Bhubaneswar - Puri - Konark Via Chennai

Finally this year too, could make end of the year travel and make Amma's wish come true. Four years after wedding, went to meet Chechi and family at Chennai. Thanks to delay in booking and no direct fights are reasonable price, our booking was via Chennai, technically six of us where in three coaches and Amma had taken the upper birth in two tire AC. As we reached Chennai on 24th morning, she fell giddy twice in station, and was taken to the railway Apollo Hospital, where she was diagnosed with low pressure. She held tight her plants for chechi and insisted she would go to meet them and is fine. 

After keeping luggage in a nearby hotel (which was changed, as the one booked was not up to the mark) we reached chechi's house in two Auto's. Their garden was amazing, with variety vegetables - on the terrace. Otherwise hot Chennai, this was the only place that was cold. Back to room, we just took our luggages and left to the airport in the metro, where Neil left his back back in the security check in, but ran to get it, which helped us click some pics in the station as we missed the train. 

The testing, was at it's heights, when the flight reached Orissa, at 10 , and the Oyo booked homestay, was said to be closed for past couple of months :-( As the location was not very far, Thankfully an alternate one was booked, and the driver agreed to carry all of us with our luggage's in the car to the Tribo hotel, which we struggled to find the location.

Most of us had become fans of Naveen Patnaik, but being there, and knowing his family background, we did feel, that Orissa could have progressed much more, and there is lot of hype around him as well. Interesting fact was, there were lot of movie advertisements in Chennai, especially an upcoming movie of Vijay - even a whole train was painted with it's poster, but no posters of any movies in Odissa. Yes  there were placard of the upcoming Hockey world cup being played there in January. 

Next day, 25th morning, our driver, arranged by Amit - Babuni,  came and took us to Nandakannan - Zoo which was crowded like Thrissur Pooram. White Tiger being the speciality there, enroute went to Lingaraj temple - I was asleep inside.

 Dhauli was very crowded, we decided to drop by another day. Decided to skip Khandagiri. Reached hotel at Puri - which was just an average with partial view to the ocean. We had ride on the camel, and played in water for sometime. Hotel arranged a person, who would take us through the temple next day morning. 

On 26th we started to the temple at 5 am - and the person took good care of amma, told about the temple, and gave us a good Dharshan, explaining. Showing us Balram, Subdhra and Jagannath and how it's made of wood and changed every decade. He also arranged for amazing temple prasadam.

There are many significance to this temple like the flag flowing up is on the opposite direction to wind, no birds flow above that or sit there, the sound of ocean waves is not heard inside the temple.

 Afternoon we left for Konarak temple - and that day,  lights were off being Monday, but the architecture was amazing. 

Chandrabhaga beach was beautiful, but we did not have time to be there.  There was CM visit, and roads were diverted. We got beautiful flowers, Thanks to Rajesh

Though we had planned to go to Chilika, Dolfin side, Alarnath temple on 27th- we were back to Dhauli, visiting the Shiva temple and the Buddhist stupa - it is belived that it was here Ashoka turned to Buddhisama, seeing the river water turn red. 

Multiple & Sidhi temple was amazing. 

Then Neil wanted to do Parasailing, but for that we had to reach in the morning, Rajesh got down at Konarak, but because of the crowd could not go inside. The day had started with me wanting to visit Shankaracharya's Gowardhana Mutt - belonging to Rigveda. But because of the crowd on the road, could not finish it as we spend much of the time in traffic jam. While returning, Rajesh said - 'Let's convert our disappointment's into appointments.'

As we were returning on the 28th morning towards airport, visiting Ram temple was amazing, as it was Neil's birthday too. 

Flight was delayed, so we could move around viewing the beautiful paintings at the airport.

Though there were plans to book a room near Central station to keep the luggage expecting that we will need this only from 3/4 PM to 7 PM. Virtually 3-4 hours. Or we would buy locks for our bags if we have the option to keep them in the Central station, nothing was needed. We reached Chennai central station only after 5 pm. Reservations for the train was not confirmed, until we got into the train 6 of us had 3 sleeper, which was upgraded to 5 in the middle of the night. 

Finally as we returned Amma with Thara and Neil, got down at Chalakudy and we at Edapilly. 

Amit who helped coordinate the travel gave this beautiful gift. 10 Avataram painted on leaves which got framed instantly. 

Though Puri was not as expected, it left a mark on my mind and kept thinking and reading about it.