Mysore Musings

Despite having the been-there,done-that feeling, Mysore has a lot more to offer than what meets the eye. My friend Anusha Vincent (http://daftnoosh.blogspot.in/) and I, in our first trip together, find that Mysore is full of twists, turns and tales...

She flows like a dream,she carries dancing rainbows on her sprightly sprays,she gushes with gusto out of dams,she is also the cause of national dispute,death,and destruction the fiery Cauvery is a force to reckon with.And,when we headed out to Mysore,this is what we sought to experience.

An arduous car journey later, we find ourselves in the old culture-seeped town of Mysore which to this day,maintains its old-world charm and peaceful ambiance. First up, we make our way to The Metropole (situated at the centre of the town, it was used as a resting place for the Maharajas English friends. Interestingly, this is the only heritage property that has retained its English name), to refresh our tired selves and fuel our empty tummies.As we enter the heritage property, we are transported to an age gone by the colonial times. You can almost envision the Maharajas and the Brits lounging about in the elegant wrought iron couches and divans, sipping on their evening cup of tea. Lunch consists of a typically Mysorean buffet. 

(File pic) Brindavan Gardens.... and the Tipu Sultan portrait

(File Pic) View from KRS dam

(File pic) What else! That famous palace....

The dining area has an enviable collection of hunting trophies, tiger included (the area manager, Awasthi, tells us he had to go through a tedious process of getting permission from the Animal Welfare Board to do so) and not to forget, a 100-year-old painting of Tipu Sultan,which was acquired from a local.
 
Post lunch, we continue our journey towards the Brindavan Gardens, where we are scheduled to stay at the Hotel Royal Orchid Brindavan Garden, another heritage property (built in 1910) this one, to accommodate British engineers who routinely flew down to build the mighty KRS dam. A whiles rest later, we head out to the Brindavan Garden,which happens to be right at the foot of the hotel. The dancing fountain, which was once a major attraction, has become some kind of a joke, with locals leering and visitors wondering what all the hoopla is about. The saving grace comes in the form of heavy downpour. Walking in the evening rain, surrounded by flora and ghostly fountains, can be a very cathartic experience. Follow this up with a long, warm bath and you're set for the night!

We start our next day pretty early. A drive on the stretch of the KRS dam (which required special permission from the authorities) gives us an idea of the fervour of Lady Cauvery. We find our way to a till-recently-submerged temple and dig around. What we find astonishes us. The temple, dedicated to Lord Venugopalaswamy, was found underwater 10 years ago, and local villagers decided to rescue and restore it. Work has been underway ever since. The original ceiling stones, pillars and idol have been retained, making the temple resonate with the feel of a bygone era. At the foot of the temple, gently flows the Cauvery, India's only ayurvedic river, fed by water from the Hemavathi, KRS and Gorur dams. The water, which originates at Madikeri, the centre for ayurveda spas and coffee plantations, is pristine and sweet to taste. Needless to say, the villagers take fierce pride in the property they claim to be theirs, just as their counterparts in Tamil Nadu! That's not all! This mighty river also holds under it another temple, this one,dedicated to Lord Shiva. However, it is only when the water level goes down by at least 35 feet that it can be rescued. Both the temples are believed to be around 250-years-old.
On our way back, we drive around the Kanambadi village. There are tales to be told and we are enamoured. Therein resides a certain Budappa, who's prone to dying. Every year! Ever since the KRS dam was built, Budappa started having bouts of death during the month of March, right after the Ugadi celebrations. 30,000 people gather to watch this ritual every year. The man dies (this has even been confirmed by doctors from the reputed Jayadeva Hospital), is mummified, carried in a procession around the village, which is dotted with a series of four-pillars. At one such place, that lies opposite the Iriammadevi temple, Budappa comes back to life! He then proceeds to the temple to do puja, while villagers affectionately look on. 

A quick breakfast later,we make the rounds of the usual suspects the Mysore Palace, Chamundi Hills, St Philomenas church, market circle, rail museum et al. We return surprisingly refreshed, rejuvenated and dreading our return to routine! Mysore continues to enthral, and we suspect will continue to, for ages to come.

