Ulaa

Buttressed within a 9-acre knoll called ‘Thekkinkadu’ (teak forest), the russet roofs of the Vadakkumnadhan temple against the backdrop of blue-gray skies paints a pretty picture. Among the oldest in Kerala, the temple finds mention in the ‘Brahmanda purana’ crediting Parasurama ( 6th incarnation of Vishnu) as its founder. Hemmed in by a wealth of mural art, masonry and woodcraft, are the shrines of Shiva, Parvati, Rama, Ganesha and Krishna. The massive ‘Koothambalam’ (temple- theatre) within, is believed to have been designed by Perumthachan. Shrouded in beauty, culture and history, the temple complex was restored to its earlier glory, by a commendable effort spanning several years. In recognition of the remarkable conservation efforts by the Devaswom board and the ASI, the Vadukkumnadhan temple was honoured with the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award of Excellence in 2015.

Image by .baby.kurian

Hailed as the ‘Mother of all poorams’, the Arattupuzha pooram is a sensory extravaganza marked by colour, pomp and pageantry. Inscriptions at the Arattupuzha Sree Sastha temple, which forms the venue for the annual celebration dates the festival’s origin to over 1400 years ago, making it the oldest in India. The 7-day long pooram is marked by roaring crowds swaying in rhythm to traditional percussion ensembles helmed by maestros, folk-art performances, fireworks, caparisoned elephants, calls of hawkers and rows of glittering bangles, toys and trinkets, culminating in the majestic spectacle of the ‘Devasangamam’ or the ‘Conclave of Gods’ - an assembly of 60 elephants. The ‘Arattu’ or the ritualistic bath of the deities in the wee hours of dawn at a river nearby is a singular sight, offering the culture lover vignettes of life in a region and community brought together by the spirit of a festival passed on through generations.
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A ten minute drive along the quiet country roads of Kushalnagar in Karnataka’s Kogadu region, would have you stumble upon the tiny village of Bylakuppe, home to the majestic Golden Temple. Established by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche as a 9×9 feet bamboo structure in 1963, the Namdroling Monastery is today, home to over 8,000 monks and among Asia’s largest Tibetan exile settlements. Within the austere stillness of the meditation hall are three gigantic gilded Buddhist statues in the classic seated pose - the Padmasambhava, Amitayus and Shakyamuni. Resonant with gongs, drums and the chants of red-robed monks, prayer sessions at the monastery radiate an aura of palpable energy, quite capable of sending one into a meditative trance of sorts.

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