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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am indebted to my Team Leader Sri. P.Seshagiri Rao, Superintendent, CDC Section, Andhra University, for his excellent planning of Tour Programme and consistent guidance throughout the Tour.

I express my sincere thanks to Sri. N.Sivaram Naidu, Superintendent, AP Tourism Development Corporation, Visakhapatnam for his valuable guidance and help in planning the Tour by providing necessary information and brochures relating to historical importance of various places.

I am grateful to my colleagues Sri T.Veeraswamy and Bhupal Raju, who extended their help in the review of this information guide / reference guide and useful suggestions and comments.

Finally, I wish to place on record my heartiest regards to all my Family Members who extended their cooperation and blessings for joining me in the Tour Team.

(Indukuri Ramachandra Raju)

M.Com;DMM;DCMP

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PREFACE

This report has been written with a view to give complete coverage of information to the tourist persons wish to visit the important historical places, temple cities and other cities/towns situated in and around Tamil Nadu State. All these places mentioned have been visited by me, with great enthusiasm, with my colleagues of Andhra University during February 1997. With complete anxiety and curiosity I have maintained a dairy to note the importance of the places which helped me now tooling it into a reference guide.

The report is carries historical information joining with some photos relating to the beautiful places and architectures of the Hindu Sculpture and their importance. A fare list of train schedule to various places and cost incurred in tour is given in the Annexure for the benefit of the tourists. These carefully framed information will, no doubt, be found most useful to the people. Unfortunately, since there was no time, we could make possible to visit very few places in Karnataka State when compared to Tamilnadu.

I have tried to include as many places as possible to give a clear-cut idea of the places of interest. Some of my friends in and around my department have taken pains to bring out this report into light.

It is not my endeavor to provide information only but to kindle curiosity in the minds of our great “INDIAN CIVILISED PEOPLE” to make their Programme into a planned one.

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8.2.97 SATURDAY (DAY-1)

Started to Madras by train from Visakhapatnam in the after noon at 1.30 p.m. with a team of 11 members.

9.2.97 SUNDAY (DAY-2)

Reached Madras at 5.30 a.m. After refreshments, we took a Mini Van (12 Seated) to visit Kanchi and Mahabalipuram. On the way we stopped for a while at Sreperumbadur and saw the assassinated spot of Late Rajiv Gandhi the former Prime Minister of India. A construction in memory of “Him” is now in progress at the assassination spot.

At Kanchi We could not get the darshan of the God/Goddess in some temples since we reached the temples between 12.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. In Tamil Nadu All the Temples are used to close during the above timings. It was also one of the reasons to miss the darshan since our trip was scheduled only for one day to visit these two places.

KANCHIPURAM (10.00 a.m.)

Kanchipuram, the Golden city of Thousand Temples and one of the Seven sacred cities of India, is 71 Km from Madras. It was successively the capital of the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Rayas of Vijayanagar. Under the Pallavas it became the capital of their far-flung empire. During the 6th and 7th Centuries, successive dynasties built temples and monuments at Kanchipuram. The city was also the seat of learning. Sri Sankaracharya, Appar, Siruthender and the great Buddhist Bhikku Bodhidharma lived and worked here. Today, it is known not only for its temples but also for its hand-woven silk fabrics.

Sri Kamakshi Amma Temple (10.30 a.m.)

Dedicated to the Goddess Kamakshi (Parvati), it has an imposing structure. The temple’s annual car festival which falls on the ninth lunar day in February-March draws large crowd.

Saikkiswara Temple

This was also built by the Cholas, successors to the Pallavas, who continued the Pallava traditions and even enriched it. The Sakkiswara temple is near the Kamakshi Amma Temple.

Sri Chandra Sekhara Saraswathi Viswa Maha Vidyalayam.(11.15 a.m.)

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Ekambareswara Temple (12.10 p.m.)

A Shiva Temple built originally by the Pallavas and later improved upon by the Cholas and the Kings of Vijayanagar. It is a large temple with five Prakarams (enclosures) and a thousand-pillared hall. The massive outer walls and the gateway towers (gopurams) were built by Krishna Deva Raya in 1509 AD. Here, Shiva is worshipped in the form one of the elements-Earth (Prithvi). The mango tree behind the sanctum is said to be 1000 years old and still bear fruits.

Kailasanatha Temple (1.10 p.m.)

Built by Rajasimha Pallavan in the early decades of the 8th Century, its architecture is an improvement on that of the shore Temple at Mamallapuram.

Sri Vaikuntha Perumal Temple (2.00 p.m.)

Built a few years after the Kailasanatha temple. This temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, marks the next stage in the development of Dravidian architecture. The cloisters inside the outer walls, consisting of a colonnade of lion pillars, represent the first phase in the evolution of the grand thousand-pillared hall of later years.

The Devarajawsamy Temple (2.30 p.m.)

Also known as Vardaraja temple, it is a massive and impressive edifice. The shrine of Devarajaswamy is on an elephant - shaped rock called Hastagiri. There are two lofty towers one in the East and the other in the West. The hundred-pillar-hall erected during the Vijayanagar period in this temple is noted for its exquisite sculptures. The ornamental rings carved out of a single stone in a chain at the four corners is a special feature of the hall.

After the visit of Kanchi, then we proceeded to Mahabalipuram and reached there at 4.00 p.m.

MAMALLAPURAM (MAHABALIPURAM) (4.00 p.m.)

Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram, was a seaport built by the emperor Mahendra Varma of the Pallava Dynasty during the 7th Century. It is well known for its monuments, hewn out of solid rock. The temple, ravaged by the elements, still

bear testimony to the ancient culture of South India.

The Pallava art here emphasises robust earthly magnificence imbibed with life. An unusual blend of mythological episodes, epic

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battle, demons, men and animals creates a captivating, pleasing harmony.

Caves

There are nine rock-cut cave temples. The Mahishasuramardhini cave depicting the Goddess fighting the buffalo sleep (Anantha Sayanam) on the other is a remarkable study in contrast. The final battle scene of the war between the God and the Evil in the former is as striking as the profound peace and calmness depicted in the latter.

Arjuna’s Penance (Descent of Ganges)

The face of a huge whale-shaped rock has been carved into a vast panel of relief sculptures depicting the mythological story of the river Ganges issuing from its source high in the Himalayas. Another version is that it depicts Arjuna’s penance to obtain a boon from Lord Shiva. This has relief, which is the largest and finest of its kind (27 meters long and 9 meters high), has animals, gods and celestial being besides fables from the well known Panchatantra sculpture on it with remarkable realism and in life size, including the elephants.

Krishna Mantapa

Depicts a pastoral scene with Lord Krishna in the act of lifting the Govardhana Mountain in order to protect his kinsfolk from the wrath of Indra, the God of Rain.

Mandapams

Situate within a radius of 1 km of the rock cut examples at Mamallpuram, the Mandapams (shallow halls resembling porticoes) are known for their design and execution. There are eight of them found at various points on the main hill besides two which have been left unfinished.

From Mahabalipuram we left to Madras to visit VGP Gardens and later we caught train at EGMORE Station (Meter Gauge Section) to go to Chidambaram and reached there in midnight.

