Travels in Tamil Nadu

Hey mom, we found out this plant is called 'Crown of Thorns'

Shore Temple in the background

Nana and Grandpa at the five Radha's

More of the five Radha's

Arjuna's Penance

Krishna, milking a cow

Sunset, Mahabalipuram

Pondicherry Promenade

After returning to Chennai with Nana and Grandpa, we soon set off again, but this time for travel nearby. We headed south along the coast of Tamil Nadu to the seaside village of Mahabalipuram, famous for its ancient stone carvings. The Shore Temple there, a World Heritage site, dates to the seventh century, AD and the 'five ratha' carvings date to the fifth. We were struck not only by how beautiful the carvings were, but how well they had stood up after 15oo years. After that, we were on to the Union Territory of Pondicherry (now, unfortunately renamed 'Puducherry'). Pondi was formerly a French Territory, and it has a definite colonial feel to it, with wide shady boulevards, and cafes that serve croissants and french bread. There we shopped, walked the lovely seaside promenade, and Leann was able to take Naren and Don out to dinner as an early celebration of their 35th wedding anniversary.