I Named Harambe - Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda Bigfoot Journeys 2026-09-21 | I Named Harambe - Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda
Beautiful Lake Como 4K 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2022-12-20 | Spent a wonderful afternoon and evening in beautiful Lake Como, Italy as part of a Gate 1 Tour. We walked around town, enjoyed some espresso and gelato, and to a sunset panoramic cruise around the lake.
Magnificent Stresa Italy 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2022-12-13 | On our way from Zermatt to Lake Como we stopped off in Stresa, Italy for some shopping and lunch.
A Beautiful Autumn Walk in Zermatt Switzerland 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2022-11-30 | After enjoying our time up at the Gornergrat we decided to have lunch and walk around the Swiss Alpine Village of Zermatt. Unfortunately it was raining off and on but the hike was well worth it.
Enjoying the Gornergrat Lookout in the Snow 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2022-11-28 | In the morning in Zermatt we boarded Europe's highest open-air cogwheel railway, a technical masterpiece of 19th century engineering that made its maiden trip in 1898. We were in awe by the wondrous picture-postcard autumn scenery as the train slowly winds over dramatic bridges, galleries, and a peek at the Matterhorn. The train ascends from Zermatt at an altitude of 5,200 ft to Gornergrat at 10,134 feet. When we reached the Gornergrat Station it was snowing and the clouds were accumulating. On a clear day we should have been able to spot the iconic Matterhorn along with 29 peaks over 4,000 meters. We made the best of our time there yet is was not great conditions for photography. As the snow turned into rain we took the train down to the first stop and got off to hike for a while.
Cogwheel Train Ride Up to the Gornergrat Switzerland 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2022-11-20 | Boarding Europe's highest cogwheel railway, a technical masterpeice of 19th century engineering that made its maiden trip 1898. We were in awe of the wondrous picture postcard scenery as the train slowly winds over dramatic bridges, valleys, mountains, tunnels, and forests of Swiss stone pine past rocky ravines and mountain lakes. 80% chance of rain today and watch as we notice visibility decrease as we ascend up to the Gornagrat Station at just over 10,100 feet,
Discovering Zermatt Switzerland 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2022-11-10 | After we visited the Chillon Castle we drove in the Alps toward the Swiss Alpine Village of Zermatt. We took a cogwheel railway up to the carless glitzy ski village of Zermatt. We checked into our hotel and had a walk through the village. Unfortunately it was rainy, cloudy, and cold. We did not get a glimpse of the Matterhorn buy hopefully tomorrow the sun will shine. It is forecast for an 80% chance of precipitation tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
Chillon Castle 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2022-11-05 | Traveling along the shores of the pristine Lake Geneva we arrive at the Chillon Castle (the Château de Chillon), a 13th century architectural jewel with its maze of courtyards, towers and halls filed with period furniture and priceless art. Built by the Jose of Savoy, this romantic castle with its rich history and spooky dungeons was immortalized by Lord Byron, Victor Hugo, and many famous artists.
Lakeside Montreux, Switzerland 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2022-11-02 | Stopping off lakeside in beautiful Montreux briefly while the rain stopped. We were able to see the Freddie Mercury statue and walked along the lake before we visited the Chillon Castle. Part of our Swiss Alpine Jewels Tour with Gate 1 Travel.
Enjoying the Picturesque City of Lausanne, Switzerland Bigfoot Journeys 2022-11-01 | After spending the day sampling chocolates, fondue, and wine in the beautiful countryside near Lausanne we decided to take the Metro down to the Ouchy District lakeside Lausanne for Crepe dinner and a sunset. We briefly stopped at the Olympic Museum Park.
A Delightful Stroll Through Gruyère, Switzerland 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2022-10-29 | On Day 1 of our Swiss Alpine Jewels Tours with Gate 1 Travel. After visiting the world famous Maison Cailler Chocolates in the village of Broc we visited the medieval hillside charming village of Gruyère, famous for its cheese worldwide. We enjoyed strolling the small medieval village on its cobbled streets, beautifully preserved buildings, and the towering castle: The Château de Gruyères. We stopped for a cheese fondue lunch in this lovely setting before setting off for a wine tasting session. @Bigfoot Journeys
Maison Cailler Chocolates Switzerland 2022 Bigfoot Journeys 2022-10-23 | After a scenic orientation drive around Lausanne, we arrived at the renowned Maison Cailler in the village of Broc where chocolate production has been raised to an art form. The irresistible scent of freshly made chocolate follows you on your walk through the manufacturing process, ending with tastings of this delectable treat. We wound up taking some chocolates too!
