG_2434.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">By the time we reached there and came
out of the vehicles, it was drizzling. We procured our entry tickets and got in.
We realized after our entry that what the driver was suggesting was nevertheless
true. There were no outsiders there excepting ourselves and it looked as if this
garden is reserved for Kashmiris. Interestingly we could not come across any of
the locals in the two gardens we visited earlier as if they have developed a
kind of apathy for them. May be they needed seclusion but here we are clearly
encroaching upon their territory. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrOjEtRlsidKiFztQvlLUSBoI47I1uKGTk8mKSREXVt8mikckK-B6kInq57yg4i2r14gxBETTXEUJLRCJhOVaYygPOg0d_23bPvWJ0xhyphenhypheni19HsoHOp2Fi1jx4VLcmDcqs85642MlpqmKD/s1600/IMG_2435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrOjEtRlsidKiFztQvlLUSBoI47I1uKGTk8mKSREXVt8mikckK-B6kInq57yg4i2r14gxBETTXEUJLRCJhOVaYygPOg0d_23bPvWJ0xhyphenhypheni19HsoHOp2Fi1jx4VLcmDcqs85642MlpqmKD/s400/IMG_2435.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdU6zIQXs4F8jbcGieanLYl0Lr7Ar7f3LgVfHN_ECqmutNHI1R7DKxIyby-0UP0KKpQP291mj33ovoJcqVyN9iQubvd9_MV_0-Zz3zsIN7YNRqTMTCAU0tUFKCUBsC9GTcl47VgE_2KSmK/s1600/IMG_2436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdU6zIQXs4F8jbcGieanLYl0Lr7Ar7f3LgVfHN_ECqmutNHI1R7DKxIyby-0UP0KKpQP291mj33ovoJcqVyN9iQubvd9_MV_0-Zz3zsIN7YNRqTMTCAU0tUFKCUBsC9GTcl47VgE_2KSmK/s400/IMG_2436.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIQNzKJr0O2zuwaR61fX4JuR1pgxHMWuY5b-8vCEtkjVgxDlPXdaNBaxaL06rS4CwbxpgZ2C9BujG5Z-UnL4kmC5uW96P7_rreB9plGoyX-zrYdS9DPbnS1B5GP6QI_Rq85LpyaJ2qrd2/s1600/IMG_2440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIQNzKJr0O2zuwaR61fX4JuR1pgxHMWuY5b-8vCEtkjVgxDlPXdaNBaxaL06rS4CwbxpgZ2C9BujG5Z-UnL4kmC5uW96P7_rreB9plGoyX-zrYdS9DPbnS1B5GP6QI_Rq85LpyaJ2qrd2/s400/IMG_2440.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">The garden has neat pathways with
arched gates. There were climbing roses adoring the arches in full bloom and
looked heavenly. The waters from the dam ran through a deep channel on one side
passing through several age old shady Chinar trees. However the leaves
resembled a Maple. The greenery all around captivated us. Several school
children were on a visit that day. There were many girls sitting under a Chinar
tree and singing together. Some Kashmiri families were also enjoying their
picnic lunch. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_y9_3DhjoayqaI-7uWSlHTI7DukomAdUYbHKZbVjfsVntJscSnF_umY5yS5LMXgQLy3Q-uqFGnVUxGhJrU_474NW9ertnifuFhFxE3MGAsX94csXwJoMiSF65Y_0VgJdjhrzUpL97oNq/s1600/IMG_2441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_y9_3DhjoayqaI-7uWSlHTI7DukomAdUYbHKZbVjfsVntJscSnF_umY5yS5LMXgQLy3Q-uqFGnVUxGhJrU_474NW9ertnifuFhFxE3MGAsX94csXwJoMiSF65Y_0VgJdjhrzUpL97oNq/s400/IMG_2441.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSSjynXFyrr5DiRnwmpe6pJgiOHDX9TYMBDDYEIkcz-OxXBHkihAya5JsJB4LP8m6R06Wdy9RrfSAgLk2hC-eAYvfRr-FmMpZf8Z_JeK3XoZf8p2eTfDQKxh93MVRKaoxvhkvJBwnJS9N/s1600/IMG_2439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSSjynXFyrr5DiRnwmpe6pJgiOHDX9TYMBDDYEIkcz-OxXBHkihAya5JsJB4LP8m6R06Wdy9RrfSAgLk2hC-eAYvfRr-FmMpZf8Z_JeK3XoZf8p2eTfDQKxh93MVRKaoxvhkvJBwnJS9N/s400/IMG_2439.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">It was drizzling but unmindful of our
getting wet we climbed up the dam and could enjoy the beautiful view at the far
end though it was a little foggy. The earthen slope of the dam also had a
nursery of rose plants and some of them were also in bloom. Some school girls
ventured to go inside to have a closer look at the flowers. We found that the
girls were keen to have them photographed in their traditional attire. This
facility was being provided by a photographer at the garden. </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2tLBu5zctl6KnquYXIeS4rj6wbe1ijqg59ZbpMIsbG7qzBB73nucgcYynez1_MYk23Ur9DfeP8hLdGBuda7cHfcfcJyls3OiwGnexd2auu4bUKQJGsmSqtUI0sEIaOUzzAOWW3hBN6N8/s1600/IMG_2438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ2tLBu5zctl6KnquYXIeS4rj6wbe1ijqg59ZbpMIsbG7qzBB73nucgcYynez1_MYk23Ur9DfeP8hLdGBuda7cHfcfcJyls3OiwGnexd2auu4bUKQJGsmSqtUI0sEIaOUzzAOWW3hBN6N8/s400/IMG_2438.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbwgZrwHt37GUEAvLAkfwVSPOVTVPNdVrO65dTk9PnXqyFDOecblOkMNFMNN2zb3GYIqO6iKj_QyOJS37bOzgGwlvwI-zpIl_NIpuF_3yw9hEVRPHpVpXSZz_BrTv0TmzqCBlTmDhlZHt/s1600/IMG_2437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpbwgZrwHt37GUEAvLAkfwVSPOVTVPNdVrO65dTk9PnXqyFDOecblOkMNFMNN2zb3GYIqO6iKj_QyOJS37bOzgGwlvwI-zpIl_NIpuF_3yw9hEVRPHpVpXSZz_BrTv0TmzqCBlTmDhlZHt/s400/IMG_2437.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">Yes it was a different experience and
we had the satisfaction of having visited a place which is not frequented by
tourists.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: small;">We were hungry and it was time for
lunch too. We moved on and got down in front of a restaurant on the banks of Dal
Lake. Our garden visits thus came to an end.</span></div>
</div>P.N. Subramanianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420464521174227821noreply@blogger.com25