10.2.97 MONDAY (DAY-3)

In the early hours (6.15 a.m.) we started to visit Velankanni, Nagore and Local important places in Chidambaram.

VELANKANNI (10.15 a.m.)

Velankanni is known for the Church of our Lady of Velankanni. It is said that on a hot day, a lame boy saw a dazzling light descending before him which revealed the vision of a lady of peerless beauty holding a beautiful child in her arms. The Lady asked the boy to go to Nagapattinam and request a particular Catholic gentleman to build a church for her. The boy ran to Nagapattinam and to his great amazement found that the gentleman also had similar vision in the previous

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night. He escorted the gentleman to Velankanni, who put up a thatched shed and placed the statue of Mary in it. The statue still adorns the shrine of the Basilica and attracts Christians from all over the country.

NAGORE (11.30 a.m. )This is a famous pilgrimage center for Muslims. There

is a Dargah here for Hazarat Meeras Sultan Syed Shahabdul Hameed, a great Muslim saint. The Dargah has five spires, one of which is 31.5 meters high. The tomb of the saint is a monument of high artistic skill and workmanship. The interior is

of marble and the doors are covered with embroidered silver sheets. Behind the Dargah is a large tank. The annual Kanduri festival here attracts people of all faiths. Apart from the Dargah, Nagore has two ancient Hindu temples-one dedicated to Shiva and the other to Vishnu. Nagore is well known for toys made out of coconut and rethaki leaves.

CHIDAMBARAM

The word Chidambaram is derived from “Chit Ambaram” which literally means the sky permeated by an atmosphere of intelligence and wisdom. Lord Nataraja is said to have merged from the sacred space and performed his Cosmic Dance before his two devotes-Vyaghrapada and Patanjali. The presiding deity is Siva Nateswara in his aspect as the Cosmic Dancer. The magnificent temple of Chidambaram is one of the most venerated among the ancient temples of South India. The nucleus of the temple was built in the 9th Century AD. Many inscriptions record the numerous mandapas and temples as endowments of devotion of the Pallavas. Cholas and Pandyan kings. Raja Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagar, reconstructed the temple in 1520 AD. The Arudra Darshanam in December/January is colorful festival.

Tillai Kaliamma Temple: (4.30 p.m.)

The Tillai Kaliamma Temple is situating at the northern end of the town. It was built by Kopperunjingan who ruled between 1229 and 1278 AD. The legend goes that subsequent to the defeat of Kali in a dance competition with Shiva, Kali was banished from the Nataraja Temple to the outskirts of the town, where a temple was later constructed for her.

Nataraja Temple: (5.00 p.m.)

The temple dedicated to Lord Nataraja is spread over an area of 400 acres. This is where Lord Nataraja is said to have performed his Cosmic Dance. The main sanctum houses, the Akasha linga where the Lord is worshipped as a formless presence and hence the sanctum is empty. A unique feature of this temple is shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu as Govindaraja, adjacent to the Nataraja shrine. Parvati is known as Sivakami Sundari here. There are other shrines to

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Subramanya and Vinayaka in the complex comprising of 5 Prakarams. The sacred tank is called Sivaganga to the east of which has a Mantapa with 100 pillars. The eastern and the western gopurams are carved with 108 images of different dance poses illustrating the art of Bharata Natyam.

On 10.2.97 night we left to Tanjavur by Janatha Express.

11.2.97. TUESDAY (DAY-4)

Visited all the places in and around Tanjavur in the TKS Tours & Travels Van, which we booked in Advance from Visakhapatnam.

THANJAVUR (Tanjore 6.30 a.m.)

Thanjavur rose to glory during the later Chola period between the 10th and 14th centuries AD and became the Centre of learning and culture. Overrun by green fertile plains, Tanjavur, the Headquarters of the district of the same name, is known as the Rice Bowl of Tamil Nadu. The destination has a large share of the ancient temple wonders of South India. Brihadeeswara temple rising to 64.8 meters high is the most striking example of the Cholas in the temple architecture.

The district is also known for its exquisite handicrafts, bronze statue castings, pith temple models and south Indian musical instruments like the Veena and Mridanagam.

Brihadeeswara Temple: (8.45 a.m.)

Brihadeeswara or the Big Temple of God, built by the great Chola King Raja Raja (985-1012 AD), is an example of the magnificent achievements of the Cholas in the field of temple architecture. The tower over the inner sanctum rises perpendicularly to a height of 15 meters from a square of 28.8 meters and then tapers to make a total height of 64.8 meters. The tower is capped by 81.3 tone monolithic stone slab adorned with winged niches on four sides. This enormous piece of stone was moved into position along an inclined plane of 6 Km., long. A spherical dome tops this block of stone. A massive, monolithic Nandi, the bull mount of Shiva, chiseled out of a single rock, guards the portals of the inner shrine. There are excellent sculptural representations of the various forms of Shiva and other associated gods and goddesses. Traces of Chola paintings also can be seen in some 15 chambers of this temple.

The Palace (9.35 a.m.)

The palace near the temple is a vast building of masonry, built partly by the Nayaks around 1550 AD and partly by the Marathas. It is a grand pile of buildings with huge corridors and spacious halls. Two of the palace towers, the armoury and the observation towers, are visible from all parts of the city.

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Lord Shiva Temple in Kumbakonam (11.55 a.m.),

Iravateswara Temple in Kumbakonam (12.35 p.m.)

Thiruvaiyaru (2.55 p.m.)

There is a famous temple dedicated to Lord Shiva known as Panchanatheeswar. It is also the place where one of the trinity of Carnatic music, Saint Thyagaraja, lived and attained Samadhi. Every year in January a music festival is held to commemorate the birth anniversary of the saint. Buses run from Thanjavur for every half an hour.

From Tiruvaiyaru we went to Tiruchy on 11th Night and took rest in the Railway Dormitory.

12.2.97 WEDNESDAY (DAY-5)

In the early hours we first left to Srirangam to visit the famous Temple of Lord Vishnu. Back to Tiruchy from Srirangam, we proceeded to Rameswaram by Bus, instead of the train which we already booked to save time to reach Rameswaram. It is infact to say that the Bus fares in Tamil Nadu are cheap when compared to other States in India.

TIRUCHIRAPALLI (TRICHY)

Tiruchirapalli or Trichy, situated on the banks of river Cauvery, has been a Chola citadel since the Sangam Age. Though the

Pandyas and the Pallavas held sway in this region for short periods; the greater part of the town and the historical rock Fort, rising abruptly from the plains to an altitude of 83 meters as they exist today were built by the Nayaks of Madurai. Tiruchirapalli is also famous for the Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam.

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Today, Tiruchirapalli is a blend of history and tradition, a pilgrim centre as well as a thriving commercial city.

SRIRANGAM (7.45 a.m.)

Srirangam is situated 10 km away from Tiruchirapalli, a picturesque island between the Cauvery River and its tributary Kolidam, north of Tiruchirapalli. Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is one of the largest Vaishnavite Temple in South India built around the 13th and 14th Centuries. With its 21 magnificent towers and stone pillars covered with a profusion of carvings, the temple is surrounded by seven walls within which the town itself is located. It has been prolonged renovations by the Vijayanagar and Nayak rulers.

