I along with Karthik aka KP, Amol and Balu decided to visit Srirangam to attend our batchmate, Anantharaman’s engagement ceremony. KP, Amol and I boarded the Rockfort express from Chennai Egmore and Balu joined us at Tambaram. We got the tickets from Sundari (Anantharaman’s fiancé) and comfortably seated ourselves in coach S6. There were many others from the girl’s party on the same train. The train left the station at the correct time and whistled along the path occasionally, stoping at Mambalam and Tambaram before picking up full speed. All of us gossiped for quite some time before dozing off in our respective berths. I occupied the middle berth and could feel the cold air caress my hair all along.
The train reached Srirangam at about 5:30 in the morning. I had slept well but was still a bit groggy. We were transported from the station to the mandapam (function hall) on a mini bus, which was completely occupied by the girl’s party. The four of us were standing, no issues coz we are YOUNG BOYS and we are supposed to have the never say die attitude and must never get tired.
Anantha gave us a warm welcome and showed us our room. We kept the luggage in the shelves and were going to lie down. Balu picked up a couple of pillows and I picked u a jamakalam (traditional South Indian rug). We spread it across the floor and were dozing happily within minutes. KP woke us at 8:00 am and all of us freshened up; brushing, bathing and doing our daily business. Next we went downstairs and had a sumptuous breakfast with pooris, idlis and halwa. The halwa was in particular exquisite. After finishing our breakfast we decided on going around the town to do some sight seeing. A cab was arranged and all of us hopped in happily. We went to Rockfort temple first. As soon as I got down from the cab a person approached me asking if I was from Malaysia and if I wanted to exchange some Malaysian dollars. Weird isn’t it? I have always received comments from people, linking me to different places. Few thought I was from Bengal, few asked me if was a North Indian and few asked me if I was from Maharashtra. I am quite happy that my identity is always a mystery and it does help when I travel to different places.
We purchased tickets to visit the deity at the top of the hill. Balu and I had a camera but I bought a single ticket for the camera. We climbed about 170 steps and then veered to the left to worship the God who according to locals blesses worshippers (couples in general) with kids. This is because this particular God incarnated himself as a midwife to deliver a child of a mother in that town centuries ago. After worshipping him we set out to climb the final set of stairs to reach the hill top. There was a guy who checked our tickets once again. Balu was hiding his camera in his jeans pocket but allowed the tag to hang outside his pocket. We were caught and that guy asked us to pay for the second camera too. I was thinking Balu aaargh !!!
We worshipped Lord Vinayagar at the hill top also known as Uchchi Pillayaar.We got an amazing view of the whole temple town from there. The view was breath taking. We messaged Ramki and Jana to wait for us outside the temple and then began our descent. We picked them up outside St Joseph’s church and all of us drove to Kallanai Dam. We had to while away our time and thats why we decided to visit the dam. This dam is supposed to be a very ancient one, dating back to centuries. We spent some time here clicking photos now and then and I troubling others to get into weird poses for the photo shoot. Balu was showing off his skills with his Cannon camera and clicking off leaves and trishools with the macro mode. But I must confess Balu was good with the camera.
After visiting Kallanai dam I asked the cab driver to drop me at the nearest bus stop from where I could board the bus to Trichy main bus stand. I had messaged Chandralekha (my future classmate at TU Delft) that I will be coming to Trichy and that I would pay her a visit. The rest of them went back to the mandapam to have their lunch. The Trichy main bus stand would be about 10-12 Kms from the place where I boarded the bus. I was surprised that the bus fare was only a mere three and half rupees. The battery in my phone was low in charge and I feared that I may not be able to contact her after reaching there. So I noted down her number and Amol’s number in a separate piece of paper in case my phone runs out of charge and if I need to make a call from a public phone booth.
After reaching the mandapam I bathed and changed into a fresh set of clothes and was ready for Anantha’s engagement ceremony. The ceremony went on well, Anantha was looking stunning in his new suit and his fiancé was looking beautiful in her silk saree. Balu was the official photographer, clicking pictures from all angles possible. KP, Ramki,myself, Balu and Amol were ogling at a couple of pretty girls at the function. Suddenly it started pouring heavily and the whole place was cooled down. I must say the mandapam was getting really hot with so many people inside.
We finished our dinner and went to the station at 21:45 hrs. The train was scheduled to arrive at the Srirangam station at 22:30 hrs but was delayed by half hour. All of us were dead tired by then and immediately fell asleep once inside the bogie.
I really enjoyed the trip !!
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