On 16th:
Visited Parthashastri and Kapaleshar temples in Chennai. The visit took 2-3 hours. It was the first day of Margazli month which follows Karthik month according to the local calender. It was a very auspicious day and both the temples were crowded. We were advised to visit them after 9 am only.Curiously both Shiva and Parvati as also Vishnu and Laxmi have separate temples. In the North you find them mostly together. After the temple visit we left for Mahabalipuram on way to Puducherry. The distance to Puducherry from Chennai is 135 kms. We had lunch in 'Bay Treasure' hotel in Mahabalipuram after a cup of coffee in Cafe Coffee day. There is a well stocked Emporium nearby. We selected a carpet which we decided to take on way back. In Mahabalipuram there are two temples side by side, one dedicated to Shiva and another to Vishnu. These temples are maintained by Archaeology Department of Govt of India and there is no formal worshiping. The area around the temples is very well maintained with neatly kept gardens. When we visited Mahabalipuram in 1983, it was all sand around the temples. Now the temples are protected from the sea waves by massive stone embankment. Arrived Puducherry Police guest house at 2030 hours and retired to sleep at about 2300 hours.
Visited Ganesh temple near the guest house, Arbindo, Mother Samadhi and Aeroville. Aeroville is mini-Europe. The nationals of about 45 countries live here.It is an experiment in human unity.No liquor,no drugs.It is spread over 20 square kilometers. It has a population of over 2300 and increasing very slowly.It is situated in forested area where , i was informed, you see peacocks in good number. I saw a few. No other animals.The trees are all planted by its denizens. The Mother,Mirra Alfassa, a French, Chief disciple and Companion of Sri Aurobindo was the moving force behind the creation of Aeroville after his death in 1950. She died in 1973. It is said that to be an Aerovillian,one must never lie.
Spent sometime in Villupur beach near Aeroville. Sea waves were going up quite high and touching our feet on the beach. Had a long walk along with Venita on the lively beach and coffee. Watched massive waves hitting the beach. Dinner at the roof top restaurant of Ajantha hotel on Puducherry beach. It was quite satisfying, though we were occasionally disturbed by the turbulent sea below. The waves have been hitting the beach since times immemorial. One day we will go, but life will keep on going and waves continue hitting the beach. Retired to sleep at 2300 hours.
Visited Matri Mandir and practiced meditation. It is 29.5 meter in height with a sphere of 36 meter diameter.It is a massive structure. French architects designed it. It is beautiful .All around are manicured lawns and gardens. There is a multi- rooted banyan tree.It is an old tree. It is said that it survived because of a lady who lived under it and did not allow it to be cut for fuel by the nearby villagers. In the afternoon joined in a Tai-chi session. Retired to sleep at 223o hours.
On 22nd:
Left Puducherry at 0900 hours. Before that I went for early morning walk and took a few snaps of rising sun. On way to Chennai, we visited Ganesh temple. The temple elephant which was sick on our visit earlier had recovered. Took some snaps of Venita with it. You give it a coin and it blesses you with its trunk on your head. It won't bless you unless you place a coin in its trunk. After receipt of the coin it gives it to its handler. Both the elephant and its handler looked well fed and healthy. Arrived CBI guest house at Chennai by road at about 1300 hours. While going to Puducherry from Chennai we had traveled by East Coast Road(ECR). It is 135 kms by ECR. On way back we traveled by 4 lane National Highway. The distance is 125 kms. I liked travelling by National Highway. While travelling by ECR which is a two lane road I always felt there could be a head-on collision anytime. While we paid Rs.3300/- for journey through ECR, a sum of Rs.2600/- was paid by journey through National Highway. They charge for both way journey at the rate of Rs.8, per km. Missed the emporium on E.C.R and could not buy the carpet , selected by us, as we traveled by the National Highway. We reached CBI guest house Chennai at about 1330 hours. Our GoindiGo flight to Hyderabad was delayed by a couple of hours. We spent 2 hours in Hilton Hotel on way to airport and had lunch too. Arrived Police guest house Hyderabad at about 2100 hours. Retired to sleep at 2300 hours.
Left Hyderabad at 0800 hours. Took packed breakfast, Puri and Vadas. We had it midway from Hyderabad to Mallikarjun at about 1000 hours. On way we also passed through a tiger reserve. You could have a safari if you like. Had lunch at Sahashra hotel. It was tasteless. Mallikarjun is situated at a distance of 225 kms from Hyderabad.The guide informed us that the helicopter of Late Raj Shekhar Reddy, the then Chief Minister of Andra Pradesh, crashed in the Kraunch Mountain in the area. Went for boating in Krishna river dam. Did abhishek of Mallikarjun.It is a gorgeous temple. It evokes awe with its gold plated canopy and Gaj Stambh.