Then we reached Rameswaram (9.30 p.m.) by bus on Indiragandhi Bridge, which gave us very thrilling experience to travel. In the night, we stayed at TNTDC Guest house is situated opposite the sea. It is an ideal locality.

13.2.97 THURSDAY (DAY-6)

RAMESWARAM

The sacred island town of Rameswaram, located at the extreme south-eastern limit of the Indian peninsula, has one of India’s most venerated temples. A fin example of south Indian architecture, Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple is renowned for its many pillared corridors, about 1,220 meters in length. According to legend that Rama sanctified this place by worshipping Lord Shiva here. This is the major pilgrimage centre for both Saivaites and Vaisnavaites.

Here is India’s latest Engineering wonder, the Indira Gandhi Bridge (Road Bridge) which took 14 years to complete and was finally opened by Rajiv Gandhi late in 1988. The other important Bridge is Pamban Bridge (Rail Bridge).

Beach Bath (6.00 a.m.)

The Second wonder in the Ramanathaswamy Temple premises is the 22 wells. All of them give different tastes of Water, thrills the tourists very much.

Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple

(7.15 a.m.)

Built during the 17th Century, this temple has a gopuram (tower) which is 38.4 meters high. The most impressive feature is the many pillared corridor

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covering a length of 1220 meters. Spadikalinga Puja, installed by Adi Shankara, is performed daily at 5.00 A.M.

Gandhamadhan Parvatham

(10.10 a.m.)

A hillock to the north of the temple, it is the highest point on the island and gives an excellent view of the surrounding areas. There is a two-stored Mandapam and Rama’s padham (foot) placed on a Chakra for worship, that attract many pilgrims.

Kodhandaramaswamy Temple (11.05 a.m.)

The Southernmost tip of the Dhanuskoti Island was completely washed away in the 1964 cyclone. But the Kothandaramaswamy Temple here is still remained intact. It is believed that Vibishana, brother of Ravana, surrendered before Rama at this spot. There are idols of Sri Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Hanuman and Vibishana .

Dhanush Koti (11.30 a.m.)

The importance of the holy Island town Rameswaram is the Varadhi in the sea upto Danush Koti (situated 18 Kms. away from Rameswaram) which was said to be constructed by Vanaras to reach Lanka, described by Valmiki in the chapter Yuddakanda, in Ramayanam. The other remaining Varadhi from Dhanus Koti to Lanka (now called as Srilanka) was not found and it is said to had been drowned. From Dhanush Koti to Srilanka it is just around 30 Kms., away.

RAMA'S BRIDGE

NASA satellite photo of Rama's Bridge—oblique, Sri

Lanka to the left

Rama's Bridge or Adam's Bridge is a chain of limestone

shoals, between the islands of Mannar, near northwestern

Sri Lanka, and Rameswaram, off the southeastern coast of

India. The bridge is 30 miles (48 km) long and separates

the Gulf of Mannar (southwest) from the Palk Strait

(northeast). Some of the sandbanks are dry, and nowhere

are the shoals deeper than 4 feet (1 m); thus, they seriously

hinder navigation.

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The name Rama's Bridge has to do with the Hindu mythology. According to the Hindu

epic Ramayana (Chapter 66, The Great Causeway the bridge was constructed at Rama's

request by his subjects. The alternate name Adam's Bridge derives from the Christian

mythological notion that the biblical Garden of Eden was Sri Lanka.

Rama's Bridge is clearly visible in satellite photos, such as the one taken by NASA shown

here. This has resulted in claims by some Hindu groups that the bridge is evidence that

events narrated in the Ramayana epic actually took place, and are not just myths. NASA

spokesman Mark Hess released a cautious statement, distancing the Agency from such

claims:

"The images may be ours, but their interpretation is certainly not ours. Remote sensing

images or photographs from orbit cannot provide direct information about the origin or age

of a chain of islands, and certainly cannot determine whether humans were involved in

producing any of the patterns seen."

Archeological studies of the bridge are ongoing, and some archeologists claim to have

found additional evidence suggesting that the bridge is man-made. For instance, some

researchers from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, announced that the "bridge" is

only 3,500 years old. However, their article linking the bridge to Ramayana has attracted

rebuke from the mainstream scientific community.

We started to Madurai from Rameswaram at 3.45 p.m. by train which crossed the Sea through Pamban Rail Bridge took us into a different world.

Reached Madurai (9.30. p.m.) and stayed at Hotel Visakham.

14.2.97 FRIDAY (DAY-7)In the morning we went to Kodaikkanal, one of the important hill stations of South India, situated 120 Kms., away from Madurai.

KODAIKKANAL (11.00 a.m.)

Kodaikkanal or Kodai is a serene hill station, set high in the Palani Hills at an altitude of over 2133 meters high above the sea level. Wooded hills pleasant

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walks, Picture square waterfalls and magnificent lake, make Kodai one of the most beautiful hill stations in India. Kodai is rich in flora and fauna. It has a

unique plant - the Kurinji, which blossoms once in 12 years, making the hill slopes a blaze of purple. The Kurinji last blossomed in 1992.

Places Visited

Dum Dum Water Falls (11.00 a.m.), Silver Cascade Water Falls (11.10 a.m.) , Coaker’s Walk (12.00 noon), Pillar Rocks (12.35 p.m.), Green Valley view (12.50 p.m.) Kodai Lake (Kodai boat lake 1.20 p.m.), Arulmigu Kurinji Andavar

Temple (3.30 p.m.), Chetiar Park (3.40 p.m.).

15.2.97 SATURDAY (DAY-8)

Early in the morning, we again cam back to visit Madurai City.

MADURAI

The city of Madurai was planned and laid out on the pattern of a lotus flower, with the famous Meenakshi temple in the centre. The foundation of this temple and the town is attributed to the Pandyan King Kulasekhara. Legend goes that a drop of nectar (Mathuram) from Lord Shiva’s lock fell here. So the city is become known as Madurai - the city of nectar.

Madurai is second largest city in Tamil Nadu. Few cities in India can claim a civilization as old as Madurai. Dating back to the 60th Century BC, it is like Varanasi a city with an ancient cultural heritage. The emperors of Greece and Rome are believed to have conducted trade with Madurai. Even today it is a thriving centre of Tamil culture.

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The Pandyan Kings, patrons of Tamil learning, art and architecture, ruled from here until the 14th Century AD. This period was renowned for the genius of its writers, poets and academicians. The Pandyas were succeeded by the Nayak Kings, who not only preserved erstwhile traditions but also enriched them.

Vandlyur Mariamma Tank (8.35 a.m.)

This is a huge temple tank measuring 304.8m on each side, with a Mandapam at its centre. During the float Festival, pilgrims gather here in large number. The temple deities are taken out in the tank on decorated barges.

Tirumalai Nayak Palace (9.10 a.m.)

The Palace building, constructed in the Indo-Saracenic style, is considered to be an architectural feat. Built in the 17th century, the palace has a number of pillars, their heights varying from 4m to 12m, and 15 domes, three of them huge. The beautiful arches are unique in their ornamental workmanship. There is

a museum in the palace building which has sections dealing with the history of Madurai and the art and architecture of Tamil Nadu. The Sound and Light Show organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Tamilnadu, in the palace, depicts the story of Silippathikaram and the life of Tirumali Nayak.

