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A GREAT DESTINATION
Eternal India
encyclopedia
Meenakshi Temple
— Madurai, Tamil Nadu;
Best Time
- Jan-
Feb;
Access -
(A) Madurai (R) Madurai;
Desc.-
The temple at-
tracts thousands of pilgrims everyday. Example of Dravidian
School of Architecture. Famous for its gigantic profusely carved
gopurams-tallest one 49m high. The temple has exquisite sculp-
tures, ornate pillars and painted ceilings.
Ramanathaswamy Temple
— Tamil Nadu;
Best Time -
July-
April;
Access -
(A)Madras (A) Madurai Rameswaram(Varanasi
of the South) 152 km (R) Rameswaram;
Desc. -
The most
renowned features of the temple are the most magnificent and
longest corridors in India measuring 4000 ft The pillars are cut out
of single pieces of granite and are beautifully decorated.
Ootacamund (Ooty)
— Tamil Nadu;
Best Time
- April-June or
September & October; Access - (A) Coimbatore (105 km) (R)
Coimbatore (40 km);
Desc.
- Snuggled in the thickly wooded
Nilgiris is Udhagamandalam, anglicised to Ootacamund which has
been abbreviated to Ooty. Called the "Queen of the Blue Moun-
tains" Ooty attracts tourists from all over the country. Ooty is
characterised by rolling meadows, gardens and lakes;
Places of
Interest -
Botanical Gardens, Doddabetta (2633m or 8475 ft) the
highest of the Nilgiris, Mukruti Peak, Pykara Dam, Wenlock
Downs, Kalhatti Waterfalls, Elk Hill, Marlimund lake, Avalanche,
Todapho.
Coonoor
— Tamil Nadu;
Best Time
- Throughout the year;
Access
-
(A) Coimbatore (125 kms) (R) Coimbatore (58 km);
Desc. -
Set
against the backdrop of the Nilgiris, Coonoor (the beautiful plan-
tation town) lies 18 km south of Ooty.
Kodaikanal
- Tamil Nadu;
Best Time -
April-June;
Access
- (A)
Madurai (131.2 km) (R) Kodaikanal Rd (80 km);
Desc. -
Kodai-
kanal the charming hill station stands amidst the sylvan grandeur
on the southern crest of the upper Palani Hills near Madurai.
Kodai is among the most picturesque Hill stations. Known as
"Botanists Paradise" it is the home of the wonder plant "Kurunji"
which blooms once in 12 years;
Places of Interest -
Kodaikanal
lake, Shola Falls, Observatory, Coaker's Walk, Fairy Fally, Silver
Cascade.
Courtallam
— Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu;
Best Time
- June-Sept;
Access
- (A) Madurai, Trivandrum (R) Tenkasi (6 km);
Desc. -
Known as "The common man's health resort" Courtallam is situ-
ated on the southern arm of a deep bay in the Western Ghats.
Places of Interest -
The Main Falls (Chittar Falls), Kutralanathar
• Temple, Chitra sabha, Chittaruvi, Shenbagadevi Falls, Honey
Falls, Five Falls, Tiger Falls, New Falls, Old Courtallam Falls.
Yercaud
— Tamil Nadu;
Best Time
- April-June;
Access -
(A)
Coimbatore (177 km) (R) Salem (37 km);
Desc. -
A small town
which offers a quiet and restful holiday. The scenery along the
entire length of the road from Salem to Yercaud is enchanting and
consists of coffee and orange estates. Through a small hill resort,
it is rich in scenic beauty and less expensive.
Auroville
— Pondicherry (10 km away);
Best Time
- Aug-Mar;
Access -
(A) Madras 160km (R) Pondicherry connected to Ma-
dras;
Desc.
- Designed by French architect Roger Anger, Aurov-
ille was meant to be an "Experiment in International Living".
Guruvayur
- Kerala;
Best Time -
Oct-March;
Access -
(A)
Cochin (88 km) (R) Trichur (32 km);
Desc.
One of the most sacred
and important pilgrim centres of Kerala. Also known as the
Dwaraka of the South.
Kovalam Beach
— Trivandrum, Kerala;
Best Time
- Throughout
the year except May, July & Oct-Nov (heavy rain);
Access -
(A)
Trivandrum 16km (R) Trivandrum 16km;
Desc. -
One of India's
best beaches. Ideal for surf riding, catamarans are available.
Ayurvedic oil massages & oil baths are given by experts.
Kaladi
— Kerala;
Best Time
- Nov-May;
Access
- (A) Cochin (45
km) (R) Angamaly (10 km) Alwaye (22 km);
Desc.
- A tiny
village cradled in green fields. An important pilgrimage centre
since it was the birth place of Sri Adi Sankaracharya, one of India's
foremost philosopher-saints;
Places of Interest -
Adi Shankara's
shrine, Sringeri shrine, Manicamangalam temple.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
— Kerala;
Best Time
- Oct-June;
Access
- (A) Cochin (208 km), Madurai (160 km);
Desc.
- The
Periyar lake was artificialy created in the year 1900. The whole
area of the sanctuary abounds in lovely natural scenery in one of
the most beautiful parts of India. An added attraction is its wild
life.
AHeppey
— Kerala; 64 km from Cochin;
Best Time -
Throughout
the year except June &July;
Access
- (A) Cochin-64km (R)
Cochin;
Desc.
- Pleasant easy going market surrounded by coco-
nut plantations & canals. Snake boat races are an event worth
seeing (August).
The Pooram festival
— Trichur, Kerala;
Best Time
- April-May;
Access - (A) Cochin-74km;
Desc. -
A spectacular pageant of ca-
parisoned elephants, fireworks, etc.
Coral and marine life, beaches
- Andaman & Nicobar Is. - Bay
of Bengal;
Best Time -
Dec-March;
Access -
(A)Port Blair
Shipping service from Calcutta and Madras;
Desc. -
An archipel-
ago of almost 200 virgin islands with golden beaches. Under the
blue and crystal clear sea, the coral and marine life can be viewed
clearly. The capital of the archipelago and landing point is Port
Blair.