Amazon Adenture at Wasai Maldonado Lodge and Lake Sandoval in Puerto Maldonado, Peru 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2022-02-27 | Early morning departure from the Wasai Tambopata Lodge down river by motorized boat to the Wasai Maldonado Lodge in Puerto Maldonado. After lunch we traveled on the Madre de Dios River to the access trail to Lago Sandoval, a beautiful typical rainforest lake. We observed som caiman and many species of tropical birds, including the stink bird, hoatzins. The next morning we departed to the Puerto Maldonado airport and visited a nearby butterfly sanctuary while we waited for out flight to Lima.
Our Peruvian Amazon Adventure 2010 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2022-02-27 | In 2010 we visited the Tambopata Amazon region of Peru in search of macaws. Flew into Puerto Maldonado from Cusco. We stowed our luggage at the Wasai Lodge Maldonado and took a long 4.5 hour motorboat ride to the Wasai Tambopata Lodge. We got in late as our boat stopped to help some Canadians whose boat had broke down. Early risers the next day for a boat ride in the dark to a macaw clay lick blind to wait for the sun to rise. Awesome experience
Inti Raymi Festival 2010 Part 2 Saqsaywaman Bigfoot Journeys 2021-09-03 | Inti Raymi Festival 2010 at Saqsaywaman. Before we left the Plaza de Armas in Cusco we ate a brief lunch and boarded a bus for the Saqsaywaman site for stage 3 of the Inti Raymi Festival. We were pleased to see that we had front row seats at the fortress. We thoroughly enjoyed the colorful music, dancing, and rituals played out before our eyes. What an awesome experience!
Inti Raymi Festival 2010 Part 1 Bigfoot Journeys 2021-08-28 | Part 1 of our experience of attending the Inti Raymi Festival in Cusco, Peru in 2010. This first part has us at Qorikancha, or Temple of the Sun in the back part of the Church of Santo Domingo. The procession then goes on to Haukayapata, or the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. Awesome experience!
Magical Machu Picchu Sunrise 2010 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-08-24 | Enjoying a Magical Machu Picchu Sunrise on our 2nd day visit in 2010. We got up super early to get the first bus up from Aguas Calientes. We were able to catch the first rays of sunlight peeking over the mountains. We enjoyed a long hike up to the Inti Punku Pass "the Sun Gate" at 9,000 feet. Here is the official entrance to the Machu Picchu complex approaching from the Inca Trail. Awesome visit early as not so crowded as yesterday.
Simply Spectacular Machu Picchu 2010 Bigfoot Journeys 2021-07-21 | Video of our Simply Spectacular Machu Picchu travels from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu in 2010.
Exploring Perus Sacred Valley: Moray, Maras, and Chinchero Bigfoot Journeys 2021-07-18 | Today I woke up with a touch of food poisoning but of to Explore Peru's Sacred Valley: Moray, Maras, and Chinchero. I must push on.
Exploring the Sacred Valley of Peru 2010 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-07-15 | Video of our trip to Peru in 2010 and our travels through the Sacred Valley of Peru from Cusco to Ollantaytambo. Visiting the market of Pisac along the way.
Cuzco, Peru 2010 Bigfoot Journeys 2021-07-07 | Exploring Cuzco, Peru in June 2010 as Inti Raymi is approaching. We visited the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin, the Convent of Santo Domingo, Plaza de Armas, Coricancha, Sacsayhauman, and Tambo Machay.
In Memory of Harambe A Loving Gorilla Family at Play Bigfoot Journeys 2021-05-28 | In Memory of Harambe A Loving Gorila Family at Play. Today we celebrated the life of Harambe by visiting the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville Texas. Here we are enjoying watching a loving gorilla family at play.
A Gorilla Mothers Tender Love Bigfoot Journeys 2021-05-28 | An observation today at the Gladys Porter Zoo. Today marks the 5 year anniversary of Harambe's death. May he rest in Peace.
Earthday 2021- Backyard Bird Fiesta 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-05-05 | Earthday 2021! We were having our AC unit replaced so we enjoyed the activities taken place outside in our own backyard. We were visited by Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, bleu grosbeak, cardinals, green jays, indigo buntings, hummingbirds, orioles, and many other birds. Thank you birds for occupying my time as I enjoyed photographing their fiesta!
