A Thousand Miles Under the Malabar Sun: A Self-Driving Divine Odyssey

Episode :- 2

By Dhruv Kushwaha

Day 6: Guruvayur – Shri Krishna Temple – A Divine Encounter

January 29th was dedicated to spirituality. We reached the Shri Krishna Temple in Guruvayur by 11 AM. This sacred site, administered by the Guruvayur Devaswom Board, is one of the most revered Hindu temples in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the sole huge temple of Lord Krishna.

We were fortunate to have a divine darshan (auspicious viewing) of Lord Krishna, thanks to the arrangements made by the Kerala Tourism Department, courtesy Sh Ratheesh Kaliyadan, our dear friend and the APS to the Kerala CM Sh Pinarayi Vijayan. We even had the opportunity to interact with the temple’s Chief Priest, a moment of profound spiritual significance.

Next, in the evening we sought adventure on the shores of Chavakkad Beach courtesy Kerala Tourism coordinator Mr Rupesh and Beach KTDC Manager Mr Arun, the young chap. The adventure water sports were a welcome contrast to the serenity of the temple, and we found ourselves laughing and splashing as we enjoyed high-speed boat rides, traversed the floating bridge, and engaged in spirited games of beach volleyball. We also took the opportunity to ride ATV’s on the sandy beach. That night, we pitched our tents on the beach once more, the rhythmic crash of the waves lulling us to sleep.

January 30^th after a breakfast cooked by our own hands, we left Chavakkad beach for “Marine World” in Guruvayur. India’s Largest Public Aquarium “Marine world” is home to a over three thousand variety of small to large magnificent aquatic species accommodated in life-sized tanks and overhead aquarium. It also accommodates beautiful birds with whom you are allowed to mix-up, a life time experience. It was a must-see visit with family.

Then we had also a chance to see the the Guruvayur elephant park which is located at Punnathur Kotta, also known as Anakkotta (Elephant Fort), in Thrissur, Kerala. It is home to about fifty beautiful healthy elephants, including those that are offerings to the Guruvayur Temple. They are fed by the Temple Treasures and are kept like deities, not forced to work.

Post Lunch we headed our next destination ALAPZHA. We reached by 7:00pm.In Allapuzha a world famous place for house boats, we stayed in “Coconut Palm home stay” a very beautiful, comfort & well maintained place located in Kumarakom on the bank of a river and backwaters.

Day 8 : Back Water of Kerla. Kumarkom, Alapuzha to Madurai(270km 9-hrs drive) – Cruising the Kerala Backwaters

January 31st offered us a chance to immerse ourselves in the serene beauty of the Kerala backwaters. We started the day with a delectable breakfast arranged by Mr. Rahul, the owner of the Coconut Palm home stay, a culinary experience that showcased the region’s fresh ingredients and unique flavors.

By 10:00 am, we embarked on a backwater motor boat ride with a knowledgeable tourist guide, Mr Bhagat Singh, provided by the KTDC. We explored the Kumarkom and Aymanam villages, two communities whose existence is intrinsically linked to the backwaters of the Vembanad Lake. We admired the numerous luxury and budget resorts that dotted the shoreline, offering tourists a plethora of options for boating, yachting, and fishing.

We were taken to the home of a villager, a testament to the success of the state’s effort for responsible tourism practices. That the village was linked with the hospitality industry and government departments, thereby creating a model for empowerment and development of the people in the area while sustaining eco-friendly tourism. First destination in India to Implement Responsible Tourism practices. The Government of Kerla’s Tourism has been awarded for its path-breaking ‘Responsible Tourism’ project in Kumarakom, attracting large number foreign tourists, especially the US, German, Italian and Britishers.

Our lunch was arranged by KTDC in the Samridhi Hotel, an establishment exclusively run by women, serving local traditional delicacies food at a very affordable price.

After lunch, we rode a houseboat on the beautiful Vembanad Lake, Kerala’s largest lake. The three hours ride was mesmerizing and full of joy for all of us, where we danced to the tunes of our Entertainment Director, Master Krishnadvait Dixit.

By evening 5:00 pm, we left for our next destination, Madurai.

Day 9 : Madurai to Rameshwaram (175Km 3-hrs drive) – Temples of Grandeur

February 1^st, a few hours after leaving Alapuzha we reached Madurai. After a restful night in a nearby hotel, Natraj Lodge, in the early morning we were on our way to the must see Famous Holy Meenakshi Amman Temple for Darshan. We had an opportunity of special darshan and also aarati of Meenakshi Devi courtesy ABVP’s Sh Adhishesha ji.

