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About Author – Chittra M

chittra

Juggling work, travel and food. Quit my job, took a break, traveled the world and back to work woman. Architecture, History, Heritage, Wildlife, Nature, National Parks, Photography, Food and Coffee, gives a high.

masalaboxtravel

masalaboxtravel
Waking up early morning to temple hop and listen t Waking up early morning to temple hop and listen to the temple bells ringing and taking in the fragrance of fresh flowers, incense, sandal wood and kumkum is an altogether different feeling ❤️ This one is Narasinga Perumal temple a little away from Madurai. During the reign of Pandya kingdom, they were efficient with the rock cut temples and so most of the temples in and around Madurai are rock cut. This one too is cut or drilled a cave into what is called "Yaanai Malai" (elephant hill). It is one uniform huge hill which resembles an elephant sleeping and hence gets its name. This temple was revered by everyone, even during my Chettinadu visit. Said it is such a powerful divine temple and I cannot deny that aura.. Narasinga meaning Narasimhar . . . . #narasimha #vishnutemple #lordvishnu #hindugods #hinduism #templephotography #templesofindia #templearchitecture #templevisit #maduraitemple #maduraiphotography #madurai #indianarchitecture #pandya #incredibleindia #templesofindia #indiatravel #tamilnadu #tamizh #solotraveller
The love stories from Indian Hindu Mythology are p The love stories from Indian Hindu Mythology are plenty. And am always a sucker for such stories. To fight wars and swoon the love ❤️ Madurai Meenakshi Sundhareshwar love story is no less. Did you know it took three births for them to unite 🙂 If you know story of Sati, Parvati jumps into the pyre after Dakshan disrespects Her husband Siva. Ever since then Siva remains without His wife. She is then born in Kanya Kumari, but her purpose of birth is different and they are not able to unite. It takes Her another birth to unite with Her love. What not to love in these beautiful stories 😃 . . . . . #maduraitemple #maduraimeenakshitemple #maduraiphotography #madurai #lovestory #lovestories #hinduism #hindugods #hindumythology #indianarchitecture #indianmythology #templephotography #templesofindia #templearchitecture #incredibleindia #indiatravel #travelblogger
Writing about Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple 😃 Writing about Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple 😃 and it is never ending. The stories are just too many to write. There is story of Meenakshi Amman is born, marriage of Meenakshi Amman and Sundhareshwar (Siva), the discovery of Siva temple, different kings of Madurai expanding the temple, invasion by Delhi Sultanate, the Golden lotus tank story, so many stories! Forget about sculptures and paintings and the many shrines, just talking about these stories takes days. Such is the history. Have you been here? What would you like to read in the blog? . . . . #maduraiphotography #madurai #maduraimeenakshitemple #meenakshiammantemple #meenakshitemple #maduraitemple #templesofindia #templephotography #temple #templearchitecture #templevisit #heritageofindia #heritage #incredibleindia #indiatravel #solowomantraveler #tamilnadu #tamillove
Cos Tamil Nadu State highways have the best roads. Cos Tamil Nadu State highways have the best roads. And this year there has been so much rain that it is a beautiful green. Unfortunately Tamil Nadu has handful of rivers originating from here and it is usually dependent on rivers flowing through it from other states. But this year Varuna bhagawan (the rain God) has blessed with ample rains. So much that all tanks are brimming and streams are gushing. It is such a pleasant sight to see crops in full green, and happy faces. . . . . . #tamilfood #tamil #tamilnadu #tamilnadutourism #tamilnaduphotography #tamilnadudiaries #tn #tamilnaduhighways #roadtrip #roadtripping #solotraveller #femalesolotraveler #travelgram #chennaiblogger #chennai
"Take my picture too, I want to show my kids that "Take my picture too, I want to show my kids that I have customers who like my paruthi paal and take photos of it" 😃 One of the dishes I couldn't find in Madurai was paruthi paal. Sold mostly by push cart sellers, they arrive in the late evening or early morning when the whole sale business markets buzz and people stop for a steaming cup of paruthi paal. It means cotton seed milk. And yes, cotton seeds are soaked overnight and ground to extract milk and cooked along with Jaggery, add to it a hint of dry ginger n elaichi. It makes a nice health drink. I was casually talking to the security guard of the resort tht am not able to find paruthi paal and he exclaimed, a lady sells it right opposite the gate from 5am to 8am. And I promptly woke up to try. Early morning walkers, auto drivers and people who were heading to work were already around her. When I had my share I was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting something like coconut milk. But this one was like that of health mix powder cooked in milk and coconut added. Makes a breakfast in itself. And as I took photos she was super proud 😃 Got to know she had set it up just few months back and her new found entrepreneurship was empowering.. She was proud of her earnings and so was I 😊 She asked me to take a pic with her pot of paruthi paal and later we sent it to her WhatsApp to send it to her kids and set an example.. Now that was a good start to the morning wasn't it 😍 She sells paruthi paal right opposite Hotel Heritage Madurai, Kochadai.. . . . . #healthdrink #healthdrinks #paruthipaal #cottonseedmilk #cottonseed #uniquedrink #nutritionaldrink #nutritionfacts #womenempowerment #womemempoweringwomen #womanphotography #womaninbusiness #womenentrepreneurs #madurai #maduraifood