Government Museum (9.55 a.m.) :

Having a superb collection of sculptures and fine arts.

Thiruparakundem Temple (11.00 a.m.)

Madanagopala Temple (11.35 a.m.)

Meenakshi Temple: (12.00 noon)

A superb example of Dravidian architecture and sculpture, it is the focal point around which the city is developed. The temple has two sanctums, one dedicated to Shiva as Sundareswara and the other to his consort Meenakshi. This is one of the largest temples in the country. Of the five Gopurams (gateways) which surround the temple, the southern gopuram is the tallest (48.8m). Painted in vivid (different) colours on

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these gopurams are sculptured the stories from Indian mythology. Of the many pieces of sculpture in the temple, the most striking is that of the divine marriage of goddess Meenakshi with Sundareswara. The highlight of the Meenakshi Temple is the Hall of Thousand Pillars which has a number of remarkable sculptures. The museum of icons, photographs and illustrations in this hall is of great interest.

Kodal Alagar Temple

To the West of the Madurai City is this ancient Vaishnavite Temple with beautiful sculptures. Here Vishnu is depicted in three poses, one above the other—sitting, standing and reclining.

We left the historical city of Madurai at 10.30 p.m. to go to Nagarkoyal by Quilon Passenger. Since it was night time, we passed Nagarkoyal and reached to Trivandrum by mistake.

16.2.97 SUNDAY (DAY-9)

Finally, from Trivandrum we reached Nagarkoyal by another passenger train and picked up a Jeep to reach Kanniyakumari.

KANNIYAKUMARI (Cape Comorin 11.00 a.m.)

Cape Comorin now called as Kanniyakumari is the ending part of India where Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea meet. Kanniyakumari is also a popular pilgrimage centre for Hindus. The town is dedicated to the goddess Kanniyakumari.

Vivekananda Memorial (2.10 p.m.)

There are two rocks projecting out of the ocean, south-east of Kanniyakumari Temple. These rocks provided an ideal vantage point for visitors, desirous of viewing the tip of India. It was on one of these rocks that Swami Vivekananda sat in long and deep mediation (Three day and nights). With the blessing of the Virgin Goddess, the simple monk was transformed into a powerful crusader. The rock is now called as the Vivekananda Rock. On this rock stands the Vivekananda Rock

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Memorial, built in 1970 with a blend of all architectural styles of India. A statue of Swami Vivekananda is installed in the Memorial Mandapam. There is also an exciting place is Dhyanamandir in the ground floor of memorial. Every pilgrim who enter into the Dhyanamandir, feel pleasant atmosphere and fell automatically in to deep meditation.

One can also see Sri Pada Parai, (the footprints of the Virgin Goddess) on this rock. Boat Services are operate to this Memorial.

Kanniyakumari Temple (2.50 p.m.)

The temple is dedicated to virgin Goddess Kanniyakumari who eternally protects the country. Legend says that Goddess Parvati in one of her incarnations as Devi Kanya performed penance to obtain the hand of Lord Shiva. The place is symbol of unity and sanctity. The diamond nose-ring of this deity is famous for its sparkling splendor, which is supposed to be visible even from the sea.

Gandhi Memorial (3.10 p.m.)

The memory of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, is enshrined in this Mandapam erected at the place where his ashes were kept for public view before immersion into the sea. The architecture of the building allows the rays of the sun to fall on the spot where the ashes are kept, on 2nd October, his birthday.

Sunrise, Sunset, Moonrise (6.35 p.m.)

The glory of Kanniyakumari are its sunrise, sunset and moonrise. To watch the sun setting and to see the moon rising out of the ocean on a full-moon day is to

savor an experience of a lifetime. It is the only place in India where one can enjoy the unique spectacle of sunset and

moonrise

simultaneously on full-moon days. It is said that on Chitra Pournami (full-moondays in Tamil Month Chitra), in April, one can see both the sun and the moon facing each other on the same horizon, a rare sight indeed. Another interesting feature of Kanniyakumari is the beach sands of myriad colours. We reached Kanniyakumari on an ordinary day and we could see only sunset. After Sunset we went to T.N.Youth Hostels where we lodged. The Hostel management maintaining very beautiful garden, where we spent happily for couple of hours.

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17.2.97 MONDAY (DAY-10)

From Kanniyakumari we traveled to Coimbatore by Bangalore Express at 7.20 a.m. after seeing sunrise at Kanniyakumari. It was a very interesting journey from Kanniyakumari to Coimbatore crossing almost the Kerala State by train. The famous rivers, greenlands, hills and fertilized lands of the state took us into a new World. We reached Coimbatore at 9.30 p.m. and stayed in Railway Retiring Rooms.

18.2.97 TUESDAY (DAY-11)

Started to Ooty by Bus at 5.00 a.m. from Coimbatore Railway Mail Services near the Railway Station. From Coimbatore, Ooty is nearly 105 Kms. The entire Ghat Route is worth seeing.

UDHAGAMANDALAM (OOTY 8.50 a.m.)

Distance turns the hills blue, but the Nilgiri ranges seem to deserve this epithet even from closer quarters. (Neel-blue, giri- mountain). The colour is due to

the blue gray of the eucalyptus trees shrouded in mist. Snuggled in the thickly wooded Nilgiris is Udhagamandalam, anglicized to Ootaccamund which has been abbreviated to Ooty. The British developed this town into a most favoured hill resort of the South mainly for its salubrious climate to escape from the searing heat of summer. Many

more attractions have been developed in recent years

and the ‘Queen of the blue mountains’ now attracts tourists from all over the country.

The beautifully landscaped Botanical Gardens, established in 1847 by the Marquis of Tweepdale, are full of rare and ornamental plants. The pond is a popular feature of the gardens. It has a fossilized tree dated at 20 million years

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Another popular haunt is the artificial lake complex set amidst groves of eucalyptus trees offering facilities for boating, pony rides and video games. A mini-train ride is a great attraction for the children.

The annual summer Festival at Ooty is held in the month of May, of which the flower show at the Government Botanical Garden is one of the highlights and draws the attention of large number of tourists. The children’s lake garden is famous for its musical lights which illuminate during night.

The highest peak of the Nilgiris, Doddabetta (2633 mts. or 8475 feet), 10 kms. from Ooty, offers a breathtaking view of the surrounding areas. One can drive right upto its summit where a micro telescope adds to the viewing pleasure. Ooty is also famous for its tea plantations and fresh vegetables gardens and games like golf, tennis, snooker, roller skating, trekking in and around .

COONOOR

Eighteen kilometers South of Ooty lies Coonoor - the beautiful plantation town, set against the backdrop of the Nilgiris. The fascinating Sim’s Park is famous for its annual fruit show. Lamb’s Rock is the single most famous rock in the area known both for its mass as well as the beautiful patterns carved by the elements.

The Law’s Falls make a gorgeous sight while providing a popular picnic spot frequented by a large number of Tourists. Other places of tourist interest include Dolphin’s Nose . For visitors, the Nilgiris provide an opportunity to learn about the lifestyles of some of the friendly primitive tribes like the Todas, Kotas, Irulas, Panias and the Kurumbas, from close quarters.

