THIS BLOG COMPLETED ON 17 OCTOBER 2020.
Irrespective of the date when the map was made and the blogged, It has been published backdated, to maintain historical sequence.
These backdated blogs are written as much to record our travels and places seen all those years in the past, as they are to present a photographic record of the growth of Ajeet and Anuj through those early years.
South India Trip - 1982.
This is a screenshot of our South India trip – 1982. This Screenshot is just to give you an overall picture of the towns and the tourist attractions we visited. But these details cannot be accessed here.
Full details and descriptions about them and the information/write-up about tourist attractions visited by us can be accessed in an "interactive" Google map.
For an Interactive map go here.
To see zoomable photos with captions go to the album link below
https://photos.app.goo.gl/MrC8hPsWTnWWXCZMA .
This link is taken from the main album 1981-5ALBUM.1/81-10/84. TT, Ld format. The link is given below.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1aboART6vV8aTmm29
This link is taken from the main album 1981-5ALBUM.1/81-10/84. TT, Ld format. The link is given below.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1aboART6vV8aTmm29
South India Trips of 1982.
We were posted to Sulur in 1974. Our stay then
was almost for a year and a half.
Those of our relatives wanting to see south
India thought it a good opportunity to visit us, thus achieving twin aims of
visiting us as well as using Sulur as a base to see whatever they wanted to see in
the south.
In that period even though others came to Sulur
and did a south trip, we never did go anywhere.
After doing staff college we were again posted
to Sulur in 1978/79. Some more relatives did a repeat of what had happened in
1974 - 75.
Considering the very young age, initially of Ajeet
and then of Anuj we did not do the trip. Our thinking was to do the trip when
they were of age to remember the places they had seen. Financial constraint was also a major contributing
factor.
When Ajeet and Anuj were 7 and 5 years old, we
felt that at that age they may remember what they saw. So we did
the South India trip in two instalments, one in February and the other in October
1982.
Information given here is totally based on fading memories and on the nothings made in the album. Till the year 1984, our photos were taken by the Agfa Click III box camera. Fixed aperture, fixed shutter speed. It had a chemically treated paper roll that could record 12 photos. After exposure, it had to be ‘developed’ in a ‘dark room’ and ‘negatives’ made. From these negatives, positive black and white photos were made ready. Photos are given here and till early 1984 were shot with this camera.
Due to camera limitations, just 12
photos per role, only limited photos were taken of tourist attractions seen by us. Memories of
attractions that were not photographed have been erased from memory. Today when we see the images of very many attractions located in those places we feel as if we missed out on all those places and have not seen them.
Trips included in this blog.
1. Malampuzha Dam: Just to include
photos of Ajeet and Anuj and that of Malampuzha Dam a picnic to that place has
been included as a separate trip.
Two photos taken there are included with the album containing total of 24 photos taken during the South India Trip.
2. South India Trip. 16 February – 24
February 1982.
During this trip went to Madurai,
Tiruchendur, Rameshwaram, Kanyakumari and Trivandrum. Remembered details about
these places are given in the interactive map.
About the trip I do remember this; Travel from Coimbatore to Madurai was by train. Thereafter we travelled by bus. Bus travel did not agree with Ajeet and he was sick travelling from Madurai to Tiruchendur, Tiruchendur to
Rameshwaram and Rameshwaram to Kanyakumari. Tried changing places on the bus,
sitting by the window etc. Nothing helped. Do not think we knew about the avomine
tablet back then.
By the time we reached Kanyakumari, we
were really worried and wanted to provide as much relief to Ajeet as possible.
So we hired a taxi to travel between Kanyakumari and Trivandrum. It almost
worked. Ajeet was not sick but as it happened just short of Trivandrum he did
feel sick. Much to Ajeet's relief, Trivandrum to Coimbatore journey was done by train.
This link taken from main album 1981-5ALBUM.1/81-10/84. TT, Ld format. Link given below.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1aboART6vV8aTmm29
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1aboART6vV8aTmm29
3. South India Trip. 24 October – 30 October
1982.
Due to what had happened during the last trip, this time we started the trip by
Train, from Coimbatore, went to Madras. Took a taxi and went to Mahabalipuram and at all the places we visited.
Trips included in this blog.
During this
trip went to Mahabalipuram which is
south of Madras, Thirukulkundram and Kanchipuram.
Remembered
details about these places are given in the interactive map.
From there Priti wanted to go to
Pakshi Thirth about which she had heard. Not many people knew about a place
called ‘Pakshi Thirth’. When we explained that two birds are supposed to visit
a temple around 12 noon every day and as per legend they come all the way
from Kashi. Some people did know about it and told us that the name of the
place was Vedagiriswarar Temple, in the town
of Thirukulkundram.
From Mahabalipuram went to Thirukulkundram. A bus Journey. Do not remember
if Ajeet felt sick or not.
From there went to Kanchipuram, which is famous
for Kanchipuram saris.
From there back home to Sulur.
six photos taken at Mahabalipuram are given here.
