17th February 2012

A quick visit to the 24 hour coffee house where they serve the best coffee and chocolate au pain in India before setting off to Chara.


In the street outside the temple there were chariots mounted on huge wheels for processions at festivals.


The carved figures depicting the lives of the gods painted brightly soar to a pinnacle, and anywhere else they would look gaudy, but in this vibrant sun drenched environment they look magnificent and majestic.


This was a beautiful temple, with these entrances on all points of the compass, with a wall joining them together. People from all over the world were wandering around, gawping at the wonder of it all, jostling with local people carrying baskets of flowers, coconuts and other offerings to the gods.





It was really hot, and as one knows, no footwear is permitted, so we hopped from foot to foot, imbibing the atmosphere, but not wanting to spend too long here, as we were to visit what our driver kept telling us was "an artificial Temple" next.


We realised what he meant, when we went there, as in fact it's not a temple where worship is carried out, but an excavation site. The statues and temple structures that were torn down by Moslem invaders have been painstakingly restored since 1970, when they were excavated. They really were awe inspiring


Savi was particularly impressed by the carved figures on some of the columns which depicted a wide range of Bhartnatyam (Indian classical dance form) dance positions.


We walked all around it, with explanations from the curator, who was knowledgeable and passionate about his work. The soles of our feet were getting well and truly heated from walking on the baking granite. We all thought that we would be able to walk on hot coals after this - a new career path in our retirement?








And Geoff got to be blessed by an elephant in the end!





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Location:Tanjuvar