After sight seeing we spent some time at Ooty local Market and back to lodge. we felt very chill in the night even in the middle of February.

19.2.97 WEDNESDAY (DAY-12)

From Ooty we again came back to Coimbatore by bus.

COIMBATORE

Coimbatore forms a fitting finale to this southern odyssey. It is a fabric of myriad attractions-both contemporary and traditional.

Situated at the opening to the Palghat gap in the Western ghats, Coimbatore enjoys an agreeable climate all the year round. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that makes it the hub of many commercial and creative enterprises. Its flourishing textile mills once earned for Coimbatore the name ‘the Manchester of the south’. The city and its suburbs abound in the textile mills as well as agricultural and

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textile research centres. It also leads in the manufacture of engineering products, motor pump sets and textile machinery. Its handlooms have earned their way to distant markets. A large number of technical institutions in Coimbatore cater to the growing technical needs of the region. Equally remarkable are the ‘living stones’ in the temples devoted to different deities. Marvelous three-dimensional sculptures in these shrines testify to the creativity and fervent faith of the master craftsmen who had made Coimbatore their home. An architectural masterpiece, the Perur Temple, near the River Noyyal, is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Marudhamalai temple on a hill range, 12 kms from Coimbatore is dedicated to Lord Murugan. (Subrhamanyeswara ).

From Coimbatore we started to Bangalore at 6.55 p.m. by Bangalore Express and arrived Bangalore City Station at 6.30 a.m. on the next day.

20.2.97 THURSDAY (DAY-13)

Since we could not get Government Tourism Vehicle, we booked a private mini Van and visited Bangalore city.

BANGALORE (6.30 a.m.)

Bangalore is the capital of Karnataka State situated at 3.250 feet above sea level. It has a very pleasant climate throughout the year. Normally the 240 acre Lal bagh Gardens, laid out by Hyder Ali in 1760 AD with rare trees from Persia, Afghanistan and France, should be enough for Bangalore, India’s first largest-as well as the fastest growing city-to retain its title as the ‘Garden City’ of India. But to further strengthen the ambiance Nangore’s wide

avenues and boulevards are lined with Laburnum, tabebuyia Argentia and gulmohar, planted by the British in the early 19th Century when they chose to make it a garrison town. Today, the population is close to 4 million people. Although urbanization and industrialization are visible, these give Bangalore an exciting pace with over 150 cinema halls and streets which are bustling and always alive. Two grand flower shows organised to mark the Republic Day (26th January) and the Independence Day (15th August) bring the

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city back to the subject of flowers, as does a Swiss style floral clock or a stroll in the well laid Cubbon Park. Within the Lal bagh Gardens stands a watch tower built in 1537 AD by Kempegowda, a feudatory of the Vijayanagar Kings, who was credited with the choice of this site. But historically Bangalore returned to prominence only in the mid 18th century with Hyder Ali, a junior military officer with the Vadeyars of Mysore, who setup himself as a de-facto ruler. His son Tipu Sultan, became a heroic symbol of opposition to the British might. One of the oldest shrines of Bangalore is the Bull-temple at Basavanagudi. Here, Lord Shiva’s vehicle, sits in solitary splendour Kote Venkataramana Swamy Temple dating back to the 17th Century also attracts many tourists.

A Visit to the State Library is recommended both for its wealth of books as well as its Gothic architecture. Nearby, lies the Government Museum, the Visveswaraya Industrial and Technological Museum and the Venkatappa Art Gallery. Vidhan Soudha, the legislature of Karnataka, is a most interesting building in a style labeled Neo-Dravidian. It harmoniously combines impressive temple architecture with the needs of an administrative building. The High Court building in gothic style which was saved from demolition by a group of conservationists, echoes the beauty and scale of another era. Bangalore is rich in its cultural traditions and has number of auditoria and halls to stage important festivals of dance, drama and music. Outstanding and the most frequented among these are the T.Chowdiah Hall (shaped like a violin in tribute to the great Violinist, after who it is named), Ravindra Kalakshetra and the Town Hall.

After the completion of sight seeing we started to Mysore by Chamundi Express at 6.15 p.m. and reached Mysore at 9.30 p.m. and took rest at Mourya Lodge maintained by Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation. Lodging facilities are good but too expensive.

21.2.97 FRIDAY (DAY-14)

At 8.30 a.m. We started to visit to Sravanabelagola,

Belur and Halebid on Package Tour conducted by KTDC in a Luxury Bus. That day we traveled around

300 kms. It was memorable day because a team of foreign tourists joined with us to visit these places.

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SRAVANABELAGOLA (10.45 A.M.)

Sravanabelagola is 93 Kms from Mysore. It is a popular Jain pilgrim centre. It is wedged between two rocky hills - Indragiri or Vindhyagiri and

Chandragiri. Literally

translated, Sravanabelagola means “white pond of the ascetic”. The white pond probably refers to a pond that stood in place of the present temple tank, located at the foot of Indragiri Hill. The ascetic, of course refers to Bhagwan Bahubali, also famous as Tirthankar (saint) Gomateswara.

Historically, Sravan belagola dates to 3rd Century BC when Chandragupta Mourya, after renouncing his kingdom, came here along with Saint Bhadrabahu. The serene 1000-year-old colossal 57.8 feet high monolithic statue of the Jain saint Bahubali stands majestically atop the Indragiri Hill and is said to be one of the tallest and most graceful monolithic statues in the World. The image was created around 983 AD by Chamundarya, a general and minister of the Ganga King, Rachamalla. The mahamastakabhisheka festival is held here once every 12 years. It takes half-an-hour to climb around 600 rock-cut steps to the top of this hill. The town, once a flourishing centre of Jainisam abounds in monuments and sculpted records which recall the deeds of sacrifice and religious fervour and achievements of bygone era.

The story of Bahubali is vividly described in the Jain scriptures Son of Vrishadeva, the Aditirthankara, i.e, the propounder of Jainisam, prince Bahubali renounced the kingdom to perform penance, achieved ‘Kevala Jnana’, i.e., absolute knowledge, and attained salvation.

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BELUR (3.20. P.M.)

86 Kms from Sravanabelagola. Belur is Situated on the banks of river Yagachi. Belur was the capital of the

Hoysala Empire 800 years ago, before it was shifted to

Dwarasamudram (Halebid). Today, Belur is a small town in the warmth of its luxurious greenery and in the glory of one of the greatest monuments of medieval art in India-the Chennakesava Temple.

Started in 1116 AD, in an age when the great cathedrals of Lincoin, Wells, Amiens, Rheims and Charters were built in Europe, the Chennakesava Temple at

Belur commemorates the victory of the Hoysalas over the Cholas in the great battle of Talakad. It took 103 years to complete this temple by King Vishnuvardhana. The exterior of the temple is covered with a variety of intricately carved sculptures and friezes. The interior of the temple, considered even better than the outside, contains many exquisite panels and richly

carved pillars. A tall stone pillar in the temple courtyard is balanced amazingly only by its centre of gravity.

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HALEBID (3.50 P.M.)