Pilku informed that his two week old doggy, Bela died in the veterinary hospital on 23rd, where it had been admitted on 21st December. The children cried. The insurance company paid a big sum to the hospital for its treatment. We were warned not to mention about the death to the children, when we talked to them. They were still disturbed and had not been able to reconcile to its death. Retired to sleep at 2030 hours.
We attended Aarti at Mallikarjun 0500 hours. And then visited Sakshi Ganesh temple on way back after breakfast. The rent for night stay at Mallikarjun Devasthan guest house was Rs.800/-. The taxi charged Rs.6400/- for 2 days. It had been arranged by CBI Hyderabad. The roads of Hyderabad were crowded due to Christmas.We drove through Banjara and Jubilee hill roads. Visited GVK mall. In one restaurant we could get a cup of tea. Others were selling coffee but no tea. Due to sea of crowd it was difficult to move about in the mall through its 3 floors. It was beautifully decked with Christmas tree, balloons etc. Retired to sleep 2245 hours.
The Joint Director Sh. Laxmi Narayana called on. He said that he was educated at Srisalam, where Mallikarjun temple is located. His father was posted in Krishna Power project. He lived there for 20 years. His demeanor showed the impact of the place. He was soft spoken, well informed and a decent person. Visited Pramod. Pramod and his wife Anita are staying with their son, Vikram at Miapur. In fact we stayed back at Hyderabad today so that we could meet them. Otherwise we had nothing much to do on the day. We spent for over 8 hours with them and had delicious lunch,cooked by Anita.Her maid had not come. Anita is the elder sister of Venita. Both of them, shopaholics, visited nearby market where they spent over a couple of hours buying handicrafts.Anita has kept the house very well decked, neat and clean.Had a chat with Aryan too.Retired to sleep at 2300 hours.
We left Palam airport 1130 hours by Air India to Chennai. The plane was about 45 minutes late. Raj informed that he could not go to meet the Deputy Commissioner South West in connection with Gurkamal case due to his preoccupation in the hearing of another case in the Saket court. Sh. Digvijay Singh, Advocate, who was to accompany Sh.Raj Kamal had to go back to Fatehpur. Landed at Chennai at about 1415 hours. After checking in Police guest house I met Joint Director CBI, Sh.Ashok Kumar. Later called on Sh.Ramani and his family. Sh. Ramani is an old colleague of mine when I was the Joint Director South West/CBI and used to come to Chennai at least twice in a year for inspection. The accommodation in the Police guest house was good and comfortable. Retired to sleep at 2300 hours.
On 17th:
Visited Parthashastri and Kapaleshar temples in Chennai. The visit took 2-3 hours. It was the first day of Margazli month which follows Karthik month according to the local calender. It was a very auspicious day and both the temples were crowded. We were advised to visit them after 9 am only.Curiously both Shiva and Parvati as also Vishnu and Laxmi have separate temples. In the North you find them mostly together. After the temple visit we left for Mahabalipuram on way to Puducherry. The distance to Puducherry from Chennai is 135 kms. We had lunch in 'Bay Treasure' hotel in Mahabalipuram after a cup of coffee in Cafe Coffee day. There is a well stocked Emporium nearby. We selected a carpet which we decided to take on way back. In Mahabalipuram there are two temples side by side, one dedicated to Shiva and another to Vishnu. These temples are maintained by Archaeology Department of Govt of India and there is no formal worshiping. The area around the temples is very well maintained with neatly kept gardens. When we visited Mahabalipuram in 1983, it was all sand around the temples. Now the temples are protected from the sea waves by massive stone embankment. Arrived Puducherry Police guest house at 2030 hours and retired to sleep at about 2300 hours.
On 18th:
Visited Ganesh temple near the guest house, Arbindo, Mother Samadhi and Aeroville. Aeroville is mini-Europe. The nationals of about 45 countries live here.It is an experiment in human unity.No liquor,no drugs.It is spread over 20 square kilometers. It has a population of over 2300 and increasing very slowly.It is situated in forested area where , i was informed, you see peacocks in good number. I saw a few. No other animals.The trees are all planted by its denizens. The Mother,Mirra Alfassa, a French, Chief disciple and Companion of Sri Aurobindo was the moving force behind the creation of Aeroville after his death in 1950. She died in 1973. It is said that to be an Aerovillian,one must never lie.
On 19th:
Left for Shani temple at Thirunall, Karkaikal district. Also visited Chidambaram (Nataraj Temple). Had dinner in Hidesign Promenade hotel on Puducherry beach. The sea was less turbulent today. Slept at midnight.
On 20th:
Visited Ganesh temple on way to Aeroville and prayed for the happiness and long life of Pilku who was born today.
Madhav rang up. Reserved places for meditation in Matri Mandir on 21st December. Went to solar kitchen. Had lunch. Everything is cooked with solar energy. Checked in Swagatham guest house. Joined in Om chanting in Savithri Sadan. It was an unique experience. There were more Europeans than Indians in chanting, conducted by a German. Quite refreshing. After dinner visited a theater, which staged the story of love & marriage of Arjun and Chitrangada. Retired to sleep 2230 hours.