Spring Migrating Bird Fallout at South Padre Island 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-04-26 | Witnessed a Spring Migrating Bird "Fallout" at South Padre Island. A fallout occurs when approaching birds migrating northward encounter a strong cold front flying across the Gulf of Mexico. Tired and hungry they landed in droves in the Rio Grande Valley region of Texas to rest and refuel for the journey northward. This video was shot at the South Padre Island Convention Center. Aweseome event witnessing ther Spring Migrating Bird "Fallout" at South Padre Island
Spiritual Southern India Sunset Cruise and Farewell Dinner in Cochin 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-04-14 | Our 16th and final day of our Gate 1 Travel Spiritual Southern India tour comes to a conclusion The Taj Malabar Resort & Spa hosted our Sunset Cruise and Farewell Dinner this evening. We enjoyed tea and snacks with friends before a sunset boat cruise on a traditional bamboo rice boat and dinner. This Taj Malabar Resort location is fantastic. Just a fraction of the photos and video we took on the relaxing sunset boat cruise in Kochi, India. Here is a some footage time lapse of our stunning relaxing sunset cruise in Kochi, India. After the sunset boat cruise the Taj Hotel invited us to participate in a traditional Indian lighting of the lamp. Pretty cool! Before dinner we attended a Classical Indian Dance Demonstration! Now I'm hungry! Finishing up our awesome candle lit dinner in Kochi, India. The hotel singer sang the perfect song to cap the evening and concluding our Spiritual Southern India Tour. I just happen to have my gopro in my pocket. Poor low light quality but the sound was good. Thank you India for once again sharing your light! We will return someday...we have a 10 year visa. Time to return to the hotel and pack. America...here we come.
Mattancherry Dutch Palace, the Old Quarter, and the Paradesi Synagogue 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-04-08 | Day 15 and the last day of our Spiritual Southern India Tour. Late tonite we leave for the airport for the long 24 hour journey home. This morning we visited the Mattancherry Palace. It is a Portuguese palace popularly known as the Dutch Palace, in Mattancherry, Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala which features Kerala murals depicting portraits and exhibits of the Rajas of Kochi. The Palace was built and gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the king of Cochin around 1555. The palace was built to appease the king after they plundered a temple nearby. The landing of Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer at Kappad in 1498 was welcomed by the Kochi rulers. They were given exclusive right to construct factories. The Portuguese repulsed the repeated attacks of the Zamorians and the Cochin Rajas practically became vassals of the Portuguese. The influence of the Portuguese were supplanted by the Dutch and they took over Mattancherry in 1663. Subsequently, the area was taken over by Hyder Ali and still later by the British East India Company. We enjoyed viewing the portrait gallery of the Cochin Rajas and is notable for some of the best mythological murals in India, which are in the best traditions of Hindu temple art. Sorry, photos inside were not allowed. The blue building in one photo is a Hindu Temple on the same grounds. Next we visited the Paradesi Synagogue. It is the oldest active[ synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations, located in Kochi, Kerala, in South India.(The first synagogue in India was built in the 4th century in Kodungallur (Cranganore) when the Jews had a mercantile role in the South Indian region (now called Kerala) along the Malabar coast. When the community moved to Kochi in the 14th century, it built a new synagogue there. Constructed in 1568, it is one of seven synagogues of the Malabar Yehudan or Yehudan Mappila people or Cochin Jewish community in the Kingdom of Cochin. Paradesi is a word used in several Indian languages, and the literal meaning of the term is "foreigners", applied to the synagogue because it was built by Sephardic or Spanish-speaking Jews, some of them from families exiled in Aleppo, Safed and other West Asian localities. In 1568, Paradesi Jews constructed the Paradesi Synagogue adjacent to Mattancherry Palace, Cochin, now part of the Indian city of Ernakulam, on land given to them by the Raja of Kochi. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to take photos inside the synagogue. We removed our shoes and marveled at the interior. I included some photos of the interior we bought from the caretaker. The Paradesi Synagogue has the Scrolls of the Law, several gold crowns received as gifts, many Belgian glass chandeliers, and a brass-railed pulpit. It houses the 10th-century copper plates of privileges given to Joseph Rabban, the earliest known Cochin Jew. These two plates were inscribed in Tamil by the ruler of the Malabar Coast. we especial marveled at the floor tiles. The floor of the synagogue is composed of hundreds of Chinese, 18th-century, hand-painted porcelain tiles, each of which is unique. A hand-knotted oriental rug was a gift from Haile Selassie, the last Ethiopian emperor. The synagogue has an 18th-century clock tower, which, along with other parts of the complex, was restored between 1998 and 1999 under the direction of the World Monuments Fund. Next we explored and shopped in Jew Town. “Jew Town” may sound like a real estate agent’s neighborhood re-branding mistake, but it is–or was–a real place. In the Indian city of Kochi, it earned its clumsy but fitting nickname in the Middle Ages, when the Hindu Raja there offered Jews independent rule over a small area “for as long as the world and moon exist.” The Jews of Kochi enjoyed good relations with Hindu rulers for most of their history there, and a number of Sephardic, or Paradesi Jews, came to Kochi to escape persecution in Portugal and Spain. They joined the oldest south Indian Jewish population, the Malabari Jews. Jew Town, a narrow street between Mattancherry Palace and the Synagogue, is a favorite haunt of antique hunters. Some of the most pristine and historically relevant artifacts of our times have been unearthed by our visitors here. Sylvia was able to score a beautiful Kasmir Shawl and I got a deal on a traditional Indian shirt for tonite's farewell dinner and a beautiful bronze Buddha statue. Here are some photos from our beautiful Hotel Forte Kochi before we head out for dinner. I was able to get some more photos of the "Holy Spring" Jewish ritual bath right outside out room. Here are some last minute photos of our wonderful guide, Radhika and our travel companions as we gather to go to our farewell dinner. Notice my cool new Indian shirt. My brother from another mother, Ajoy and I are sporting matching shirts! Ready to enjoy our last evening in Southern India.
Colorful Kathakali Dance Performance 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-04-07 | This evening we were treated to a colorful Kathakali Dance Performance. We arrived early to see the performers applying their makeup. Kathakali is a major form of classical Indian dance. It is a "story play" genre of art, but one distinguished by the elaborately colorful make-up, costumes and face masks that the traditionally male actor-dancers wear. Kathakali is a Hindu performance art in the Malayalam-speaking southwestern region of India (Kerala) and in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. Kathakalī's roots are unclear. The fully developed style of Kathakalī originated around the 17th century, but its roots are in the temple and folk arts (such as Kutiyattam and religious drama of the southwestern Indian peninsula), which are traceable to at least the 1st millennium CE. I'm a little freaked out! Wow! A Kathakali performance, like all classical dance arts of India, synthesizes music, vocal performers, choreography and hand and facial gestures together to express ideas. However, Kathakali differs in that it also incorporates movements from ancient Indian martial arts and athletic traditions of South India. I cannot believe how they can control their eye movements. Kathakalī also differs in that the structure and details of its art form developed in the courts and theatres of Hindu principalities, unlike other classical Indian dances which primarily developed in Hindu temples and monastic schools. The traditional themes of the Kathakalī are folk mythologies, religious legends and spiritual ideas from the Hindu epics and the Puranas. Elements and aspects of Kathakalī can be found in ancient Sanskrit texts such as the Natya Shastra. The Kathakali is attributed to sage Bharata, and its first complete compilation is dated to between 200 BCE and 200 CE, but estimates vary between 500 BCE and 500 CE. Kathakalī emerged as a distinct genre of performance art during the 16th and 17th centuries in a coastal population of south India that spoke Malayalam (now Kerala). The roots of Kathakalī, states expert Mahinder Singh, are more ancient and some 1500 years old. I'm not sure I will be able to sleep tonite!
Kerala Home Hosted South Indian Cooking Demonstration & Lunch 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-04-01 | Day 14 of our Spiritual Southern India tour has been quite busy. Wow! boy are we hungry. At lunch we were treated to a South Indian cuisine demonstration in the home of Nimmy, a professional cooking instructor. For more than twenty years, and her stockbroker husband Paul, offer food and hospitality to foreign guests. Nimmy and Paul belong to traditional Syrian Christian community in Kerala. In keeping with the tradition of their families they enjoy having guests and serving good food. Nimmy conducts cookery classes. She teaches guests the nuances of traditional Kerala recipes. She is also a food consultant to writers, chefs and magazines. Articles by her and about her have appeared in magazines and newspapers. The food was awesome! Nimmy's daughter in law gave us a tour of the family home. I was particularly interested in the collection of ancient palm leaf documents. In India, they used palm leaves before paper was discovered. We really enjoyed this experience of This South Indian Cooking demonstration in Kochi with Nimmy.