16 Kms from Belur lies the ancient capital of the Hoysala Empire. Then known as Dwarasamudra, the capital was founded in the early 11th Century AD and sacked

by the armies of the Delhi Sultanate in 1311 and 1327. Deserted afterwards, Dwarasamudra came to be called Halebid or the old capital. Of the many buildings of the ancient city, only a few have survived by Muslim invasions. Notable among them is the imposing Hoysaleswara Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. The building of the temple was

started in 1121 AD by Ketamalla, a general of King Vishnuvardhan of the Hoysala dynasty. There are two shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, at Hoysaleswara and Santhaleswara. A stellar base with the emblem of the stylized lion, and elephants, seemingly supporting the temple, signify stability. The Hoysalas were influenced by the northern architectural style and all available space of this sister-temple to the one at Belur, are covered with detailed friezes and sculptures depicting scenes narrated in Hindu epics. The Archaeological Museum located on the temple premises, a must for the visitors of Halebid, displays many interesting stone sculptures.

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22.2.97 SATURDAY (DAY-15)

As usual, The team started to visit Mysore Local at 8.00 a.m. in a hired Mini Van.

MYSORE

Lush green Mysore is located at a picturesque spot, 750 meters above sea level. The city was laid out on a grand scale by the erstwhile rulers of Mysore.

Jayachmarajendra Art Gallery: (9.15 a.m.)

Housed in the Jagmohan Palace is the Jaya Chamarajendra Art Gallery with paints by early 20th century masters like Raja Ravi Varma of Travancore and the Russian painter Svetoslav Roerich whole made his home in Naggar, Himachal Pradesh. Exquisite objects d’art in ivory, sandalwood, stone, ceramic as well as ornately carved furniture are also on display.

Chamundi Hills: (10.20 a.m.)

A 1065-meter high hill over looks the city of Mysore. The hill takes its name from the Chamundeswari Temple situated here. Upon the Chamundi Hill stands the 12 the century temple of Sri Chamundeswari. Legend has it that when the ferocious demon Mahisasura began terrorising and devouring people, Chamundeswari killed the ‘asura’ on these hills and brought peace to the world. Although the way to the shrine is motorable, it

can also be climbed by foot. Halfway, stands a 7.6 meter wide and 4.8 meter tall monolithic statue of Nandi, the bull of Lord Shiva, similar to the one at Basavanagudi in Bangalore.

Maharaja’s Palace: (12.40 p.m.)

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Its board, tree-lined avenues lead to the Maharaja’s Palace which is nucleus of the city renowned for its enlightened scholar kings, the Vadeyars who ruled from the 14th century

except for a forty year interruption from 1759 to 1799 when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan took over. This palace was originally constructed with wood and unfortunately it was destroyed in a fire accident in 1897. The new one, erected at the same site in 1912, is profusely decorative and

gilded; perhaps the most ornate example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. Frescoes on the corridors of the Kalyana Mantapa where the coronations take place, depict the grand Dasara procession-considered the grandest festival procession in India. A solid gold throne studded with jewels remains the single most resplendent object that visitors throng to see. During

Dasara festival , Mysore looks very beautifully decorative. A spirit of abandon fills the air and the streets and alleys resound with the beating of drums. These celebrations, lasting ten days, mark the victory of goddess Durga representing good, over the demon Mahishasura, symbol of the evil. The weather too is just right since the dates for Dasara fall in October and are based on the lunar calendar. These vary from year to year and can be confirmed from Indian tourist offices of travel agents.

St. Philomena’s church, (2.10 p.m.) built in an imposing Gothic style with its stained glass windows is a truly majestic sight. The Mysore Zoo makes an interesting trip particularly for children.

SRIRANGAPATNAM (3.15 p.m.)

16 Kms from Mysore lies Srirangapatnam, the capital of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. Tipu’s ruined fort can still be seen, and at a short distance lie the delicately painted summer palace of Tipu amidst well-maintained gardens. In Tipu’s Palace-now a museum lies with historic memorabilia including his tiger striped emblem.

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Brindavan Gardens & Krishnarajasagar Dam: (4.30 p.m.)

The dam was designed and constructed by the renowned architect M.Vishveswaraya in 1932 during the reign of Krishnaraja Vadeyar IV. It was built close to the confluence of three rivers - Cauvery, Hemavathi and Lakshmanathirtha. The length of the dam

is about 2621 meters and height 39 meters. The reservoir itself is spread over an area of 130 sq. km. The lush Brindavan Gardens built on the terraces of Krishnarajasagar Dam are amongst the most meticulously planned gardens. Its fountains,

flowers, the Cauvery river and the lush environs are reason enough for people to plan a trip to Mysore from far-flung places.

With the advent of night the Gardens are transformed into a virtual dreamland. The dancing fountains lit with colourful lights rise and fall to the rhythm of music making it a truly splendid sight.

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23.2.97 SUNDAY (DAY-16)

From Mysore we started to Dharmavaram to visit Putaparthi. From Dharmavaram to Putaparthi we traveled by Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation Bus. It is nearly 32 kms Journey. We reached Putaparthi 6.00 p.m. and stayed at Prasanthi Nilayam.

24.2.97 MONDAY (DAY-17)

PUTTAPARTHI

We woke up early in the morning at 5.00 a.m. and followed in the queue to darshan Sri Satya Sai. We were happy to see him at close. This is the one of the luckiest things to get darshan in one day’s stay. We are very much impressed on seeing Satya Sai’s Prasanthi Nilayam, Institute of Advance Medical Sciences Buildings and Museum. Infact we came to know that 70 % of Pilgrims are Foreigners, from all over the World. They were came to Prasanthi Nilayam to serve voluntarily in the premises . One must admire discipline and silence in Prasanthi Nilayam.

At evening we went to Dharmavaram and caught Hampi Express to Visit Hampi.

25.2.97 TUESDAY (DAY-18) Arrived Hospet at 10.30 a.m. After refreshments we started to Hampi by bus and reached Kamalapuram. We walked around 5 kms. from Kamalapuram to Hampi for viewing ruins of Hampi. Even in vast ruins we also felt happy to recollect the golden days of Sri Krishna Devaraya.

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HAMPI

It was once the glorious capital of the mighty Vijayanagar empire (1336-1565), which extended from Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal and from the Deccan plateau to the tip of the Indian peninsula. Founded in the middle of the 14th century by two local princes, Hukka and Bukka, the Vijayanagar empire came to be celebrated for its might and wealth and as a showpiece of imperial magnificence. The city was sacked, pillaged and burnt in 1565 AD after the combined armies of the Muslim sultanates of the Deccan defeated the Vijayanagar military commander and the King fled the capital.

The Vijayanagar Kings were great patrons of art and architecture as evident by the vast ruins of Hampi. In an effort to resurrect this abandoned restoration, excavation and protection of the ruins, which spread over an area of 26 sq. k. The terrain is dominated by rocky hills and the mighty Tungabhadra river which flows through this rugged landscape.

Virupaksha Temple

The Virupaksha Temple is one of the few oldest temples amidst ruins, still in worship. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, known here as Virupaksha or Pampapati. His consort Pampa is often associated with the Tungabhadra river. There is evidence of additions to the temple made in the late Chalukyan and Hoysala period but most of the building is attributed to the Vijayanagar period. The main festivals of this temple are the Car Festival in February and the marriage festival of Virupaksha and Pampa in December which are attended by thousands of people in every year.