Travel Trivia

Kushal Nagar: A Tibetan settlement in Coorg. A must visit! 
Mysore Palace was originally called the Amba Vilas Palace.
The Field Marshal Cariappa Circle is popularly know as the Metropole Circle 




* As appeared in Chennai Times
Copyright ©2012 Chennai Times, Times Of India

Wayanad - Gateway to getaways

When I decided that I wanted to be surrounded by history and heritage, I knew I had to visit Wayanad. Situated majestically on top of the Deccan plateau, Wayanad is characterised by dense forests and deep valleys, not to forget the intoxicating smell of spices. I had to fight my way through at least a dozen hairpin bends to reach Wayanad and when I did, I was at a loss of words. The breathtaking scenery and the mind-blowing weather had me stunned.

I first decided to visit Soochipara Falls. A number of rocks, covered with moss, led me to the foot of the falls, where I heard the gushing sound of water from a majestic height of 300 feet. I had to be careful while getting down to the pool as one wrong step could have left me with bruises for a souvenir. The Kuruva Island is probably one place which thoroughly exhausted me, but also left me wanting for more. Spread across a sprawling 950 acres, this island is a perfect retreat for those who want to have some time to themselves.

Script found in Edakkal Caves

View from our bus

The Soojipara waterfalls, though there's very little water falling in this hot summer!

A closer view of the waterfall

Enroute Edakkal Caves

Enroute Edakkal Caves

Part of the resort where I stayed...

Inscriptions in Edakkal Caves. These writings date back to 1000 BC, suggesting possible links to the Indus Valley Civilisation

One of the many hair-pin bends

Yet another carving found in the caves

For history buffs, the Edakkal caves is a must visit. A small cleft in the terrains of the plateau, Edakkal has some interesting carvings on the wall. I had the pleasure of visiting other interesting places in Wayanad — Chembra Peak, Muthanga Wild Life Sanctuary, Pookot Lake, Banasura Sagar Dam and the tomb of Pazhassi Raja.

But my trip wasn’t complete without a visit to the Fringe Ford. With towering trees and entangled vines, I got more than what I asked for— solitude, peace of mind and the impression that I was actually walking into the valley of God. And I knew I had made the correct choice — to spend a cosy week in this lovers’ paradise.


HOW TO GET THERE:
Wayanad is well connected to Tamil Nadu by road. However, it’s advisable to take the train. You wouldn’t want to miss the greenery en route. The nearest railway station and airport is Kozhikode. From Kozhikode, I hitched a bus ride till Wayanad.


ACCOMMODATION:
Thanks to the scenic cottages and resorts, my stay there was more than comfortable. The minimum cost for a cottage is Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,200 for a hotel room. Some of the best resorts are the Green Gates Hotel, Haritagiri Resort, Edakkal Hermitage and the Fringe Ford bungalow. 



TRAVEL TIPS

It’s a tough climb to the Edakkal caves and we do not recommend it for the weak-limbed or spatially challenged.

It’s the best place to buy spices and eucalyptus grandis.

Language might prove to be a problem, but it’s not too hard to understand Malayalam


* As appeared in Chennai Times in May 2009



Copyright ©2012 Chennai Times, Times Of India

A day in the life of an IGNOU student!

To,
Director
Chennai Regional Centre
IGNOU

Sub: Non acceptance of MTM assignments

Respected sir,

I’m currently pursuing MTM (first year) with IGNOU and have been assigned study centre 2501 (D G Vaishnav College) by the university. I submitted a DD for Rs 5600 (dated 9/08/2011, number 240870) at the IGNOU Chennai centre (Nandanam), requesting to be admitted to the MTM course. Soon after, I received a letter, stating I’ve been admitted to the course for the July 2011 session. When I met the officials at the Nandanam centre regarding course material, I was told I’d be intimated by my study centre through correspondence. I’d received no information from them until October. I then visited the centre again in November, December and January, to enquire about the books. I was told that I’d be notified by the centre. One lady was kind enough to tell me to check the website, and the website carried the same statement – you’ll be notified through correspondence by the study centre. (the website, for your information, doesn’t open now. It says – Account Suspended!).

It was not until March that I heard from the centre. After repeatedly trying to reach officials through phone (which conveniently no one picks up), I was told to collect the books from the Taramani office personally.

