Mamallapuram - Ancient temple arrive and relax on the beach After lively Chennai and the associated stress arrival then I headed to a much quieter place. About 55 km south of Chennai, which is 2 hours by bus away (it takes only about an hour to get out of the Moloch), is the quiet fishing village of Mamallapuram. There is a beautiful, long sandy beach, numerous temples (some of them UNESCO World Heritage Site) and many hotels and restaurants, mainly as a tourist destination with Western group. On the outskirts albeit generated already first resort for payment more willing audience (compared with, for example, North Africa, this is still very cheap), but the town itself is very quiet and friendly. One should just not bother, though, that many Western tourists are traveling with it, given the off-season was not too full.
I stayed in one of the favorite accommodation from backpackers, Lakshmi the hotel directly at one of the two Haupt.Touristenstraßen in kurer distance to the beach, most restaurants and even close to the Seashore Temples. Given the low season the hotel owners are very willing to negotiate, in terms of room and I stay for 250 rupees, ie € 4, - the night. Cheaper would certainly be possible, but if the room is in order, one must not go on extreme's. The favorite saying of the Indian merchant / hotel owners "do not tell anyone what you paid" I hear the next day anyway a few times
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| The five Rathas |
On my first full Mamallapuram day I dedicate myself to the exploration of the historical temple. There are on-site two world heritage sites, temples from the 8th century: the shape of the erosion is a little challenged Seashore Temple and the single from a rock Ranthas 5. The latter are an ensemble of five temples and corresponding animal keepers (Shiva's bull, an elephant, a lion) and attract some of busloads of tourists in what is hardly surprising. I was impressed. Numerous other temples and caves with relief sculptures on the walls lining the hills on the back page of Mamallapuram, also here there's a lot to discover. The whole course I
recorded photographically .
Mamallapuram is also a Bildhauerstätdchen, you hear the beating of the stonemasons when you stroll through the streets. I took so even a small Ganesh figurines tighten by a very nice and enterprising sculptor. The rest of the time I spent relaxing on the beach, swimming in the well-tempered Indian Ocean and feast of tiger prawns and grilled fish, fresh fished from the sea and very tasty.
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| Kamakshi Amman temple (in honor of Parvati) |
Finally, I used my stay in Mamallapuram for a day trip to 66 km (again 2 hours by bus) away Kanchipuram. Kanchipuram is not only the center of Indian Sariproduktion (here, the exquisite handwoven sarees for festivals), it is also one of the seven sacred cities of India. Therefore, one can visit here five major temples. The bus ride is typically Indian, that is dirt cheap (about 30 € cents) uncomfortable, dusty and in the fully packed bus, but you can look out the window and distracted: you see kingfishers and white herons, rice fields, Indian villagers, temples and much more.
Kanchipuram Temples are all worth seeing and make an impression, but I liked the two quiet, more archaeological interest better than the still in full use located greater than three, who were very busy. The Shiva temple dedicated to Sri Ekambaranathar, huge (the site has a total of 12 ha) and built around a sacred mango tree and I am led by a young Brahmin who originally studied engineering, blessed at a Shiva shrine. I will therefore in this temple while some rupees going on, but it was worth the time to have participated. On the Way back, then a bus voltage (if I understood the situation, the rear axle is broken), I share back to me with two Dutch interns an overland Rickshawfahrt to Mamallapuram. This is considerably pleasant strolls as the bus ride, and you can enjoy the scenery as well. Kanchipuram is
photos will do.
Written in a café on the beach promenade of Pondicheri, overlooking the Indian Ocean.
