Around My Little Life: 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 the 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 are 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.