Our Unforgettable Coimbatore trip
Actually my wife Latha and I planned to go to Coimbatore in March 2020 when we were invited by my sister in law Seema and co brother Mohan to participate in the Puja which they planned to perform immediately after completion of the construction of their first floor building extension. We in fact had booked our tickets for the 20th of March 2020. As fate would have it all the trains were cancelled when the Govt. of India declared lock down following the outbreak of Covid 19.
So we waited for the restrictions to
ease and suddenly planned this trip. We started on the 8th of
Jan.2021 by Covid Special train to Coimbatore(formerly known as Cheran Express).
The journey was confortable by II AC and the train reached Coimbatore on the
morning of 9th Jan.2021. My co brother Mohan and sister in law Seema
were there to receive us. After exchanging pleasantries and hand shakes. We were taken in their car to their house
which is located at Vadavalli near the famous
Marudhamalai Murugan temple.
After freshening ourselves we enjoyed
the hot idilies with chutney made for us by both Seema and Mohan. We relaxed
the whole day of 9th with good lunch and enjoying the nature and the
pleasant climate. They have constructed a beautiful room in the first floor
with a small kitchen and wash room. Outside the room is a grilled frame work
enclosure from where we can have a panoramic view of the mountain ranges of Marudhamalai.
The entire atmosphere is enchanting with cool breeze blowing and little
droplets of rain now and then soaking the landscape.
On the suggestion of the lovely
couple Seema and Mohan we decided to go to Anuvavi Subramanian temple and Isha
Yoga Maiyam on the 10th of Jan.2021. As planned we started on the
morning of 10th in their car with Mohan in the driver’s seat and I
sitting next to him with my wife Latha and Sister in law Seema sitting behind.
On the way Mohan stopped the car and suggested we have “Padaneer”(coconut sap
water) . The Padaneer was given to us in
palm leaf and we were supposed to drink the contents from the palm leaf.. As
this was my first experience I found difficulty in holding the palm leaf with
Padaneer. Mohan held the palm leaf for me and I drank the contents. The taste
was awesome.
We reached Anuvavi Subramanya temple
which is about 25 kms. from their house. The presiding deity of the temple is
Lord Muruga with his consorts Valli and Deivanai. It is located on the hill and
one has to climb about 500 steps to reach the temple. In fact both Latha and I
puffed and panted to reach the top. Seema and Mohan did the climbing with ease.
There is also a temple for Lord Hanuman and the Navagrahas are also there. Further
there is also a temple for Lord Shiva which is located some 100 steps above
this temple. We also climbed that. In fact it was said that Mahakumbabishekam
was to be performed shortly and the devotees could volunteer to carry the
bamboo scaffolding from the ground to the top of the hill temple for the occasion.
Mohan climbed the steps with one such scaffolding. A laudable effort indeed. I
did not volunteer as climbing for me itself is an ordeal and where from I will
carry the scaffolding!!!
At the foot of the hill temple there
is a temple for Saint Agasthiar. At the time we went a puja was being performed.
After paying obeisance we got into the car to go to Isha Yoga centre.
By the time we reached the Isha Yoga
Centre it was around 1.30 p.m. We were hungry. We decided to have food at the
Canteen there. They provide Chappathis, Veg. Biriyani, Sambar Rice, Curd Rice,
Lemon rice and so on. We ordered to have curd rice, veg. biriyani and sambar
rice. But to our dismay Curd rice and Sambar rice had been exhausted. So we had
to contend ourselves with Veg. biriyani and lemon rice. In the canteen we were
served with herbal water. The water looked orange with a look of a fruit juice
but it tasted good.
After lunch we went on a bullock car to
visit the Adiyogi Shiva Statue. It was an experience going in a bullock cart. The
Adi Yogi statue is 112 feet tall beautifully
designed by Sadguru Jaggi Vasudev.At the base of the statue we took photos of
ourselves and that of the statue of Lord Shiva. The statue has been carved very
nicely taking care of every detail. After that we went to the Isha Yoga centre.
It is about 10 minutes walk from the Adi Yogi statue. There were some
restrictions for the entry at the centre and we were allowed only to the
meditation hall. After spending some time there we returned to our house by
car. We were all thoroughly exhausted. Despite that Mohan and Seema brushing
aside their tiredness prepared dinner for us and after partaking it we retired
for the day.
