This was our plan for the sem one hols, a trip to Kuloor, Karnataka to Mookambika, which is believed to be the abode of Devi Saraswati. It was all preplanned and the tickets where already booked, from Chennai Central to Mangalore on the Mangalore Mail.
We set out from our house at Kalpakkam, fully packed on 17th of December, late as usual 
. It had started to drizzle. We hoped that the rains wouldn’t dampen our travelling spirits. We missed the bus, we expected to board and had to move on to the East Coast Road, from where we boarded an already crowded Pondy-Chennai bus. Luckily, the drizzling had given way to heavier rains with strong winds after we got shelter inside the bus.
We got down at Tiruvanmyur. Lucky again to be received by a non-raining weather there. We soon boarded a A1 moffusil bus to Chennai Central. Our train was sheduled for departure at 8.15 pm. After a short snack from the Station stalls, I purchased the Dec edition Reader’s Digest, to keep boredom away. We boarded the train and waited it to depart. Soon it was dinner time and later found ourselves sleeping.
Most of the RD was done with and I had nothing else to do, other than watch the scenic beauty of Keralian Landscapes. It was a pity that I did not have a camera to share the photos with you. Sorry about that. By about mid day we entered Karnataka and reached our destination. From there we went to a hotel and had our lunch. To tell the truth, I did not like the food at all. Just crap. 
Neither did my mom like it. Later we boarded a bus to Uduppi, to visit the Sree Krishna Temple there. People here in Karnataka have a higher living status I felt, cause, everything was costly here. It cost Rs. 99 for the three of us. After about what I felt as 2 hours, we reached Uduppi. Never knew how time flew off! Just dozed off.
After darshanam at the Uduppi Temple, we left for Kuloor, Mookambika. It was already 4.30pm. The bus travel from Uduppi to Kuloor was long and boring. About 3 hours it took to reach there. And the route was not proper. I found my hair dull and dusty as soon as I reached there. We were lucky to quickly find an accomodation very close to the temple. After a quick shower, we went to the temple, and had darshanam. It was a very nice experience. After that we had our dinner from the temple and also got the ‘Kashayam’ from the pujari, a special recipe of medicines. Mmmm….. Stirs your senses, indeed.
Later we got back to our room, for a good nights sleep.
Next morning my dad, woke me up, early in the morning. 4.30 am. Too early huh!. Well, the temple opened at 5 and my parents wanted to visit at the first puja. Well, even I was interested. After a not so quick shower, we went to the temple to see people already qued up. Not many, but countable number. Soon we had our darshanam and got the prasadam. The atmosphere had a chill of refreshment. I loved it! The temple and it’s surroundings, the birds, the temple elephant, the bovine and everything. Soul stirring experience.
Later after the sun rose we went to the nearby river Souparnika. Actually, devotees, have a dip here and then go to the temple. Watch out, there are lots of Monkeys out there on the banks of this river. I washed my feet and face in the river water, and even collected pebbles, and stood there watching the teeny weeny fishes, play in the river water.
I was quite reluctant to visit the river, as I felt like getting back into my bed, but I loved the visit, and now did not want to get back! After breakfast and a small purchase of souverniers and cloth items, we packed up and left. Our return train was booked at 4.30pm the same day.
A nice getaway during your holidays. And I was happy I went because, I used up my time observing and relishing something, rather than sit idle at home, when it poured cats and dogs back at Tamil Nadu. Sheer coincidence? When I was back, it seemed as if there wasn’t any damn heavy rain here!
The gods had in a way blessed us, without dampening my spirits with a pretty good travel experience.