Monolithic Ganesha

South of the Virupaksha Temple, there are two Ganesha images carved on boulder. One of them is enclosed in a temple and the other stands within the open hall.

Krishna Temple

In a badly ruined state now, the temple was patronised by the great Vijayanagar King Krishnadevaraya himself. It was built in 1513 AD when an image of Balakrishna was installed here.

Monolithic Narasimha

Beyond the Krishna Temple complex is the celebrated but badly damaged sculpture of Narasimha, carved out of a single boulder. The recent discovery of a detached figure of Lakshmi identified this massive sculpture as Yoga Lakshmi Narasimha.

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Hazara Rama Temple

The Temple built within a rectangular complex lies at the heart of the royal centre. Dating from the early 15th century, the hall of the Hazara Rama Temple has finely carved basalt pillars depicting the incarnations of Vishnu. Around the exterior walls of the hall are three rows of sculptures illustrating the main events from the Ramayana.

Elephant Stables

These are a row of ten chambers with variously shaped vaulted roofs, built symmetrically on two sides of a central two-stored pavilion.

Royal performance Zone

In this area are the remains of civic buildings linked with the ritualistic and administrative functions of the royal court. There is a basement of hundred-columned hall, possibly serving as a place of justice and a stepped stone platform from which as a place

of justice and stepped stone platform from which as a place of justice which the King observed the rites of the Mahanavami Festival.

Royal Residences

Recent excavations have unearthed remains of the palaces to the west of the Hazara Rama Temple. Though only the stone basements, plaster floors and fragments of rubble walls can be seen today the typical Vijayanagar Palace was symmetrically designed with a sequence of rising levels in a ‘U’ formation, with the private chambers on the top.

Queen’s Bath

This water pavilion, better known as the Queen’s Bath, was built in an Islamic style consisting of a square water basin surrounded by a vaulted corridor balconies project over the water.

Vittala Temple

In spite of its ruined condition, the Vittala Temple represents the highest achievements of Vijayanagar art. Built in the 16th century, the complex is set within a rectangular courtyard. The building housing the main sanctum is built on a lower level and its tower is made of brick and plaster. The Purandaradasa Festival, celebrating the birth anniversary of the poet-composer, is held in this temple in January-February.

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Achyuta Raya Temple

The Trivengalanatha Temple which was built during the reign of Achyutadeva Raya is better known by the name of the ruler. The temples within are in ruins, but some erotic sculpture can be seen in the columns inside the open hall near the main gateway.

Kodandarama Temple

Located below the Mantanga hill on the south bank of the Tungabhadra river is the Kodandarama Temple, commemorating the sport where Lord Rama Crowned Sugriva after killing Vali. There is an image of Lord Rama in the temple which attracts pilgrims.

We started to Guntakal by evening at 6.00 p.m. by bus and caught Kachiguda Express at 11.40 p.m. to visit Hyderabad.

26.2.97 WEDNESDAY (DAY-19)

Reached Hyderabad at 9.30 a.m. and visit Hyderabad by bus. Of course one day is not sufficient to visit Hyderabad, we visit only few places in a hurry and some places were left over.

HYDERABAD

400 Years ago the fourth king of the Qutub Shahi dynasty, Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah, founded the city of Hyderabad on the banks of the river Musi. During the reign of the famed Nizams, Hyderabad achieved further renown and after independence on November 1st 1956 it became the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Over the past four centuries, the city has been endowed with a rich legacy born of the pursuit of excellence which found expression in beautifully planned architecture, aesthetically temples and shrines and a rich natural endowment enhanced by a love for good living.

Hyderabad today is a cosmopolitan city, linked by daily air services to all the major cities of India and a weekly air service to West Asia. It is well connected by rail and road with the rest of the country.

Five Universities - the famous Osmania University, the University of Hyderabad, the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, the Agricultural University and

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the Andhra Pradesh Open University, make Hyderabad an important centre of education. It is also called the training capital of India, like the Administrative Staff College of India, Defense Management and Research Development, State Bank Staff College, the Police Academy etc.

Charminar

The Charminar with its four imposing minarets, each 53m tall was built in 1591 by Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah, the founder of the city of Hyderabad. It stands in majestic splendor, dominating a colourful scene of mosques, bazaars, and busy streets, the hub of the old city. It is here that pearls and precious stones are sold in the Laad Bazaar and brilliantly coloured bangles and other accessories of bridal finery provide a feast for the eyes. It is here that the sound of the past lives on.

Golconda Fort

The Golconda Fort stands on an isolated hill about 128m high, surrounded by three tiers of battlemented ramparts. Built over a period of 62 years by the first three Qutub Shahi Kings it grew into an impregnable fort. The impressive Fateh Darwaza, the bastions, the intricately carved walls of the zanana and the fascinating acoustic system by which a handclap sounded at the entrance portal is heard at the top of the hill, bear testimony to the architectural skill of

that age. Golconda was also a famous market place for diamonds.

Salar Jung Museum

The Salar Jung Museum houses what is perhaps the world’s largest one man collection of priceless antiques. Salar Jung III, together with his ancestors of two generations had traveled the world over to collect rare treasures which are now carefully preserved in this famous museum. Persian carpets, Mughal miniatures, Rajput paintings, work of modern Indian artists, South Indian bronzes, wood carvings, Bidri, Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquer ware and a priceless collection of jade together with an array of historical weapons like Queen Nur Jehan’s ruby and emerald dagger and Aurangazeb’s steel dagger which he used when he conquered the Golconda Fort, are some of the articles on display. The two most famous pieces in the museum are the statues of ‘Veiled Rebecca’ and ‘Margaretta and Mephistopheles’.

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Birla Mandir

The Venkateswara temple when viewed against the horizontal night, is a glow composed of a myriad lights. As daylight approaches the glow fades and a huge marble edifice come into view. This temple, perched on a hill overlooking the Hussain Sagar lake, was built over a span of 10 years with 70 tones of Rajasthani marble. The idol in the sanctum is a replica of the idol in the temple at Tirumala.

Birla Planetarium

The Birla Planetarium - a world of stars, planets and constellations... This structure was built in 1985 on the Naubat Pahad, close to the Venkateswara temple. Regular Programmes give the viewers a better knowledge of the Universe.

The scenic Hussain Sagar lake links the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The memory of 33 historical personages is immortalised in the form of bronze statues place along the Tank bund of the lake by Dr. N.T.Rama Rao, the

former hon’ble Chief Minister of our State. In the middle of Hussain Sagar lake the statue of Buddha was erected. Boating and Water sports facilities are an added attractions.

Returned to Visakhapatnam by Visakha Express after completion of 19 days tour successfully. All we felt very much happy and proposed to plan another tour Programme in next year.

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ANNEXURE-I

TOUR SCHEDULE

Departure Train Number & Name Arrival

Date Time Place Train No.

Date Time Place Train No.

