അവസ്ഥാന്തരം

ഇരുളിൻറെ നിലാചിറകുകളിൽ,
രാത്രിയെ പകുത്തു വച്ച്,
വെയിൽക്കാലങ്ങളിലെക്കും

പകലിലെയ്ക്കും,നീ
നിഴൽ  നാടകങ്ങളാടി
നടന്നു മറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ


ഉരുകിയൊലിച്ചതും
 ഉറഞ്ഞുകൂടിയതും
ഓർമയുടെ  ഒരു
മഞ്ഞുതുള്ളി.


തുളുമ്പാതെ
ചിതറാതെ
പൂവിതളുകളിലേക്ക്
ഇറുന്നു  വീണത്‌
ഒരു തേൻ കണം- കൈവിടാതെ
മുറുകെ പിടിച്ച
സ്വപ്നങ്ങളെ പോൽ
മധുരമായ്....


മനസ്സിൽ,
മൗനങ്ങളിൽ
ചേർത്തുവയ്ക്കാനാവാതെ
തിടുക്കപ്പെട്ട്
പുറത്തേയ്ക്ക് കവിഞ്ഞ
ഒരു തേങ്ങലിൽ,
വിട പറയും മുൻപ്
ഞാൻ പതിയെ ചോദിക്കട്ടെ..


പിൻവിളികലോടുള്ള
എൻറെ വിരക്തി,
നിൻറെ  വഴി തടയാതിരുന്നെങ്കിലും,
എൻറെ മുന്നോട്ടുള്ള
വഴികളിൽ
മൂടിയ മഴക്കാറു കാണാൻ
വയ്യാത്ത വിധം,നിൻറെ
കണ്ണുകൾ പാതിരാ  സ്വപ്നങ്ങളിൽ
വല്ലാതെ മുഴുകിയിരുന്നതെന്തേ.....?.

Circular fort

Circular fort(Vattakkottai)

It was in the afternoon of thiruvonam we planned for a small trip to Vattakkottai near Kanayakumari. It is a circular sea fort built on the coast near Kanyakumari, by 'Captain De Lannoy for Marthanda Varma as a defence measure for Nanjil Nadu. .It is located about 6 km to the north-east of Kanyakumari town, in Agasteeswaram taluk.

on the way to Vattakottai fort -greeneries, lakes, ponds & hills

The place is serene and calm without the rush of crowd unlike kanyakumari.The Fort is circular in shape, and a part of it extends into the sea. It is made of granite blocks  There is a huge open courtyard,with a big pond in the centere.  The space around that ends up in huge stone walls of the fort. Which is of 25 feet high .These walls have some mandapas and rooms inside consists of watchtowers, rest rooms and weapon rooms

The walls of the fort

The south end of the fort  leads us to a flight of steps with a ramp for hauling cannons up to the parade ground ,where there is a watch tower and firing point of big cannons

We climbed up those steps and a heavenly  scene was waiting there

A view of the sea is available from the raised parade ground situated atop the Fort

In one side it is arabian sea and other side it is  Bay of Bengal

There was a single tree and here also the lawn was well maintained

There were lot of windmills on the northern side

I never thought this place is so beautiful. Eventhough I have been to Kanyakumari many times

It was a pleasant day day with perfect clouds floating over the clear blue sky

in   the long distance we can see the windmills  dancing in the cool air

wall with  spaces like windows in between

Charu had a busy time running around these sprawling lawns

Anyone who visits Kanyakumari, should not miss this Fort as it is only some 15 min drive from there

History:  The Dutch army srrendered to the Travancore King Marthanda Varma in Colachel war in 1741. The Dutch Army was lead by De Lanny, who was captured by the king. He opted to serve the King rather than getting killed. The King had asked him to train his Travancore Army. He served loyally to the King and the impressed King made him the chief of his Travancore Army. De Lannoy built several forts across the country to check the Foreign invasions. This Vattokottai Fort is one among them, built to check the entry of enemy forces through the sea. 

A visit to Chitharal

Chitharal- A small village located 55km away from Kanyakumari,is famous for its Jain monuments which are preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India .The place is known for its hillocks and ancient Jain Temples. This unnoticed  tourist destination  in Kanyakumari District, is located at a distance of about 7 km from Marthandam, 30 km from Nagercoil, 48 km from Thiruvananthapuram and 45 km from Kanyakumari. Locally this temple is known as ‘Malai Kovil. The place is known for its hillocks with rock out sculptures of Jain Thirthankaras. These temples are of Jain Deities' which were considered to be built in 9th century AD. 

          Vehicles can go upto the foot of the hill. The way to the top is nicely done with steps.The footpath and steps are made of stones.

A two kilometer walk is needed to reach the top where the temple is situated. From there if you see around you can enjoy the real beauty of the nature.

 It will give a bird’s eye view of the Marthandam town and the nearby places. 

The entrance of the temple was made with only three stones without any attachment or fixing

 The way is between two huge rocks, and it is very small and short and is just like a tunnel

carvings reresents 24 theerthankaras

inside which is the idol of 5 headed snake

 There are several carvings and rock-cut sculptures on both the inner and outer sides of the cave wall

In front of the temple there is a pond  surrounded by rocks,with so many fishes...

 Sunny days are not a good choice to reach here. But an evening walk after 4.00pm to this untouched sacred place is a time worth remembering. It is a natural beauty unexplored and one will really wonder how this temple was built on the top of the hill.

History-   Around the period of the decline of Jainism during the rule of the Cholas in the 11th Century the disciples of  Chandragupta Maurya,travelled to this region to spread Jainism and chose the hillock for meditation. Later it was converted into a Hindu temple in 1250A.D and an image of Bhagavathy(Yakshi) was installed