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Wednesday, September 3, 2008

some snaps



The Unplanned Trip - Madurai and Rameswaram

As decided earlier, I set out on my lone trip on Saturday Evening. My earlier plan was that my trip should be an unplanned one. But somehow I lil bit of planning creeped in. The items I purchased were a
* digitial camera
* notepad
* pencils
* shaving kit
* deo, shampoo sachets, liquid soap
* new clothes etc.
I was also gifted a book "Lonely Planet" by my friends.
Inspite of not getting bus ticket for Saturday and with just waitlisted train ticket, I was determined to travel somehow.After an hour of carefully packing similar to the one which Melvin does in 'As good as it gets' -- everything he's taking neatly stacked on the bed waiting to be packed, I left for the railway station.
From around 2 weeks before my unplanned trip was slightly getting planned.
* 1st Plan: Madurai - Kanyakumari and back
* 2nd Plan: Madurai - Kanyakmari - the unplanned part was to visit some wild like sanctuary on the way back(Periyar Wild life or Bandipur or Mudumalai Sanctuary)
* 3rd Plan: Madurai - Rameswaram - Kanyakmari - the unplanned return thru wild life sanctuaries.
Unfortunately my days for travel were restricted since I managed to get off only till Wednesday (Ganesh Chaturthi). These were the last days in my current company and, had I been relieved a week before I could have continued with my travel for a bit longer.
At the raliway station, I was a bit scared looking at the crowd. However, I managed to get a berth by shelling out extra 200 bucks. Btw, the train ticket from Bangalore to Madurai was Rs. 212。 The train was very comfortable and I had a good sleep. I took my first picture as soon as I woke up.
31st August 6:22 am

I checked into a Hotel Padmam which is almost midway between the Railway Station and Meenakshi Temple.
Details of Hotel Padmam
Tel: 0452-2340702
Address: No. 1, Perumal Tank West Street, Town Hall Road, Madurai - 625
Email: hotel_padmam@hotmail.com
Rooms are all A/C and starts with Rs.900 (excluding taxes).

I took a bath and had an English breakfast. From the roof top I saw my first glimpses of Meenakshi Temple.
31st August 9:34 am

A walk towards the Meenakshi Temple.
31st August 10:09 am