A short pilgrimage!

Since mom had expressed a desire to visit the Kartikeya temple at Palani in Tamilnadu, I'd made arrangements for the immediate family to go on pilgrimage during the Onam break. A spanking new Innova driven by young Sajish, hired for the purpose, made our journey comfortable. We'd set off, soon after Thiruvonam lunch and reached the foothills of the famed temple town by about a half past 9.

Our team consisted of eight members but six of us had gone up the ropeway for the 'darshan' while I'd opted to stay with dad at the hotel. Taking dad beyond that point would have been exhausting and difficult for him as well as causing delay to other pilgrims - and especially when all of them, without exception, would have been on constraints of time! Mom was unhappy at this arrangement as she felt that I was frittering away a chance to pay obeisance to the deity on my maiden visit to the temple town!

What I didn't tell her was that, for me, it was their happiness that was of utmost importance. The sense of 'mission accomplished' was indeed heartening and gave me the thrills!

The total distance of 651 kms (up and down ) through the western ghats took us through well clipped tea gardens, series of spice gardens and some breathtaking sights of gushing waterfalls! It was essentially time well spent!!