The Meenakshi Amman Temple is a famous Hindu temple in Madurai and is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi and her consort, Lord Sundareswarar. The temple complex is one of the largest and oldest of its kind in India. The temple has 14 gopurams (gateway towers), with the tallest standing at about 170 feet. The temple’s famous Thousand Pillar Hall is known for its intricately carved pillars and stunning sculptures attracting a large number of foreign tourists, who do not have entry to the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

A short break for lunch and we were on our way to the last destination of this adventurous self driving trip to Rameshwaram. And on the way to Holy Rameshwaram Temple we also got an opportunity to see the Uthirakosamangai, also known as Mangalanatha Swamy temple, is a Shiva temple situated near Ramanathapuram in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. Uthirakosamangai temple is located on an area of about 20 acres. The temple is considered sacred along the lines of Ramanathapuram, Sethu Madhava Theertham and Lakshmana Theertham.The temple is a prominent tourist destination of Ramanathapuram district.

The temple has numerous shrines, with those of Mangalanathar, Mangalambigai and Nataraja being the most prominent. The temple houses a 6 ft (1.8 m) tall ancient maragatha Nataraja idol carved out of emerald, being the one of its kind in the world.

We arrived Pious Shrine of Rameshwaram exactly quarter to seven in the evening and then courtesy the DC of Rameshwaram Simranjeet Singh Kahlon and his PS Ajay we got escorted into the Holy Temple by a protocol officer and had an opportunity to take Snan (pious bath) in 22 Kunds, representing the main 22 Teerthas of Sanatan Dharma and then the Aarati Darshan (Shayan Aarati) of both Kashi Vishweshwar Lingam installed by Ram Bhakta Shri Hanuman ji and then the Pious Jyotirlingam of Shri Rameshwaram, installed by Sita Mata herself.

Rameshwaram, the Holy abode of the Hindu God, Shri Ram (addressed so with all respect & humility) is a virtual paradise for the devout. No Hindu’s journey is complete without a pilgrimage to both Varanasi and Rameswaram for the culmination of his quest for salvation and is hallowed by the epic ‘Ramayana’. Folklore mentions about God Ram’s presence in this land, after his 14-year exile.

Local legend has it that Shri Ram was helped back into Rameswaram and into India by his brother Lakshman and Hanuman along with his band of thousands of monkeys, after finally emerging victorious against the demon – Ravana. They helped build a bridge with rocks from the sea and shores to cross the ‘Sethu canal’ and reach Lanka. Lord Rama is also believed to have sanctified this place by worshipping and glorifying Lord Shiva and hence marks the confluence of Shaivism and Vaishnavism and is thus revered by both Shaivites and Vaishnavites alike and thus there is a strong belief that bathing in the 22 ‘Theerthams’ or natural springs is a step forward in enlightenment. Therefore, Rameswaram has rightly been declared as one of the National Pilgrim Centres in the country.

The Ramanathaswamy temple by itself is a delight for every tourist. With its magnificent, imposing structure, long corridors, aesthetically carved pillars, the temple is adorned with a towering 38-metre ‘Gopuram’. The temple itself was built by rulers since the 12th century with Sethupathy Maravar beginning the construction of the grand Ramanathaswamy temple that boasts of the ‘Third Corridor’, completed by his successor, Maravar – the longest one in Asia with a 197-metre span from East to West and a 133-metre span from South to North, the third largest in the world! It is said that Swamy Vivekananda offered prayers at this temple in 1897. It is also one of the twelve Jyothirlinga temples, where Shiva is worshipped in the form of a Jyotirlingam.

Day 10 : Rameshwaram to Bangalore ( 550 Km 11-hrs drive) – A Final Sunrise, A Fond Farewell

February 2^nd, the sun was just peeking over the horizon when we left Rameshwaram. The golden rays were glistening off the pristine waters where the Bay of Bengal met the Indian Ocean. A short stop at Dhanush Koti and the Ram Sethu early in the morning and a dip in the crystal clear water of Indian Ocean will be a memory long lasting in our entire life.

The move forward was stunning as the drive through the Dhanush Koti was as wonderful as our driver Master Krishnadvait Dixit and so were the challenges we faced, which made our bonds stronger and our memories richer. As we hit the road to Bangalore, the landscapes changed, but our adventurous spirit stayed with us. By the end of our journey, the busy streets of Bangalore welcomed us back, but our hearts were still stuck on the sun-kissed beaches, laughter-filled evening and thrilling nights. The trip ended, but the friendships and memories we made were unforgettable and etched in our minds forever.

Reflections on an Unforgettable Journey

This adventure was more than just a road trip. It was a mix of adventure and pilgrimage of self-discovery, a journey through breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural encounters, and personal growth. From drive-in beaches and dense forests to towering peaks and sacred shrines, we embraced every challenge and cherished every moment.

With our hearts full of memories and spirits rejuvenated, we knew one thing for sure – this was not the end, but the beginning of many more adventures to come. The Malabar sun had painted its brilliance onto our souls, and the whispers of the open road would continue to resonate long after we returned to our familiar lives. The bonds we had forged, the landscapes we had traversed, and the lessons we had learned would remain etched in our memories forever, a testament to the power of friendship, the allure of adventure, and the enduring beauty of India.