It’s been a while since I blogged. Much has happened in Madurai in the meanwhile. I wanted to blog with appropriate photos & getting delayed. Finally got them & will be blogging regularly from now on.
Before that, I wanted to share the rare photos of Madurai appearing in a forum. It’s a treat to see serene streets around Meenakshi Amman Temple & Yaanai Malai standing alone.
It’s not known about the origin of these photos, but a great find. Do have a look at http://allaboutmadurai.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=25 and also on the second page at http://allaboutmadurai.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=25&start=10
Here is a quick one. Meenakshi temple can now be toured online with 360 degree view.
http://www.view360.in/virtualtour/madurai/
View360 is a chennai based service that creates virtual tours for hotels, showrooms, museums and the likes.
It’s a great satisfaction that the kumbabhisekam (consecration) of Meenakshi Amman Temple went smoothly. It was a local holiday. Shops on the chitrai streets were asked to close for security reasons. Cool drinks & tea shops were re-opened in after noon to cater to the thirsty crowd.
Voting for the 7 wonders of the world campaign raised the awareness of keeping the temple clean. And the chitrai street is nicely spruced up. This month it is listed in, NDTV’s 7 wonders of India.
Some of the Kumbhabhisekam photos can be viewed here.
http://www.maduraimeenakshi.org/photo_gallery.php and some here http://maduraimeenakshitempleforu.blogspot.com/2009/04/meenakshi-temple-kumbhabhishekam.html
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.
Next to the Kuruvithurai temple, there is a small road that seems to end in paddy fields. But it is not. The metalled road turns into sand road for about a km, and it becomes metal road again.
The road is just wide enough for a lorry, so if a lorry or a tractor comes opposite your car needs to go beyond the end of the road and into the roadside wild growth. No public transport available in this side.
With the far-end nagamalai hills running parallel to the road, at about a km distance, on the left, and the vaigai river on the right, the farm road itself is a treat. You would feel far far away from the crowded city life.
Some 8 kms from Kuruvithurai temple, the road leads to a minor dam across river Vaigai. The village near the dam (Anai) is called Anaipatti. There is a Aanjaneya temple on the river front with lot of sand filled open space between the river and the temple.
(more…)
Kuruvithurai is a lesser known village about 30 kms from Madurai. It is about 8Kms from Cholavandan, the well-known village on the north / north-west direction. There is an ancient temple in this village, which is now becoming famous on Guru Peyarchi days.
We decided to explore the route and visit the temple on an un-important day.
(more…)
