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Published: June 24th 2010
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January 12th 2008........5:10PM.......we were at one of the southernmost tips in India. I can call it the only southernmost tip of India.....but we must not forget our dear Andaman and Nicobar Islands!! Though we were tired with the day-long journey from the arabian sea cost of Kochi....watching all the fantastic beaches of Kollam, Varkala and heading towards Thiruvananthapuram.....the excellent sea breeze of Kanyakumari has got us rid of all the strain!!
By the time we reached the place.....there was a lot of rush on roads. It looked like some quarell was going on in the first place......but by observing closely I understood how wrong I was!! The first thing which we get reminded when we think of Kanyakumari is the famous "Vivekananda Rock"......where Swami Vivekananda has meditated and undergone spiritual excellence. The best thing which I soon realized after seeing that procession was that day was Swami Vivekananda's Birthday and is celebrated globally as International Youth Day!! I really felt it was like an honour to stay in Kanyakumari.....a place where a great personality like Vivekananda obtained spiritual excellence......that too on his birthday!!
We wanted to have a look at the brilliant union of the three greatest water bodies......Bay
of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean as soon as we entered the place.....my personal interest was to capture as many photos as possible(obviously)!!
The first look of the sea was just magnificient. The best thing was the breeze which was so powerful that it was making my hand shake while trying to capture the wonderful scene!! There was a brilliant stone made kind of bridge which led to the interior of the union of these water bodies.....and I was delighted to see people going till the tip of that point!! I thought to myself......this is what staying near one of the southernmost tips of India mean!!
My dad accompanied me till the middle of this brilliant bridge.....but couldnt come till the end because the breeze was too angry!! I could feel the breeze just trying to make it difficult for us to walk......but I was determined to get till the end of this stone bridge!! The view from the end of this bridge was simplybreathtaking....to be more specific, I can say the view was breathtaking when seen in front as well as behind!! The sky was adorned with scattered clouds.....that too scattered in an artistic
manner (this is the beauty of nature!!)......and in art......an individual will have his/her freedom to interpret the beauty of the scene.......in short there are no hard and fast rules about the interpretation. I feel this is the best thing about any form of art!!
After having a true lively moment by spending a little time at the actual tip by standing on this stone bridge......it was time for me to return back from this moment of bliss!! I feel the word bliss will have its true meaning only when it lasts for a little time.......and if it stays forever......how is it possible to define it so perfectly?
The next work we had was to find an accomodation in Kanyakumari as we didnt booked any beforehand. I half-expected that it would be very nice if we could get an accomodation from where I can stay near the sea......and experience it to the fullest during my short stay there.....but was not sure because of the rush in the place due to the festival season. Though I was slightly dissapointed seeing the rush.....I felt it was alright because that was the time I was closest to the union of three water
bodies!!(water is my favourite element!!)
But......one of the best things which ever happened during our stay there was we were able to get an accomodation from where I could see the sea from the glass window of our room!! I couldnt express my delight when I entered the room from where I could see the sea!! The room was quite simple......unlike any three star hotel with loads of luxuries......but still it has its own speciality!!
After relaxing for a while.....by the time when my mom started watching the Tamizh channels on TV for songs....and was absolutely delighted to get all those channels which were not relayed in Hyderabad!! But my delight was only one thing at that point........sea,sea and sea!!
By the time it was nearly 7:30PM.....I thought of just going around the town and have a look at any interesting places to be seen. When I asked the receptionist of the hotel where we were staying.....he suggested us to visit the "Kanyakumari Temple" which is just five minutes walk from our place. He said that the temple is one of the oldest temples and it is believed in that place that the deity in the temple
has saved them during the time of tsunami in December 2004. He also said that the nose-ring of the deity is so mesmerizing.....and shimmering with light that during the time of war.....the opening of the gopuram used to be close because it used to give wrong signals for the airplanes passing on the place!!
I was really interested to visit this temple after hearing such a story about it.......and my natural inclinement in knowing about History and ancient architecture led me persuade my dad to visit the temple....though it was nearly the closing time (the temple closes around 8PM).
We entered the temple after the usual formalities which are in practice these days in any temple or a place of historical imporatance in India (No cameras, No cell phones or any other electronic equipment!!).....the atmosphere inside the temple was breathtaking. I could sense the years of its glorious existence in the place......and could feel some unknown power around the construction. The flowers, lamps, the purohits......everything was so divine out there!! What I intend to say is that other temples which I have visited were not like this......but this place has got its own brilliance and individuality in terms
of divinity!!
The deity was exactly as what I heard of it. The nose-ring was shining so brightly that it would have been looked like as if it was on fire if seen at first!! The rush was mediocre.....mostly the tourists all over the country.....I could barely see the native people out there......but half-hoped that I could see some of them!!
After completing the usual puja lighting some lamps in the temple....me and my dad strongly thought it would have been such a mistake if we didnt come to this place!!
It was not even more than twelve hours I have been to Kanyakumari but experienced two kinds of bliss already by that time!! (bliss of nature.....and bliss of the divine atmosphere!!).
After coming out of this divine bliss.....it was nearly 8:45PM by the time we came out. There was a little shopping market kind of place near the temple.....which had its own collection of shops. There were Udipi restaruants.....shops with offered sale in commodities such as footwear, dresses, etc., and devotional shops which sold accessories related to the temple!! This place on the other hand was packed with people......mostly the tourists....who were bustling in shopping
as well as barganing with the shopkeepers!!
To be continued...
More to come by in the next part!
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