Around My Little Life

Sunday, 12 October 2025

I Read With His Lens, Saw With My Eyes, Exploring: 1.2

Visiting Kanyakumari marked the beginning of something new for me. Since long-distance travel wasn’t always easy, I started seeking out places that were close to one another or closer to our home in India. This naturally led me to explore many temples and sites around the Kanyakumari region and further moving to Tamil Nadu, which still continues

Year 2009 - Thiruvalluvar Statue (Stone Sculpture of Tamil poet & Philosopher)

Year 2021 - Kanya Kumari

Year 2021 - On the way to Thiruvananthapuram from Kanya Kumari

Tamil Nadu, in particular, holds a very special place in my heart. Though I’ve only visited Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu in South India, the charm of Tamil Nadu’s villages is unmatched. There’s something about the mornings there, the calm, the rhythm of daily life that carries a unique vibe.

To convince my parents to travel with me, I began by telling Amma about temples in different places, some of which she already knew. To my surprise, she started telling me about temples I had never even heard of. What began as my attempt to inspire her turned into a beautiful exchange, which became a source of mutual inspiration. Achan would often joke, “I’m just following you two!” Later, our little gang of inspiration grew with our daughter becoming an active member of the group.

While Amma and Achan were fond of temples, I was drawn more to the architecture, the details, the energy, the vibe each place carried. My husband, on the other hand, is a choosy traveler, preferring selected experiences over spontaneous stops. I Believe he had become a choosy traveler because of his vast number of trips he had during his colleague days. But whether it was temple visits, carefully chosen destinations, or unexpected travels, I found joy in every journey.

In the early days, most of our travels were in a white Ambassador taxi. Sitting in the back seat, feeling the breeze, the freshness of the air, the earthy scent that rose from the sands after a rain, several tea stops, the hot snacks from small roadside shops, each of these simple pleasures added to the charm of our travels.

The Drive & The Captain - Year 2011

While exploring places near Thiruvananthapuram, we decided to visit Kumara Kovil and Padmanabhapuram Palace. As of today, we've visited Padmanabhapuram Palace only once, but we've been to the Kumara Kovil temple several times.

I had shared these pictures earlier in this post: https://aroundmylittlelife.blogspot.com/2015/08/in-and-around-kumara-kovil.html. In addition to the pictures, in the link, few more posted here.

Mom & Daughter time - Kumara Kovil - Year 2011

It felt like every nook and corner had a small temple or an idol tucked away, quietly watching over the village. The scent of fresh flowers in the air added a divine, almost sacred quality to the atmosphere. It wasn't just travel it was an experience that touched something deeper.

Nearby Kumara Kovil - Year 2011

On our way back home to Thiruvananthapuram, we made a quick stop near a banana plantation. As it began to drizzle and heavier rain was expected, we decided to head straight home.

By God’s grace, I was able to visit again in 2022, 2023, and just a few months ago. And I still wish to go again again.

Kumara Kovil - Year 2022

Again in 2025 - More to go

To be continued:

Saturday, 11 October 2025

I Read With His Lens, Saw With My Eyes, Exploring: 1.1

One of the first books that truly captivated me was Temples of South India by Salim Pushpanath. It wasn’t just a book—it was a visual experience that opened my eyes to the rich world of culture and architecture that surrounded me.

All the pictures spoke thousand stories without any words.

Growing up, most of my reading was rooted in short stories, novels and travel based true stories which was available in my school library. Travelogues was limited to Newspaper tabloids or occasional magazines available in Dubai.

Information about India was distant. The internet was virtually non-existent, and social media was not even a concept during our school days. College days, year 2002, was beginning of social media in UAE.

Reading life changed after marriage, especially with visits to Kottayam and eventually living in Kerala for about 20 – 25 days in a year. It was during one of these visits, my sight stumbled upon Temples of South India. That moment marked the beginning of a journey, one that was both outward and inward.

The second book that now holds a special place in my heart is South India: The Land of Beginnings, from the same author.

Through these books, I am still exploring South India. With each visit to these destinations, I connect more deeply not only with the land, but with the stories, and the unseen layers Salim Pushpanath so beautifully captured.

Tamil Nadu — Kanyakumari Devi Temple was one of the very first temples I visited in Tamil Nadu.

My amma often tells me that I was taken there when I was barely a year old. I had only her stories to picture it, until I visited the place and temple again myself.

Years later, in 2009, I returned this time with my parents, my husband, and my 8-month-old daughter. It was wonderful! The experience, excitement & emotions. The fascinating view, strong winds, the restless seas, peace, sunrise and sunsets. While standing there, my mind was wondering with the thought of how people once crossed these wild waters in earlier times.

For someone from Thiruvananthapuram, Kanyakumari never felt like a different state. It felt like a continuation of home, something once part of us.

Interestingly, I had visited Kanyakumari temple before discovering the book that later became so special to me. Reading Temples of South India by Salim Pushpanath brought back vivid memories of that 2009 visit.

Kanyakumari is a place we’ve returned to many times—but that trip in 2009 was truly special. I've shared a glimpse of it in my earlier post:🔗 Kanyakumari – 2009 Visit