Centuries Old Chinese Fishing Nets of Kochi, Kerala - India 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-03-23 | This is a video of our visit to the Chinese Fishing nets in Kochi at the water's edge. The Chinese fishing nets are a type of stationary lift net in India. They are fishing nets that are fixed land installations for fishing. Huge mechanical contrivances hold out horizontal nets of 20 meters or more across. Each structure is at least 10 meters high and comprises a cantilever with an outstretched net suspended over the sea and large stones suspended from ropes as counterweights at the other end. We got to operate the net and had much fun and giggles. Here is a video clip of us being put to work by the local fishermen operating the Chinese Fishing nets. Chinese fishing nets are a type of stationary lift net in India. They are fishing nets that are fixed land installations for fishing. Huge mechanical contrivances hold out horizontal nets of 20 meters or more across. Each structure is at least 10 meters high and comprises a cantilever with an outstretched net suspended over the sea and large stones suspended from ropes as counterweights at the other end. Each installation is operated by a team of up to six fishermen. While such nets are used throughout coastal southern China and Indochina, in India they are mostly found in the Indian cities of Kochi and Kollam. This way of fishing is unusual in India and almost unique to the area, as it was introduced by Chinese explorers who landed there in the 14th century. Indeed, one interpretation of the city name Kochi is ‘co-chin', meaning ‘like China. We enjoyed walking down the jetty viewing the fish venders and fishermen auctioning off their catch. Very colorful place. We didn't actually catch these fish in OUR net.
Exploring the Churches of Kochi Bigfoot Journeys 2021-03-18 | Day 14 of our Spiritual Southern India tour finds us out and about exploring the city of Kochi. First we visit the Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica at Fort Kochi, one of the nine Basilicas in Kerala. Counted as one of the heritage edifices of Kerala, this church is one of the finest and most impressive churches in India. It is a place of devotion as well as a center of historic significance, endowed with architectural and artistic grandeur and colors of the gothic style. The basilica serves as the Cathedral church of the Diocese of Cochin. It was built originally by the Portuguese and elevated to a Cathedral by Pope Paul IV in 1558, was spared by the Dutch conquerors who destroyed many Catholic buildings. Later the British demolished the structure and João Gomes Ferreira commissioned a new building in 1887. Consecrated in 1905, Santa Cruz was proclaimed a Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1984. Here are some photos of the inside of the Basilica. Time for some prayer and reflection. The interesting history of Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica begins with the arrival of Portuguese missionaries along with the second Portuguese fleet under Pedro Álvares Cabral on 24 December 1500. The King Unni Goda Varma Tirumulpadu of Kingdom of Cochin received them very warmly. This caused the Zamorin of Calicut to declare war against Kingdom of Cochin. But the Portuguese army under Commander Dom Afonso de Albuquerque who reached Cochin in 1503, defeated the enemies of the King of Cochin and in return he gave them permission to build a fort in Kochi. In 1505, Dom Francisco de Almeida the first Portuguese Viceroy got permission from the Kochi Raja to build a church edifice using stones and mortar which was unheard of at that time as the local prejudices were against such a structure for any purpose other than a royal palace or a temple. In 1558, Pope Paul IV, raised the Santa Cruz Church to the status of a Cathedral. The Dutch who conquered Cochin in 1663, destroyed all Catholic buildings. Only the St. Francis Church and the Cathedral escaped this fate. The Dutch made the cathedral their arms storehouse. Later it fell into the hands of the British who demolished it when they took over Cochin in 1795. About 100 years later, Bishop João Gomes Ferreira (1887–1897), a missionary and the Bishop of Cochin, took initiative to re-erect the Cathedral and commenced the plan of its construction. But it was the next Bishop, Mateus de Oliveira Xavier (1897–1908) who completed the edifice. Considering its antiquity, artistic dignity and historical importance, Pope John Paul II through a special Decree "Constat Sane Templum Sanctae Cruci" of 23 August 1984, raised the Santa Cruz Cathedral to the status of Basilica.Next we walked to the Saint Francis Church, in Fort Kochi. It was originally built in 1503, one of the oldest European churches in India, and has great historical significance as a mute witness to the European colonial struggle in the subcontinent. The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama died in Kochi in 1524 when he was on his third visit to India. His body was originally buried in this church, but after fourteen years his remains were removed to Lisbon. The gravestone of Vasco da Gama can still be seen here. It is on the ground at the southern side. The gravestones of other Portuguese are on the northern sidewall and the Dutch on the southern wall. A cenotaph in memory of the residents of Kochi who fell in the World War I was erected in 1920. A little history.....Vasco da Gama, who discovered the sea route from