Sunday, November 08, 2009

Gingee ஆங்கிலம்













I am not crazy about forts although I always wanted to visit Daulatabad. But guess I will end up enjoying Daulatabad thanks to Gingee. This fort takes the cake for defining the word impregnable

Well it is very accessible...just off the Tindivanam-Tiruvannamalai road some 160 km from Chennai. Easily reachable within 3 hours from Chennai.

The impregnable for the long gone warriors of yore whose physical fitness was far better than us urban cowboys. At least that is what the history of Gingee says.

Its history is rich contrary to its popularity within tourist circuits. Cholas, Hoysalas (Krishna Deva Raya), the Carnatic nawabs, Marathas led by Shivaji, Hyder Ali and then Tipu Sultan, the French, the British and finally, the Archaeological Survey of India...the ownership and care taking of the fort passed many hands.

The Gingee Fort complex is spread across three hills with each hill hosting a separate fort. The first hill is the biggest one called Rajagiri. As the name suggests, it was the Capital and most impregnable partly because it extends 300 metres high. The structure rests over and around a large rock. the citadel of the fort is isolated by a deep chasm that can only be crossed by a wooden draw bridge. The draw bridge of yore is now replaced by a permanent wooden bridge.

The other two hills are Krishnagiri and Chakkilya Giri. I could not visit them. Rajagiri, the biggest and grandest of the three took all my time and attention.

This fort culminates Hindu, Muslim and European influences with ample space for each.





































Sunday, November 01, 2009

Lodi Gardens

It is ironical that the most peaceful place in Delhi is the garden that houses the tombs of the least prolific dynasty that ruled the land. Probably this was their claim to fame. They gave Delhi the best urban oasis in Asia.


The Lodis were not known much for their rule as much for losing their domain to pave way to the Mughals in India. But they did build some fine gardens that happened to be my object of interest in Delhi.

The Lodi gardens is a vast sprawling complex of tombs set amidst a pleasant garden such that the tombs become a part of the park rather than the park serving as a landscape beautification to the tombs.

My three day visit to Delhi culminated with a walk through the park.


















Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Appikonda అప్పికొండ

I lived not more than 6 km from this place for 10 years but never visited it.

Pity! I missed a great place to call my own.

Lone hill and clear sands...

...not to mention an ancient temple that froze time in itself.

2009 would have been a bad year for travel with me.


...but for a few good places to take my camera along.

One of them is Appikonda, some 25 km from Vizag.



Someswara temple on the sea shore at Appikonda. Believed to be around since the 12th century AD. Looks like the ASI never found it. The temple seemed as if it was never renovated in all these 700 years.



A lazy morning for the boats.




Wide beach and clean sands and shallow waters. The lone hill on the shore is the highlight.



A few metres away, the sea is rough



Local fisherman




A serene hidden beach