I’d even taken efforts to mail rcchennai@ignou.ac.in on March 12. The e-mail is as follows –
From: Lakshmi Venkateswaran lakshmi.24iyer@gmail.com
sender timeSent at 16:14 (GMT+05:30).
Current time there: 14:28.
✆ to: rcchennai@ignou.ac.in
date12 March 2012 16:14
subject: Urgent. No communication or study materials received mailed-bygmail.com 2 Mar

Hi sir/madam
Name: V Lakshmi
Enrolment No. : 115513492
Course: MTM

I had applied for MTM for the July 2011 session and I received a letter in August from the Chennai regional office, stating that I've been accepted for the same. I also received my ID card along with it. But till date, I haven't received any notification or communication regarding my exams. I haven't received my study materials as well. I've to take up my exam in June 2012 and I also have to submit my assignments by March so that I can get my hall ticket without paying late fees. A few days ago, I received the re-registration form for my second year. Kindly get back to me with the process to obtain the study materials and the date within which I've to submit my assignments.

Thanks
Lakshmi 9444909853

It’s another thing that the mail that I addressed to your official e-mail id hasn’t been answered until now. I went to Taramani to collect the books post March 12, and I was told that books for MTM 5 and 6 weren’t available at the time. A kind gentleman had the courtesy to SMS me a few days later, telling me he’s found alternative books for those courses, and I collected them the same day. Unsure I’d be able to finish the assignments by March 31, and given that IGNOU is student-friendly and flexible as you claim, I visited Guindy centre 15 days ago (you can verify the visitors’ book – I’d signed in at 5 pm sharp!) to enquire if I can submit only MTM 1 and 2, and TS 1, 2, 3 and 6.

But the person who apparently was to guide me through my assignments told me it would be wise on my part to submit all 12 papers by March. He said, and I quote – “You can write and take prints of all assignments because it won’t reflect well on your final certificates if the assignments were submitted late.” I also made it a point to tell one of your book’s in charge that a certain chapter in MTM 1 has been wrongly printed and I had sent a mail to the same e-mail id as per her request.

I’ve the MTM manual, and the instruction papers with me. And none of them mentions that the assignments have to ONLY BE HAND-WRITTEN. And none of your employees bothered to inform me during the numerous times I visited them that I can’t submit printed assignments.

And the chief at the study centre refused to accept my assignments that I had painstakingly sat and typed out on a computer, took print-outs of and hard-bound it. And the reason he gave me is that no one has submitted computer prints in the last 15 years!

I totally understand when he says I should have visited the study centre before writing the assignments. But why will I walk up till Arumbakkam, when the regional centre, which is supposed to man the entire curriculum, informs me that the books for 2011 course haven’t come yet and that the study centre will inform me?

Interestingly, all correspondence regarding fees and re0-reigisteration fro next year reached my home at the proper time. How come the correspondence from study centre failed to reach me?

The chief at the study centre said he will extend time for me to sit and write the assignments. But, why will I do it? When I am totally at no fault, having literally burnt the midnight oil typing out assignments and finding answers from fat books that I didn’t even have time to go through, thanks to the lack of communication from IGNOU’s end, and taken print outs of 200-odd pages and aligned them in position?

I’m a working woman, and which is why I’m doing my masters though long distance education. We are, for God’s sake, in the 21st century, and every single college in the country accepts assignments that have been printed out. Why, in Lord’s name, will the IGNOU not accept printed assignments? Especially when it hasn’t been mentioned in any of the handbooks that they won’t accept one! Especially when the assignment guide, who sits in IGNOU Chennai regional centre, tells me to ‘write and print’ the assignments!

It’s with great regret that I have to tell you that I’ve been traumatised by the incident. With due respect, I’m not going to write my assignments all over again because it’s a waste of my time, my energy, black cartridges and papers. Kindly accept the assignments as a special case, and at the same time, take efforts to state clearly to students in future that only hand-written assignments be accepted.

Thanking you,
V Lakshmi
Enrolment Number: 115513492
Study Centre: 2501

What, in heaven’s name, is a marriageable material?

A few days back, I was having a conversation with one of my cousins. She was complaining about how her life hasn’t been all that exciting in the last few months and how her past has come back to haunt her. She was hating her job, and the people she was required to work with. And to make matters worse, she was forced into decking up for a guy (who had come to ponnu paarthufy her) who I was sure she would have booted out of the house. But surprise! She said she doesn’t mind marrying him. I asked her if she loved him. She answered in the negative. I asked her if she liked him at least. No was her reply. I asked her why she, in God’s name, would agree to marry a guy who she doesn’t love or like. And she said, ‘My parents approve of him and he’s a marriageable material!’ And burst out laughing. Knowing her, she would decline the alliance soon. But, I’m just wondering, has marriage become an act of convenience? Is it just an institution that lacks warmth and emotion?

