Saturday, June 19, 2010

Notes from the Thanjavur Trip


* I remember that the Bruhadeshwara temple had taken my breath away when I saw it for the first time nearly 18 yrs ago. Later, I learnt that the top dome on the tower is a single stone weighing 80 tonnes - the Cholas built a 4km ramp to move that stone to that height. I visited the temple again this weekend, and I must say it's one of the most awe-inspiring structures in this country.
* They should send all the cooks from all the Shanti Sagars in Bangalore to Thanjavur for an idli-sambhar making course.
* It was my first journey on a sleeper bus. Before the bus started moving, the berth looked exactly like those on trains. From the start of the journey, however, dealing with all the haphazard movements due to the bends in the road, the roadhumps, the bad driving, and the torque shifts that accompany gear changes made it one uncomfortable experience.

7 comments:

VictorTango said...

agree and i have always marveled at the technical capabilities and advancement prevalent in those times.
on a side note, i actually found the sleeper buses to be pretty comfortable

Kavs said...

idli-sambhar - and i forgot what i was reading. Sorry D, but such is my love for idli.

Kavs said...

I am sorry to hear about the sleepr bus ride...I took one a few years ago and quite enjoyed gazing at the stars before falling asleep.

Deepak said...

Surprising that everybody loves these buses. And me, who can sleep standing up in the middle of a mela, struggled!

Shreeni said...

D: You went to a temple? And you took a overnight bus ride to do that? Did I read that right?

Deepak said...

@Shreeni: I've realised the follies of my youth and now I'm atoning for it.

Swathi Sambhani aka Chimera said...

I love temples, though 'am a non-believer, for the sole reason of their construction.i haven't been to the tanjore temple but i do remember being awe-struck by the Chidambaram one. wish u posted more pics...