Places of Visit Date

08.02.97 13.20 Visakhapatnam 6003 Mail 09.02.97 05.30 Madras Kanchi, Mahabalipuram

09.02.97 20.05 Madras 6175 Nagapore Exp. 10.02.97 01.52 Chidambaram Night Halt Chidambaram Nagore, Velankini

10.02.97 22.23 Chidambaram 6779 Janatha Exp. 11.02.97 01.35 Tanjavur Night Halt at Tanjavur

11.02.97 18.00 Tanjavur 6153 Chola Exp. 11.02.97 19.20 Trichy Night Halt at Trichy, 12.02.97 - Srirangam from Srirangam to Rameswaram by Bus Night Halt

13.02.97 02.50 Trichy 6713 Sethu Exp. 13.02.97 08.55 Rameswaram Rameswaram, Dhanush Koti

13.02.97 16.00 Rameswaram 6116 Ram Cochin Exp. 13.02.97 20.35 Madurai Night Halt 14.02.97 by van to Kodikkanal 15.02.97 - Madurai local

15.02.97 20.45 Madurai 727 Quilon Pass. 16.02.97 03.45 Nagarkoyal Kannya Kumari Night halt

17.02.97 10.20 Kannya Kumari 6525 Bangalore Exp. 17.02.97 20.50 Coimbatore Night Halt at Coimbatore 18.02.97 by bus to Ooty, Coonor, Night Halt 19.02.97 Coimbatore City & Marudamali Temple

Contd..

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Departure Train Number & Name Arrival

Date Time Place Train No.

Name of the Train

Date Time Place

Places of Visit

19.02.97 20.55 Coimbatore 6525 Bangalore Exp. 20.02.97 05.45 Bangalore Bangalore Local

20.02.97 18.15 Bangalore 6216 Chamundi Exp. 20.02.97 21.05 Mysore Night Halt at Mysore 21.02.97- By bus Beluru, Halibidu & Sravanbelogola Night Halt at Mysore 22.02.97 Mysore Local Night Halt

23.02.97 06.45 Mysore 6215 Chamundi Exp. 23.02.97 09.40 Bangalore

23.02.97 12.10 Bangalore 1014 Kurla Exp. 23.02.97 15.50 Dharmavaram Puttaparthi Night halt

24.02.97 21.55 Dharmavaram 6592 Hampi Exp. 25.02.97 07.30 Hospet Hampi

25.02.97 20.30 Hospet 6591 Vijayanagar Exp. 25.02.97 23.00 Guntakal From Hospet to Guntakal we traveled by Bus

25.02.97 23.40 Guntakal 7686 Kachiguda Exp. 26.02.97 09.20 Secunderabad Secunderabad, Hyderabad

26.02.97 17.00 Secunderabad 7067 Visakha Exp. 27.02.97 08.30 Visakhapatnam End of the Tour

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ANNEXURE-II

Expenditure incurred for one Tourist during the Tour

S.No. Date Description Amount

1. 15.01.97 Circular Ticket (Annexure-I) 700.00

Van Fare, (Kanchi, Mahabalipuram) 125.00

Refreshments 50.00 2. 09.02.97

Entrance Ticket for VGP Gardens in Madras 25.00

Van Fare, (Chidambaram, Nagore, Velankkini) 110.00 3. 10.02.97

Refreshments 45.00

Van Fare (Tanjavur, Tiruvayur, Kumbakonam) 65.00

Refreshments 60.00 4. 11.02.97

Railway Dormitory 50.00

Bus Fare (Trichy to Srirangam 4.00

Refreshments 45.00

Bus Fare (Trichy to Rameswaram 34.50 5. 12.02.97

Lodging at Rameswaram 45.00

Auto Fare for local trip of Rameswaram 65.00 6. 13.02.97

Refreshments 45.00

Van Fare (Madurai to Kodikkanal and back) 140.00

Refreshments 25.00 7. 14.02.97

Entrance Tickets for Gardens 30.00

Van Fare (Madurai Local) 60.00

Refreshments 65.00 8. 15.02.97

Lodging (Two Days) 100.00

Zeep Fare (Nagarkoyal to Kannya Kumari) 10.00

Ferry Ticket for Vivekananda Rock 6.00

Entrance Ticket for Vivekananda Rock 6.00

Lodging 60.00

9. 16.02.97

Refreshments 35.00

10. 17.02.97 Refreshments 40.00

Bus Fare (Coimbatore to Ooty) 15.00

Van Fare (Local Trip in Ooty) 65.00

Entrance Tickets for Gardens 25.00

Refreshments 75.00

11. 18.02.97

Lodging 35.00

Bus Fare (Ooty to Coimbatore) 15.00

Bus Fare (Coimbatore to Marudamali) 16.00 12. 19.02.97

Refreshment 55.00

Van Fare (Bangalore Local) 75.00

Refreshments 60.00 13. 20.02.97

Entrance Tickets 15.00

Bus Fare (Beluru, Halibidu & Sravanbelogola) 165.00 14. 21.02.97

Refreshments 75.00 Contd..

35

S.No. Date Description Amount

Van Fare (Mysore local) 75.00

Entrance Ticket for Brindavan etc. 25.00

Refreshments 60.00 15. 22.02.97

Lodging for three days 220.00

Van Fare (Dharmavaram to Puttaparthi) 15.00

Refreshments 25.00 16. 23.02.97

Lodging 40.00

Bus Fare(Puttaparthi to Dharmavaram) 12.00 17. 24.02.97

Refreshments 35.00

Bus Fare(Hospet to Hampi and back) 15.00

Refreshments 35.00 18. 25.02.97

Bus Fare (Hospet to Guntakal) 25.00

Bus Fare (Hyderabad Local) 30.00 19. 26.02.97

Refreshments 35.00

20. Miscellaneous Entrance Tickets for Temples 35.00

21. Auto Fare for Different Railway/Bus Stations to Lodgings and Lodging to Railway /Bus Stations

70.00

22. 27.02.97 Auto Fare (Visakhapatnam Railway Station to Residence)

25.00

Total 3513.50

Note: Refreshments (Breakfast + Lunch + Dinner)

Accommodation ( Only Dormitory Accommodation)

36

From Date: ___________

I.Ramachandra Raju

H.NO. 3-463,

Adarsh Nagar Main Road

Near Dairy Farm Post

Visakhapatnam – 530 040

Andhra Pradesh

To

The Tourism Office

Government of Tamil Nadu

Place:_____________________

District:_____________________

State: _____________________

Sir,

Sub: Andhra University Employees – Visit of Tamil Nadu State as Tourists –

Information – Requested.

***

I wish to inform you that 10 to 12 employees of our University are planning to visit the

state of Tamil Nadu during the first week of February 97 by “Non-standard Circular

Ticket” by train.

In this connection, I enclosed a self addressed cover, I request you to kindly furnish the

following information.

We want to visit the _______________place in the same route by train / bus.

From Place: ________________________ To Place _______________________

� Is the Route proposed by us is correct and economical Yes / No

If No, What is the correct Route? _________________________________

� Duration of the time required to see the place _______________________

� Mode of the Transport for Local Site Seeing: a) Bus b) Van c) Any other

Tariff of the local Site seeing (per person) : Rs. _____

� Mode of the Accommodation: a) Dormitory b) Single Rooms c) Double Rooms

Tariff of the Accommodation: Rs._______

Thanking You

Yours sincerely

( I. RAMACHANDRA RAJU )