Thanjavur
Thanjavur Palace and Museum are other major attraction
of Thanjavur. The palace near the temple is a vast building
of masonry built partly by the Nayakas and partly by
the Marathas. Two of the palace towers, the armory and
the observation towers are visible from all parts of
the Thanjavur city. The palace houses an art gallery,
a library and a hall of music. The art gallery occupies
the Nayak Durbar Hall. It has a superb collection of
Chola bronze statues. The Saraswati Mahal Library is
next door to the gallery. Over 30,000 Indian and European
manuscripts, written on palm leaves and paper, are preserved
in the Saraswati Mahal Library.
Thanjavur was the ancient capital of the Chola kings.
Thanjavur or Tanjore is also known as the "Rice
Bowl of Tamil Nadu". Thanjavur is also called the
culture capital of the region. Thanjavur reached the
summit of glory under the later Cholas (10th to 14th
centuries AD), who built several great temples and the
art of developing bronze figures also emerged during
their reign. The Nayaks and the Marathas followed the
Chola rulers, for the last of whom Thanjavur or Tanjore
was the southern capital. Thanjavur is also known as
the temple town as there are around 74 major temples
in Thanjavur, of which the most famous is the Brihadeeshwara
or Brihadeshwara. Besides the Brihadeshwara temple,
Thanjavur is also known for its fort and palace.
The great Chola rulers built the Brihadeshwara Temple
and the Fort in the 10th century AD. It is an exceptional
example of Chola architecture and is listed in world
heritage. The temple is capped by a monolithic cupola
made of a single granite block weighing 80 tons which
was taken to the top by being pulled on an inclined
ramp 6 km. long, a technique used by pyramid builders
of Egypt. The temple has been the center of continuous
worship for over thousand years. Only Hindus are allowed
inside the temple.
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Mahabalipuram
Mahabalipuram, also called Mamallapuram, is 60 kilometers
south of Chennai. Mahabalipuram was the capital of the
Pallava Kings around the seventh and eighth centuries.
The Pallavas were master sculptors. This town boasts
of some of the finest rock cut caves and sculptures
in the world. The Shore temples of Mahabalipuram are
an architectural wonder. The sculptures here were created
around 600 to 750 AD. The rock-cut monuments of Mahabalipuram
belong to the earliest phase of the Dravidian temple
architecture. The sculptures at Shore temples or Rathas
of Mahabalipuram are breathtakingly real. Among the
nine cave temples, the Krishna cave is notable for its
realistic Portrayal.
Mahabalipuram, the second capital and principal port
of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram, reached its political
and artistic pinnacle between the fifth and eighth centuries,
is now a tourist town. It continues to thrive on the
steady influx of the bemused, the besotted and the brash.
It greets them all with the same ritual entrance fee,
the familiar stringers and touts, the unavoidable curio
shops who pitch their sales by accosting the stranger
and welcoming him too much. The congested streets don't
offer too much of a clue as to what is where.
All down the same road, which begs you to disembark
and discover. Mamallapuram (the official, but infrequently
used name) is also credited with featuring some of the
earliest Indian attempts at monolithic stone carving.
Arjuna's Penance is a carving on the face of a huge
rock seamlessly assimilates a long vertical fissure
where from water was known to have flowed down. You
don't even need to close your eyes to imagine the venerable
Ganges gushing forth, drawn irrepressibly by King Bhagirath's
beseeching penance on behalf of a water-starved land.
Or was it Arjuna who had prayed ceaselessly to Lord
Shiva here?
Browse for stone sculptures and other curios in the
many shops thriving on tourist trade before you move
on the mid-seventh century Shore Temple. Ringed with
casuarina trees and granite boulders, the sea so close
by that you can smell the salt and hear the waves, the
setting of the Shore Temple is utterly magical. The
structure is a jewel in the crown that Mahabalipuram
wears so graciously. The pristine beach close by is
known to be home to treacherous currents but remains
a favorite spot for picnickers to stop and catch their
breath.
The Pancha Rathas (or Five Chariots) are temples, which
emulate the style of Rathas or chariots. Until about
200 years ago, they had been lost to time, consumed
by the sands upon which they had been set. The British
excavated these beautiful examples of Pallava architecture,
dedicated to the famous Pandava brothers and their equally
legendary wife, Draupadi.
The Draupadi Ratha is dedicated to Goddess Durga, the
Arjuna Ratha to Lord Shiva (whose lingam has since been
destroyed), the Bhima Ratha honours Mahavishnu in repose
or Ananthashayanam, the Nakula-Sahadeva Ratha is the
abode of Indra, the Rain God, while the tallest Dharmaraja
Ratha salutes Harihara (the genesis of the omnipotent
Shiva-Vishnu) and Ardhanareeshwara (the Shiva-Shakti
embodiment of true equality between the sexes).