This time traveling through Chettinadu I had a cab This time traveling through Chettinadu I had a cab driver who was super excited to see me taking video and hundred odd photos. At some point he was like, "why are you not taking any pictures of yourself!" And the coy me was like eeeeeee.. from then on any new place we would go, he would take mobile from my hand and say, "you go and stand there ma." ❤️ And so now I have plenty of pics of myself from Chettinadu. And every photo pose is in full length, waist sized, landscape and portrait 😃 Also notice this heavy beautiful sturdy hundred years old swing and two crystal clear Belgium cut mirrors with doors behind me.. . . . . . #chettinad #chettinadhouse #chettinadpalace #oldhouses #heritage #heritageofindia #selflove #loveforyourself #chettinadu #tamizha #tamilnadu #tamilponnu #womantravel #girlswhotravel #femalesolotraveler #tamilgirl #tamilnadutourism
Tamil Nadu is pretty this way. Colorful temples ar Tamil Nadu is pretty this way. Colorful temples around the corner, all temples flanked with temple tank in the front from which water is used for the temple, lot of sculptures, huge God statues in the many shrines.. This one here is Pillayarpatti for Lord Ganesha. The main deity is carved out of a cave, and hence called rock cut temple.. . . . . #rockcuttemple #cavetemple #hinduism #hindutemple #templesofindia #temple #tamilnadu #tamizha #tamillove #incredibleindia #indiatravel #tamilponnu #templephotography #architecture #indianarchitecture #storiesofindia
The pretty colorful design tiles of Chettiyar hous The pretty colorful design tiles of Chettiyar houses. Famously known as Aathangudi tiles, these are once again gaining popularity for their designs and health benefits. Though now it is not done in the most traditional way, the smooth finish, the paint used and the sand used apparently gives a cooling effect much better than the vitrified tiles. Whatever be the reason, these pretty ones should definitely be part of the houses 😍😍 . . . . #chettinad #aathanguditiles #aathangudi #tiles #chettinadtiles #tile #tiledesign #tilesdesign #tilefloor #tilestyle #tilefloors #tilelove #housesofinstagram #chettinadpalace #chettinadhouse #tamilnadu #tamizhan #tamillove #housedesign
Do you remember my bathtub bloopers? Of how I had Do you remember my bathtub bloopers? Of how I had no idea of bath bombs or bubble bath and I used to just randomly pour shampoo to create the soapy feel. Well I finally managed to have time to create my bubble bath. But guess what. It's so tough to stay alive in this sink death trap dude! I have new found respect for the bathtub influencers who can hold wine in one hand, book in another and manage to click a sexy picture.. while I was clinging on to dear life so as to avoid sinking 🤪🤪 Reasons why I fail as an influencer 😋 . . . . #bathtubphotoshoot #bathtubshoot #bathtubinfluencer #bathtub #bathtubgoals #bathtubselfie #bathtime #selfcare #selflove #selfworth #instafam #bathbombs #bubblebath #bubblebathtime
Popping in to wish you all a very happy New Year 😘😘 I wish you get lots of love, be loved, find more loved ones and for all the bad times 2020 gave you, get healed and be compensated double of it with happiness.. warm hugs 🤗 My resolution is to care only about me 😋 what's yours? . . . . #newyear #newyear2021 #2021 #2021goals #newyearsresolution #selflove #selflovejourney #selfcare #newyearnewme #instafam #travelphotography #chettinad #chettinadhouse #housesofinstagram #palace #chettinadpalace
This solo travel I did at the end of the year has This solo travel I did at the end of the year has brought back all my mojo. Towards the end of the year I was terrified that I might slip back into depression. I lost friends, I was/am struggling with body image issues, and the pressure to get married and stuff.. I stopped meeting my friends, stopped hanging out.. Had a panic attack that made me realise depression might always be a part of life and I can only learn to handle triggers better. Randomly last week I thought enough is enough let me go somewhere. I was looking at Ooty, Yercaud, hotel with views and frankly for a moment I thought, that is a bad idea, what if I jump off! I decided to do easily accessible cities.. And I decided to go solo. Maybe I just needed time to self reflect, maybe I needed to feel the kindness of strangers, maybe fresh air was all that was needed. My face says it all. This year and every year's motto - Be kind to everyone you meet, all of us are fighting different battles.. . . . . #selflove #selflovejourney #newyear #kindness #kindnessmatters #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #loveforyourself #bekind #bangaloreblogger #lifeisbeautiful #solotravel #solotraveller
This goes on my wall and not on an expiring story This goes on my wall and not on an expiring story ❤️ The shitty months that these have been, am so grateful to be reminded of my values. To be loved and to feel loved is the greatest feeling.. Thank you Pradnya Kulkarni for being there 😘😘 For taking the extra effort to write and decorate this beautiful note.. You made my 2020 much better 😁 Love you too.. @musttravelmore . . . #friendshipgoals #handwrittenletters #letters #girlfriends #girlswhotravel #girlbuddies
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