Down those quaint little roads…

One of the many things that I love about my life is the little trips (spanning for a minimum of 20 days) that I take with my parents to places that are historically, religiously, culturally, spiritually and geographically important. I’ve been to Rishikesh and Haridwar, to Delhi forts and Mysore palaces. In this series, I shall try and recall, and list down some of the things I enjoyed doing, some that I did because I had to, and some that I did without knowing why I had to!

On July 3, 2011, my parents, my perimma, my mom’s friend and I reached the Meenambakkam airport by 8 am to catch our Delhi flight. After we finished checking in, my mom, her friend and my perimma, who strictly believe that a person should eat his breakfast like he’s the king, opened their pottlam of pongal and vadai. I hurriedly moved away from them, lest they decide to offer me a piece of the vadai as well, and embarrass me in front of the rest of the crowd (Pongal in domestic airport!) ! After seeing off my attai, cousin and paati, who, by the way, were flying to Mumbai to attend my cousin’s engagement, we rushed to our terminal to board.

I guess all modes of public transport – bus, train and flight – come together to conspire against me. Whenever I decide to use their services, they will either a)arrive late b) not come at all c) arrive, pick me up and halt in the middle of nowhere owing to a puncture or lack of petrol or 1000 other technical faults or d) arrive, pick me up and reach the destination 200 hours late. In this case, it was the option ‘a’ ! We had to wait for about 2 hours before our blessed Kingfisher took off to Delhi.

I was stunned when I entered the Delhi domestic airport. It was huge, aesthetically-decorated and had instructions plastered on all four corners, guiding the lost travellers. AKA me. It was only after 45 minutes that we collected our baggage and made our way to get inside a taxi that we had pre-booked. We went and dumped our luggage at the koviloor mutt, where we were allotted a very nice and comfy AC bedroom. While both the aunts rested, my parents and I took the Delhi metro to reach IGNOU campus, where one of my dad’s cousins stays with his family. The rest of the day, or rather what was left of it, was spent chatting with them.

July 4

I admit I’m a shopaholic. Or maybe, a window shopaholic. Which explains why I didn’t mind roaming around in the hot sun on an otherwise lazy Monday afternoon in Janpath and Karol Bagh. Apart from a couple of leggings (which I anyway can get at a cheaper rate in Pondy Bazar), I didn’t buy much. Oh, that’s if you don’t count the clips and hangars and ropes that the grown-up women got, saying they were planning to use them during the rest of our journey to dry clothes!

July 5

My mother and her friend, Geetha, are what we call, enthu pattani. Bringing the laptop and mailing snippets to my TOI editor is one thing. But catching a bus, a train and an auto to reach KVS regional office to clarify a teeny weeny doubt in some auditing is just taking sincerity to the next level. While amma and G did their job, literally, my dad, my perimma (P) and I nicely slept through the day. We then went to the New Delhi station to catch the Amritsar Shatabdi and reached the Golden City of Punjab at 11 pm. I was overwhelmed to see so many Sardarjis. I’ve secretly always wanted to meet some of them and flaunt my Punjabi that I learnt watching Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn in films. So, when our Sardar driver came up to us (the hotel in which we were scheduled to say in had been kind enough to send us a transport), I refused to let my dad speak. Right from –  tuhada ki haal hai (the driver was a young chap!) to tanva yahe vaad ji (though I could have just said shukriya or dhanyavad or thanksss!), I was literally gloating in Punjabi. Like Rajinikanth, I was talking, walking, breathing and eating the language!

 To be continued...

Why this kalyana veri?