With that, the visitor has been there and seen all
places that Mahabalipuram is so famous for. But the
whole is more than the sum of the parts. Mahabalipuram
is lauded as the forerunner to grander ambitions, greater
heights. But the imagination of its creators blessed
it with a longevity they might themselves not have foreseen.
Buffeted by the winds, never forgotten by time, Mahabalipuram
will remain on your mind.
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Crocodile Bank Chennai
Head in the direction of Mahabalipuram and you will
find the Crocodile Park of Chennai - home to several
species of Indian and African crocodiles and alligators.
Started in 1976 by herpetologist Romulus Whitaker, the
Crocodile Park is spread over 3.2 hectares of lush vegetation.
The Crocodile Bank in Chennai is the largest crocodile-breeding
site in the country. Several species of African and
Indian crocodiles and alligators are bred in captivity.
This park seeks to spread awareness of the ecological
role played by crocodiles in selectively feeding on
sick and weak and injured fish. Projects are conducted
on the biology and study of crocodiles, turtles and
lizards.
Visitors to the Crocodile Park in Chennai can view
the various alligator and crocodile species lazing about
in the open pools. Be it the Mugger or Marsh variety
of crocodiles found in the lowland waters or the Gharials
(crocodiles with the longest jaw), the Chennai Crocodile
bank is home to nearly 7000 inmates. Other species of
crocodiles found in the Crocodile Park in Chennai -
Morlet's crocodile from Mexico, American Alligator,
Dwarf crocodile from Africa and the Siamese crocodile.
Visitors can collect interesting trivia and information
about these species. The Chennai Crocodile Bank also
has a snake farm, where anti-venom is produced. Demonstrations
of venom extraction draw considerable crowds.
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Muttukadu
At Muttukadu, 30km south of Chennai is Dakshinchitra,
which is a handicraft village, built in a traditional
19th century style. Produced here are sculptures, ceramics
and glass objects. It has craft shops and restaurants.
A one-hour tour is Rs 250 for foreigners and Rs 100
for Indians. If you have a student card it is Rs 50.
It remains open daily except Tuesday.
The backwaters of Muttukadu have been developed by
the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation to serve
as a scenic picnic spot and a center for water sports.
In February every year, a windsurfing regatta is organized
in Muttukadu. Competitions in windsurfing and other
water sports are also held. Training and demonstration
programmes are held for youth.
The MGM DIZZEE World is an amusement park, located
near Muttukadu, on the way to Mahabalipuram. It offers
the rides like Karnakasi ranger, water sports, Dashing
Boat, Arrow Loop Roller Coaster and 110 feet Dizee Shake.
It is a must visit place for children.
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Pulicat
Pulicat Lake is a quiet picnic spot for nature lovers
and bird watchers. This unpolluted lake is a far cry
from the clutter of city life, but at a reasonable distance.
A recommended Sunday trip, to recharge your batteries.
A saline shallow water spread formed by the confluence
of Backwaters, Pulicat Lake and Buckingham Canal situated
on the northern end of Tamil Nadu is an ideal picnic
spot. A catamaran ride on the shallow water spread and
a visit to Bird Sanctuary are two most leisure activities
to be undertaken here. A Dutch cemetery of 17th century
is located on shore.
Pulicat Island is located 60 kilometers north of Chennai
and is surrounded by ocean and salt-water rivers. Pulicut
has a population of approximately 30,000, which is comprised
predominantly of fishermen who belong to the traditional
marine fishing caste called Pattanavan.
Pulicat Lake, an ecologically fragile salt-water lagoon,
about 60 km north of Chennai, is the second largest
lagoon in India. It is situated on the route taken by
migrating birds, tempting them to stop for a break.
The lake is separated from the Bay of Bengal by a strip
of land, in which the town of Pulicat is located. The
lagoon is protected as a Wildlife Sanctuary because
of its rich biodiversity. It boasts 65 different species
of fish, 30 varieties of terrestrial and aquatic birds
and a host of small mammals and reptiles. Flamingos
are the most frequent visitors to the lake, about 15,000
of them visit every year. Pelicans, Kingfishers, Herons,
Painted Storks, Spoonbills and Ducks are some of the
other birds that show up at Pulicat Lake every year.
The town of Pulicat is also an interesting spot, with
its Dutch cemetery dating back to the 17th century.
A few centuries ago the town was an important center
for woven and colorfully printed cotton fabric. An Old
Danish fort built in 1609, now reduced to shambles,
can be seen here. Only the moat is clearly distinguishable
now. A dilapidated church and cemetery can also be seen
in the town.
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