On 11th Jan.2021 we did
not venture out anywhere as Mohan had gone to his office and Seema was busy
with her content writing. Latha and I spent the time at the first floor
enjoying the sylvan surroundings and the Good coffee, tea, lunch and dinner
given by our hosts.
On 12th Jan.2021. It was
Hanuman Jayanthi. In the morning we had planned that soon after Mohan returns from
office we would go to a Hanuman temple nearby. As planned Mohan returned from
office early in the evening and we started in their car to the nearby
Panchamuga Anjeneyar temple. It was a bit crowded there but we had a good
darshan as devotees were orderly and queued up. There is a separate sanctum
sanctorum for the deity Prithyangara Devi. We just could have darshan of the
deity outside as some puja was going on and the listed devotees were being
called by names for worship. From there we went to Bhuvaneswari and Saraswathy
temples which were nearby. That day was a mini devotional tour and we basked
ourselves in divinity. It was drizzling and we returned home in their car had
sumptuous dinner and retired for the day.
13th Jan.2021 was Bhogi.
We did not venture out anywhere. We enjoyed our stay at their house. As per schedule Mohan had gone to office and
Seema was engrossed in her content writing. On that night we planned to go to
Malampuzha Dam early next day ie. Pongal day. There was confusion all round.
Mohan and I were a bit reluctant as we googled to see the weather being bad at
Palakkad the next day. Seema also agreed with us. But Latha had her mind fixed
that we should go there or to the Maasaniamman temple at Pollachi. I was not
particular in going to the Maasaniamman temple as Amman temples in general have
an aura of ferocity. So we decided at last to go to Malampuzha dam at Palakkad
thanks to Latha’s determination.
On 14th Jan.2021 Seema
made Chakkara Pongal, Ven Pongal quickly. Offered them to the Lord and we started
our journey to the Malampuzha Dam by their car. Seema and Mohan had packed our lunch
in paper foils to have them as and when we reach Malapuzha dam at Palakkad
which was quite a distance at about 50 Kms. from their house. Before fully
embarking on our journey we had our breakfast at Hotel Anandaas with idilis,
dosas and vadas. The journey was comfortable. Mohan driving the car at moderate
speed. The roads were good and we reached Malampuzha dam by 12.30 p.m. Contrary
to the predictions of weathermen it was bright and sunny with no traces of
rain. We immediately on parking the car
rushed to the get into the rope car which was plying quietly in the vicinity. A
twenty minute service that is provided by Govt of Kerala. Only two people were
allowed to sit in the rope car. It is a two seater car. Once we get into the
car a glass enclosure closes it and we are virtually in a glass cage. From it we can enjoy the scenic
beauty of the garden beneath and the dam itself. The rope car goes slowly. On
one of the cars Mohan and I sat and on the other Latha and Seema. It was really
enjoyable and a pleasure trip. Latha had taken photos from her mobile on our
unhurried journey in the rope car. Thereafter we came back down to our car and
helped ourselves with the lunch which we bought from our home—lemon rice, chips
etc. Then we went into the park of the Malampuzha dam which had lovely flowers bedecking it. We photographed
ourselves from vantage points.. Mohan was clicking the flower beds that
sprawled the entire park, while Seema and Latha posed themselves in front of
the lovely flower beds for photos. Then we climbed to the top of the dam. It is
about 300 feet in height. From there we could see the Malampuzha river. It was
an exhilarating experience. When we look at the cuddling small waves of the
river that were dashing on the walls of the dam, gentle breeze caressing us we
were taken to a different world. I rued that I was not a poet a Shelly or a Wordsworth
to describe the scenic beauty. It was nearly 3 p.m.when we came down from the
dam and then we started our journey home. We reached our home at about six in
the evening. After freshening ourselves and then dining we retired for the day.
On 15th Jan.2021 also we
did not venture out anywhere as Mohan had gone to his office on some urgent
work and Seema was busy with her content writing. Latha and I spent the time at
the first floor enjoying, listening to music, watching videos in our mobile
phones and reading books. From the first floor I could see boys and men playing
gully cricket on the vast expanse nearby. This reminded me of Neville Cardus
who equated English cricket with English summer. Likewise I could see Gully cricket getting equated
with Coimbatore winter. The players there played their cricket without pads.