Madhav rang up. Reserved places for meditation in Matri Mandir on 21st December. Went to solar kitchen. Had lunch. Everything is cooked with solar energy. Checked in Swagatham guest house. Joined in Om chanting in Savithri Sadan. It was an unique experience. There were more Europeans than Indians in chanting, conducted by a German. Quite refreshing. After dinner visited a theater, which staged the story of love & marriage of Arjun and Chitrangada. Retired to sleep 2230 hours.
On 21st :
Visited Matri Mandir and practiced meditation. It is 29.5 meter in height with a sphere of 36 meter diameter.It is a massive structure. French architects designed it. It is beautiful .All around are manicured lawns and gardens. There is a multi- rooted banyan tree.It is an old tree. It is said that it survived because of a lady who lived under it and did not allow it to be cut for fuel by the nearby villagers. In the afternoon joined in a Tai-chi session. Retired to sleep at 223o hours.On 22nd:
Visited Tibetan pavilion. It accommodates visitors to Aeroville. There is a prayer room where the deity is Dalai Lama, who is considered to be the incarnation of the Buddha. Venita liked the painting depicting Krishna, done in Tanjore style for Rs.5000/-. As there was no arrangement to take the payment by Credit card , I requested to dispatch it by VPP. Checked out from Swagatham guest house at 1000 hours. Called on Sh.Sharma, IGP, Puducherry. Retired to sleep at 2330 hours.
On 23rd:
Left Puducherry at 0900 hours. Before that I went for early morning walk and took a few snaps of rising sun. On way to Chennai, we visited Ganesh temple. The temple elephant which was sick on our visit earlier had recovered. Took some snaps of Venita with it. You give it a coin and it blesses you with its trunk on your head. It won't bless you unless you place a coin in its trunk. After receipt of the coin it gives it to its handler. Both the elephant and its handler looked well fed and healthy. Arrived CBI guest house at Chennai by road at about 1300 hours. While going to Puducherry from Chennai we had traveled by East Coast Road(ECR). It is 135 kms by ECR. On way back we traveled by 4 lane National Highway. The distance is 125 kms. I liked travelling by National Highway. While travelling by ECR which is a two lane road I always felt there could be a head-on collision anytime. While we paid Rs.3300/- for journey through ECR, a sum of Rs.2600/- was paid by journey through National Highway. They charge for both way journey at the rate of Rs.8, per km. Missed the emporium on E.C.R and could not buy the carpet , selected by us, as we traveled by the National Highway. We reached CBI guest house Chennai at about 1330 hours. Our GoindiGo flight to Hyderabad was delayed by a couple of hours. We spent 2 hours in Hilton Hotel on way to airport and had lunch too. Arrived Police guest house Hyderabad at about 2100 hours. Retired to sleep at 2300 hours.
On 24th:
Left Hyderabad at 0800 hours. Took packed breakfast, Puri and Vadas. We had it midway from Hyderabad to Mallikarjun at about 1000 hours. On way we also passed through a tiger reserve. You could have a safari if you like. Had lunch at Sahashra hotel. It was tasteless. Mallikarjun is situated at a distance of 225 kms from Hyderabad.The guide informed us that the helicopter of Late Raj Shekhar Reddy, the then Chief Minister of Andra Pradesh, crashed in the Kraunch Mountain in the area. Went for boating in Krishna river dam. Did abhishek of Mallikarjun.It is a gorgeous temple. It evokes awe with its gold plated canopy and Gaj Stambh.Pilku informed that his two week old doggy, Bela died in the veterinary hospital on 23rd, where it had been admitted on 21st December. The children cried. The insurance company paid a big sum to the hospital for its treatment. We were warned not to mention about the death to the children, when we talked to them. They were still disturbed and had not been able to reconcile to its death. Retired to sleep at 2030 hours.
On 25th:
On 26th:
The Joint Director Sh. Laxmi Narayana called on. He said that he was educated at Srisalam, where Mallikarjun temple is located. His father was posted in Krishna Power project. He lived there for 20 years. His demeanor showed the impact of the place. He was soft spoken, well informed and a decent person. Visited Pramod. Pramod and his wife Anita are staying with their son, Vikram at Miapur. In fact we stayed back at Hyderabad today so that we could meet them. Otherwise we had nothing much to do on the day. We spent for over 8 hours with them and had delicious lunch,cooked by Anita.Her maid had not come. Anita is the elder sister of Venita. Both of them, shopaholics, visited nearby market where they spent over a couple of hours buying handicrafts.Anita has kept the house very well decked, neat and clean.Had a chat with Aryan too.Retired to sleep at 2300 hours.
On 27th:
Left Hyderabad by GoindiGo flight at 1300 hours. Reached Delhi at 1410 hours.
1 comment:
very nice papa - the elephant one is the best
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