namma mejura

South Entrance, originally uploaded by mdsenthil.

This is an update to the post on Beautification of Chitrai Streets around Meenakshi Amman Temple earlier.

Madurai bench of Madras High Court made an interim order today, allowing vehicle access up to the entrance of Chithrai Streets (but not on Chitrai Streets) to allow cars to drop passengers (maximum 15 minutes parking time!). Heavy vehicles are still off-limits for these access roads.

This is a slight improvement for elders visiting the temple, but bound to create traffic snarls in these narrow Amman Sannathi, West Tower and North Tower streets.

Read more about it here http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/29/stories/2009012958610300.htm

Secured parking for residents & shop owners of Chitrai Streets is still a question mark.

By vijayymdu, shot with 6300 at 2009-01-03

The scene looks very much um… un-Madurai! But, it’s the same Chitrai Streets around Meenakshi Amman Temple. Impressive development indeed. Now vehicles were not allowed in Chitrai Streets and it enhances to the smooth look besides the safety factor.

If you look closely, you can still see the Madurai-ness – sand accumulating along the edges of neatly tiled road as well on the granite footpath. The granite footpath is smooth, but always have noticable spread of sand grains. Maintenance is usually our weak point.

The people living in Chitrai street as well as the shop owners were protesting on block vehicle movement in Chitrai Streets. Authorities should consider priority/reserved parking spaces for them in parallel streets. It will be an inconvenience for them, but should not be a harassment.

Thirumalai Nayak Palace, originally uploaded by carola_vanlimborgh.

There used to be a sound and light show at Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal. But it was degraded (a few non-working lights, noise in speakers etc.) and gradually went out of operation. Efforts are on to revive it again.

Hope it doesn’t turn out as dumb as the earlier one. I’ve hosted an international traveller for a show of previous version (4 years back) and he was thoroughly disappointed.

The remaining one-fourth of Thirumalai Nayakkar’s Palace itself is a magnificent reminder of previous era. It is worth visiting there in the day time. It has also become a preferred cinema shooting location for song sequences.

But if you plan for an evening of Sound & Light show at Mahal, don’t set your hopes high.