Europe to India, landed at Kappad near Kozhikode (Calicut) in 1498. He was followed by Pedro Álvares Cabral and Afonso de Albuquerque. They built Fort Emmanuel at the Fort Kochi Beach with permission from the Raja of Cochin. Within the fort, they built a church with a wooden structure, which was dedicated to St. Bartholomew. The neighborhood is now known as Fort Kochi. Francisco de Almeida, the Portuguese viceroy, was allowed, in 1506, by the Raja of Cochin to reconstruct wooden buildings in stone and masonry. The wooden church was rebuilt, presumably by the Franciscan friars, with bricks and mortar and a tiled roof was erected. In 1516, the new church was completed and it was dedicated to St. Anthony. The Franciscans retained control over the church till the Dutch captured Kochi in 1663. While the Portuguese were Roman Catholics, the Dutch were Protestants. They demolished all the churches except this one. They reconditioned it and converted it into a government church. In 1795, the British captured Kochi from the Dutch but they allowed the latter to retain the church. In 1804, the Dutch voluntarily handed over the church to the Anglican Communion. It was placed under the Ecclesiastical Department of the Government of India. It is believed that the Anglicans changed the name of the patron saint to St. Francis.
Scenic Backwater Houseboat Cruise in Kerala 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-03-14 | We continued coming down the green mountains of tea and rubber plantations of Kerala and made it to Alleppey and the back waters of Kerala just in time for lunch. Alleppey is often referred to as the ‘Venice of the East’, Alleppey (now Alappuzha) is what you call, a true paradise. Adorned with picture perfect landscape, sparkling rivers, lush greenery, and beautiful freshwater lake., Alleppey is home to immense natural beauty. We arrived at a dock and boarded a special houseboat. Aboard the boat we were served a delicious lunch Here are some photos of some of the houseboats similar to the one we cruised in today. The Kerala backwaters are a network of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (known as the Malabar Coast) of Kerala state in southern India, as well as interconnected canals, rivers, and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 kilometres (560 mi) of waterways, and sometimes compared to American bayous.[3] The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both man made and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range. Amazing to watch fisherman and others utilize the backwaters as a vital travel route. Some more photos of boats in the Kerala Backwaters observed on our cruise in a houseboat. The National Waterway 3 from Kollam to Kottapuram, covers a distance of 127 miles and runs almost parallel to the coastline of southern Kerala facilitating both cargo movement and backwater tourism. One of the interconnected lakes covers 785 square miles! These beautiful backwaters have a unique ecosystem: freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea. A barrage has been built near Thanneermukkom, so salt water from the sea is prevented from entering the deep interior, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes. Many unique species of aquatic life including crabs, frogs and mudskippers, water birds such as terns, kingfishers, darters and cormorants, and animals such as otters and turtles live in and alongside the backwaters. Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants, and bushes grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape. Here are some photos of the birds and plants as seen from our boat. Here are some photos of the people who live on the Backwaters and their daily life. Kerala was ranked as one of the "50 destinations of a lifetime" by National Geographic Traveler in a special collectors' issue released just before the turn of the millennium, with houseboat and backwater resort tourism in Alappuzha seen as leading factors. Kerala backwaters have been used for centuries by the local people for transportation, fishing and agriculture. The region has supported the efforts of the local people to earn a livelihood. In more recent times, agricultural efforts have been strengthened with the reclamation of some backwater lands for rice growing, particularly in the Kuttanad area. Boat-making has been a traditional craft, so has been the core industry. Here are some photos of the interior of our beautiful houseboat. The kettuvallams or Kerala houseboats in the backwaters are one of the prominent tourist attractions in Kerala. The kettuvallams were traditionally used as grain barges, to transport the rice harvested in the fertile fields alongside the backwaters. Thatched roof covers over wooden hulls, 100 feet in length, providing protected from the elements. At some point in time, the boats were used as living quarters by the royalty. Converted to accommodate tourists, the houseboats have become floating cottages having a sleeping area, with western-style toilets, a dining area and a sit out on the deck. Served an awesome lunch on board by an incredible chef. After cajoling the boat captain, who I think didn't speak English, he finally let me take the wheel. Now I'm ecstatic! Here's what happens when you try to try to steer a large Kerala Backwater Houseboat after one too many Kingfisher beer! After my mishap driving the Houseboat, I think the captain was in a hurry to get us back to shore and back on our bus.