Only the wicket keeper had glows. I could see fast bowler running with frantic
pace imagining himself as Bumrah, Shami etc. and the batsmen swinging their
bats hitting the ball over the bushy fence in Rohit Sharma style. It was a
treat to watch. On that night Mohan and I saw the Malayalam film “Trance” It
is worth watching as it elaborates on fake evangelism and their exploits. A
bold film by Anwar Rashid with Fahadh Faasil in the lead role.
On 16th Jan 2021 we did
not go anywhere except a visit to my cousin sister’s house in the evening along
with Seema. She took us to their house through a short cut a narrow path way to
their house. It was nice to meet them.
An old couple who had two years back celebrated their 50th wedding
anniversary. It was a blessing to meet them.
My sister is 79 years old and my brother in law 84. It was gratifying to
see them active even at this age. God bless. Their son Prasanna and their grand
daughter Sumathi were also there. In fact Prasanna dropped us at our home in
his car.
On 17th being Sunday we
planned to go to Then Tirupathi situated in Jadayampalam, Sirumugai Road. As
usual we had breakfast at Hotel Anandaas, packed our lunch and started of to
the temple. It is about 20 Kms. From their house. The temple is well
maintained. The presiding deity Perumal stands tall and fascinating. The temple
follows the Vadakalai sect and is maintained by the Telugu Naidus who own the
Lakshmi Machine Works.. From there we went to the Ranganathaswamy temple at
Karamadi on the Mettupalayam highway. The temple was crowded and Uchikala Puja
was going on. After the puja devotees were allowed inside the sanctum
sanctorum. This temple follows the thenkalai sect. The presiding deity is very
small we could hardly see it in the dark. After that I wanted to return to our
home. But Mohan had set his mind on having our lunch at the banks of some river
bed. So he took us to the Horticultural Garden at Kallar. The entire garden was
remarkable with scores of trees. It was indeed a dense forest and we were in
its midst. Giant jack fruits were seen hanging on the trees. We photographed
ourselves standing at vantage points. There were two piped water falls with
water coming gushing down with force. Children were seen drenching themselves
in the falls. The child in Mohan and Seema came to the fore and both of them
went and stood beneath the water falls and drenched themselves and enjoyed
themselves with child like glee. Seema then dragged my reluctant wife Latha and
made her drench herself in the water falls. Latha was wearing a blue saree.
Drying would take time. The path was also slippery. So I feared that she may
fall. So I frowned at Seema with a “terror face” like Vadivelu but she coolly and
nonchalantly brushed aside my terror face and went about her way like Karan in
that film much to my chagrin as my so called rage had not had the desired
impact. It was all fun and frolic. Then Mohan chanced upon a neat place to have
our lunch there. We had puliyodharai and curd rice. It was in fact gratifying.
There we bought a big fresh Jack fruit weighing 7 kgs. We returned in the
evening.. On the way we helped ourselves to some good tea on the way side. It
was a heart warming trip on the whole.
On the 18th Jan 2021 we
did not go anywhere as we had to leave by the night train. Both Seema and Mohan
were there to see us off at the Coimbatore railway station. When the train
started to leave the platform we ruminated over the fulfilling sojourn we had
at Coimbatore. We reached Chennai on the 19th Jan.2021 and we were
back to our routine.
Take aways
When there was Covid 19 fear all
round. We never felt anything of that sort. In fact all four of us sat together
and dined together and were very comfortable with each other and enjoying. In
fact Seema and Mohan bathed us with their hospitality and there was great
warmth all round. When there is love and affection in abundance even Covid will
fear to disturb it is the take away I got from the stay..
P.S. I am awestruck with the way Mohan is
cutting the vegetables. It is an art. When I too attempted my sister in law
Seema was not pleased with my work. I vowed to her that within the next 20
years I will learn to cut vegetables Mohan style and also threatened her that
if they continue with their hospitality, warmth and affection in this fashion
we will permanently come and reside with them!!!!!!!!!.
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