Stepping back in time - my India visit 2015

I visited India in the halcyon days of pandemic free travel. That was almost six plus years back. Summer on the sub continent. A constant 40 degree Celsius. Humid most times. Heat index was unbearable at times.

Yet the solitude of travel does wonders. Below are some memories of the time I spent on the road - in the southern state of Tamilnadu and its surrounds. Most temple structures made of local clay or brick are 1000 years old.

Fun signage along the way added to the otherwise scorching episode.

Realizing the temple etiquette for India (of forbidden items) I had donned excessively long jeans which in hindsight served to protect my heels as I draped them under, during my walks over hot bricks in the temple complex

This type of nourishment certainly helped maintain my sanity along with cold treats

Guess you do not need much to share with another human

11 feet tall Nandi or Bull guards the door to the Gangaikonda Cholapuram complex of temples in Tanjore

I ventured into a former French colony called Puducherry, along the coast to take in some unique architecture. A few foreign students still visit for seeking something that they cannot find in the west. Who knows what that might be.

French are long gone and now replaced by today's capitalists including the Colonel from Kentucky USA

common flower arrangement in front of local homes in Pondicherry (now Puducherry)

The orb in Auroville - Matrimandir - a meditation spot established by a French woman who became an ascetic

This structure was still being constructed during my visit after which it was completed in 2008.

My travels were made possible by Indian Rail

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