Pattumala Matha Church and Pilgrim Shrine 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-03-04 | Day 13 of our Spiritual Southern India tour finds us traveling from Periyar National Park to Kochi, India in Kerala state. Along the way we passed rubber plantations and beautiful tea plantations. Just had to have the bus pull over for closer examination of the tea. Beautiful. Driving from Periyar National Park toward Kochi we stopped at the roadside to take in some photos of the tea fields . Beautiful drive! We learned that a tea bush is from one to one-and-a-half meters in height. Tea leaves are mostly hand-plucked every 5 to 10 days. It takes 70 to 90 days for the plucked shoot (usually the top two leaves and a bud) to redevelop. An experienced person can pluck up to 30 kg of tea leaves a day. Four kilos of tea leaves are needed to make one kilo of black tea. One tea plant can produce 70 kg of black tea a year. An acre in a tea plantation in India yields from 450 kg to 680 kg. The Britishers introduced the tradition of tea plantations in India. Tea bushes have the potential to grow to tree heights though they are kept neatly trimmed to waist height to make it feasible for the plantation workers to pluck tealeaves without much difficulty. On or travel through Kerala 🇮🇳we came a beautiful church in the middle of rolling hills of tea. The Pattumala Matha Church is a Roman Catholic Latin Rite pilgrim shrine in Kerala dedicated to Our Lady of Good Health. It is served by the Congregation of the Missionary Brothers of Saint Francis of Assisi.🙏 The church is built entirely of granite, complete with a grotto, and situated in the midst of tea plantations. The name Pattumala means "hill draped in silk." Beautiful location.
Enjoyable Ancient Traditional Indian Dancing Bigfoot Journeys 2021-03-02 | After a long day of exploring Periyar National Park and Thekkady, at the Elephant Court Resor,t we were treated to an Ancient Traditional Indian Dancing Demonstration before our traditional South Indian Dinner. What a nice day this has been!
Spottting Wildlife at Periyar National Park on a Scenic Boat Ride 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-03-02 | Day 12 of our Spiritual Southern India finds us this afternoon at a huge lake in Periyar National Park for a boat ride. Hoping to spot more wildlife I gladly gave up my camera to the National Park's Naturalist who is an avid photographer. He looked like he was having lots of fun with my camera. I pleaded with him to shoot some video while he was at it as Im more of a videographer. I sure is beautiful here! The sanctuary surrounding Periyar Lake, a reservoir measuring 10 square miles which was formed when the Mullaperiyar Dam was erected in 1895. The reservoir and the Periyar River meander around the contours of the wooded hills, providing a permanent source of water for the local wildlife. We should be able to see lots of wildlife! The Naturalist who "borrowed" my camera told me that there are 266 species of birds that can be seen in the park, including migrants. Endemic birds include the Malabar grey hornbill, Nilgiri wood pigeon, blue-winged parakeet, Nilgiri flycatcher, crimson-backed sunbird, and white-bellied blue flycatcher. Other birds include the black baza, spot-bellied eagle-owl, Nilgiri thrush, little spiderhunter, rufous-bellied hawk-eagle, brahminy kite, great hornbill, Sri Lanka frogmouth, Oriental darter, and black-necked stork. He took lots of photos of birds and I just wished he would have labeled them for me. LOL I especially like the photos of the baby birds in the nest. There are 35 species of mammals recorded in the Periyar National Park, including many threatened species. It is an important tiger and elephant reserve. It is valuable for Asian elephant and also for a few of white tigers found here. Other mammals include the gaur, sambar, wild pig, Indian giant squirrel, Travancore flying squirrel, jungle cat, sloth bear, Nilgiri tahr, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Salim Ali's fruit bat, stripe-necked mongoose, and Nilgiri marten. I observed some wild dogs attacking Sambar Deer in the water. They slam their hooves down to make a huge splash to scare of the vicious dogs. I got some pretty awesome video of this action. The Sambar deer is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent, South China, and Southeast Asia that is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List since 2008. Populations have declined substantially due to severe hunting, insurgency, and industrial exploitation of habitat. I witnessed them being hunted by Dhole wild dogs. It was interesting to see them huddle in the water and splash their hooves as the dogs approached. They even go on the offensive to drive the dogs off. Here are some photos of wild pigs spotted in Periyar National Park during our boat ride. Here are some shots of guar of Periyar National Park. The gaur is the largest wild bovid alive today. It has a head-and-body length of 8 ft 2 inches to 10 ft 10 inches, a 28 to 41 inches long tail, and is 4 ft 8 inches to 7 ft 3 inches high at the shoulder, averaging about 5 ft 6 inches in females and 6 ft 2 inches in males. At the top of its muscular hump just behind its shoulder, an average adult male is just under 6 ft 7 inches tall. Body weight can range widely from 970 to 2,200 pounds in adult females and 1,296 to 3,307 pounds in adult males. The Dhole wild dogs are one of the India’s top predators, found in Central Indian Highlands and the Western and Eastern Ghats. Indian wild dogs occurs in most of South Indian forest, Central India and also in the north east states of India. Dhole is a highly social animal and listed as endangered, fewer than 2,500 adults left in the wild. They are quite camouflaged and difficult against the natural backdrop. I was able to get awesome video of them hunting the sambar deer.
