Foto-Talks

In the city of bliss!!!
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

 Location : Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Built in the 16th century by the kings of the then Kingdom of Travancore.

On the way to the temple...

Road to East Nada; East Gopuram also seen

I was pretty lucky to visit the place a couple of months back and was amused to see the aesthetics there. As I have not visited any of the wonders of the world in real, this happen to be a real wonder for my eyes.

 

In the road side ...

 

 

No need of any caption or foot notes i think, because these pictures will speak to you. These snaps are made from the shops laid on the roadside.

Though I am not that good in photography, am just trying to share some good moments I had. A special thanks for the shop keeper who allowed me to capture these for which I had to pay my ears. He was such a nonstop talker.

 

Approaching East nada

Standing on these steps, under the hot burning sun, i have spent hours watching the beauty of the sculptures.I was almost fully tanned when my family people found me after the trip.!!!

 

Gopuram

sculpture on the gopuram,east nada

Magnified view of the above picture

Finer are the sculptures, even the minute details of human figures, animals are obvious and cannot be described by a human tongue.. I wonder, what a talented, hard working and patient sculptors were they.

History : Foundation laid in 1566.

              It is a 100 foot, seven -tier gopuram

              Architectural style: Dravidian architecture

NB: It is recorded that 4000 sculptors, 6000 labourers and 100 elephants worked for a period of 6 months to finish the construction of the sreebalippura (the oblong corridor) and was during this period the gopuram was also made.

Deity

Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu(Sree Padmanabha). Sree Padmanabha lies on the five hooded serpent (Anantha) with the right hand on Shiva lingam and Brahma seated on the lotus emerges from the navel of the Lord. Deity being another beautiful depiction of history and creativity .

image taken from here

TALE OF MY TOWN

 My town –VATAKARA was a famous place from the very ancient time itself. Even before the landing of Vasco da Gama Vadakara was having a place in the business map. Old Kurumbranad taluk is replaced as Vadakara taluk.

 The great memories of Thacholi Othenan, Aromal Chekavar and Unniyarcha rest in Kadathanad which is included in the modern Vadakara taluk.Some believed that ’Nadu’ ruled by Kadolkkacha is modified in to the name kadathanadu.But the modern historians says that it get its name in another way that it form a water mode transport (kadathu vazhi nadu) to Kolathunad and Wayanad changed in to Kadathanad.

The place is very famous for kalarippayattu.The northern most bank of korappuzha was later modified into Vadakara.Kadathanad or Vadakara was mentioned in the Malabar Manual prepared by William Logan, the Collector of Malabar during 1875s. Vadakara was an important cape town that time. The town was ruled by a special group of people called Vadakara Vazhunnor.

It was on 1792 British East India Company taken over this land. It was a most important point of business., coconut, coffee were the most important export items.Kottakkal which is important for the martyrdom of Kunjali Marakkar, Thacholi Manikkoth which is the birth place of Thacholi Othenan, fort used by Tippu Sultan, Cheenamveedu which was the resort of Chinese men, Puthupanam, place where ancient civilization persists are some of the historically important spots of Vadakara.Lokanarkkavu temple is the famous temple here.

Northern ballads take origin here and also it is believed that Cherusseri was also born here.

Vadakara has alsovictimed many important incidents during the times of struggle for independence.Kelappaji, C.K.Govindan Nair, Moyyarath Shankaran, P K Kelu were some of the leaders from here. More over Kaumudi teacher who gave all her golden accessories to Gandhiji was a member of Kadathanad kingdom.

Today the place around new bus stand is called Narayana nagar.It was here the 5th state meeting of Guruvayur Satyagraha held. The place is named so in memory of M P Narayanan who was jailed during that time. These are all the historical aspects of my land.

Now the place is on the top of development by the arrival of many schools and hospitals and many huge business enterprises which rose here later on. This is some thing according to my knowledge about my town.