Agreed that I've been working for the last four years (almost). Agreed that I'm going to be 24. Agreed that I'm the only daughter to my parents. Agreed that they have this big kadamai to get me married to a nice, good-looking, kai neraya earning, well-mannered guy from a respectable, well-to-do family with no nacchu pidungals. But well, I don't want to tie the knot with this 'nice, good-looking, kai neraya earning, well-mannered guy from a respectable, well-to-do family with no nacchu pidungals' anytime soooooon!
I've been covering cinema for this very nice national newspaper, and almost everyone in my beat knows me. But, I want to become this supercool travel journalist, whose articles everyone will pick up and read and use as a guide when they want to travel. I also want to be this very super intelligent girl who goes on a 'i'm-going-to-uncover-the-secrets-behind-aandipatti's-lost-civilisation'! expedition.
So, what's the problem you ask. It's my marriage! I don't know if my husband, whoever it will be, will allow me to do all this. Not that I'll obey his orders lying down. But the point is, how can I freaking marry someone whom I don't know from Adam?!
And how can I expect him to give in to my whims and fancy?
So, all I did was ask my parents to let me be until I achieve my dreams (gloating now). So, they will have to just wait for about two more years, hopefully.
But no! amma appa will be amma appa. With whatever knowledge of computer and Internet they have (both are auditors and puli in kanakku. So, sparing calculator and excel sheet, I don't think they know much about computer potti!), they jump into the payyan paarthufying padalam.
With Tamilmatrimony, SSmatri and 200 other matrimony sites advertising their efficient search engines, my amma appa start their hunt.
Their criteria, apart from the abovementioned – no kousigam, 2-4 years elder than me, should belong to one of the 20 stars tat I'm compatible with , and look like one serial hero atleast. (PS in the middle of my post : While I flatly refused to let them put up my picture on the sites that they surf, I did allow them to write a smallish biography about my achievements online. I'm all heart, I know!)
Apart from the sites, my amma appa also started relying on their relatives, friends, pakkathu veetu maami, edhuthaathu mama, flower-selling aaya and newspaper podara paiyyan for information on eligible bachelors!
But hello, someone ask me if I have anyone particular in mind? And mom, you can’t ask this question (in a I-didn’t-bring-you-up-like-that-so-don’t-say-yes tone) while you are riding pillion with me on my 7-year-old scooty pep, while I sweat it out to balance you, your sotthu mootai (lunch bag), my sotthu moottai and my oversized LV imitation bag that I forced appa to pick up from roadside shop in T Nagar! Not especially when my ‘yes’ or a ‘no’ will barely be audible in that blood-curdling horn that kuppa vandi lets out.
Sigh. Sigh the sigh. Well, back to what I was trying to tell you all. Why are parents hell-bent on getting their daughters married to some X, Y or Z when they don’t want to? And why do they always try to convince them saying you should marry when the time is right or that your mama’s daughter’s son’s chitti’s mother’s aunt wants to see your kalyanam before they die? Will someone explain/enlighten me?

I cant lose anyone

Aham Brahmasmi… That’s how I see myself…

I thought I was happy. I thought my life was perfect. I thought I would have all the fun. I thought I would never lose anyone… until I lost all my belief. Yes… life stole away from me two lives..

I had joined my office in May and the very next day, my granddad fell ill. Not tat he was extremely fit. He was suffering from parkinson for 72 years! He communicated jaundice and right in front of my eyes… he went kaput. When I was barely five, he stealthily wrote my homework’s for me, picked me up from my school, told me… paal vandachu, coffee kudikalam… he was very possessive about me. He used to say.. “she’s my pethi. I won’t let anyone else touch her.” Tat was his standard dialogue. And I used to feel proud. He taught me slokams and narrated bed time stories. We had our own carom tournaments, with our own special rules. When amma appa got transferred to another city, taatha paati were my guardian. He signed my report cards, wrote leave letters when I didn’t feel like going to school and he even attended PTA meetings for me. Damn me.. I cant even figure a sentence when am talking about him and I call myself a journalist! He was very special. We had our own secrets. I told him how I used to have head bath every morning without telling amma appa or paati… tat was few days ago his death! And till date, it remains a secret…..

I couldn’t bring myself to face the reality. When his body was brought in an ice box, I kept staring at his legs and eyes.. praying silently tat he would signal to me tat he s still alive. But of course, that never happened.

And then, exactly after 6 months, I lost my attimber. To tell you the truth, I was scared of him. He had a thick moustache and I thought he was very strict. I used to hardly open my mouth when I was with him. But things changed this august. My mom literally had to pull me away from him… he was my sole companion. We kept going yak yak all the time. It was raining heavily then and I couldn’t go for this sight seeing thingy… He kept insisting that I must visit Bombay when it isn’t raining and tat he would take me out… and I went again this November… to take him to his abode. He left me stranded… and yes.. it didn’t rain this time in Bombay.