Scenic Jeep Ride in Southern India to Ottakathalamedu View Point Bigfoot Journeys 2021-02-28 | After our morning hike in Periyar National Park we took a scenic jeep ride in Southern India high into the Cardamon Hills to the village of Ottakathalamedu, at about 4,300 feet for a scenic view of the town of Thekkady below. We passed spice plantations, villages, churches, and waterfalls. Beautiful area. I could live here! On our scening jeep ride in the hills above Thekkady we came across a couple of beautiful churches. While cruising away in our jeeps we stopped in on a nice waterfall that was not as impressive as usual as it is usually a large waterfall, especially during the monsoon season. I just had to take my GoPro to the edge. I hopped to the other side of the creek to get a look at the waterfall from the other side.
Wonderful Nature Walk in Periyar National Park 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-02-25 | Day 12 of our Spiritual Southern India tour finds up before the sunrise for nature walk within the Periyar National Park. The park is covered with moist deciduous forest, tropical evergreen forest and eucalyptus groves. There are more than 171 species of grasses in the park. 140 species of orchids can be found here. Elephant grass covers most of the grasslands in this park. Top flora to spot in this part are teak, mangoes, rosewood, jamun, jacarandas, terminalias, tamarind, royal ponciana, bamboos, Indian conifer, plumerias, sacred fig, sandalwood, medicinal gloriosa lily and others. Many medicinal plants are found in this region. Beautiful and lots of oxygen here at 4,000 feet above sea level. On our beautiful morning hike in Periyar National Park we spotted a few animals, some of which ran off before I could capture their image. The first photo is of a gaur, who spotted me first I think. Gaur is the largest extant bovine. It is native to South and Southeast Asia and has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 1986. The global population has been estimated at maximum 21,000 mature individuals by 2016. It declined by more than 70% during the last three generations, and is extinct in Sri Lanka and probably also in Bangladesh. It is the largest species among the wild cattle, reaching a shoulder height of up to 87 inches. We eventually saw a few small herds of them. I also enjoyed the woodpecker. The deer and squirrels ran off too fast!
Kalaripayattu Martial Arts Show Bigfoot Journeys 2021-02-20 | In the evening we attended a cool Kalarlpayattu Martial Arts Show at the Kadathanadan Kalari Centre and Dinner. Kalaripayattu is an Indian martial art and fighting style that originated in modern-day Kerala. Kalaripayattu is held in high regard due by martial artists due to its long-standing history within Indian martial arts. It is believed to be the oldest surviving martial art in India. It also is considered to be among the oldest martial arts still in existence, with its origin in the martial arts timeline dating back to at least the 3rd century BCE. It is a holistic art, with meditation, medicine, and massage as part of the practice together with the body movements and weapons training. The movements and exercises of kalaripayattu are from Yoga and the medical treatments are from Ayurveda, both ancient Vedic sciences from the early civilizations of India. It was banned by the British Raj during the colonial period, but has experienced a great revival since independence, a feat only made possible by the lineage holders who practiced in secret to maintain the knowledge of this powerful and culturally important art. Awesome evening!
Ravis Spice Plantation Near Periyar National Park 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-02-20 | we toured a Spice Plantation near Periyar national Park and learned about how to grow the many spices of India. I learned that long ago, the black pepper vine was indigenous only to South India, and it became highly prized for medicinal, spiritual and culinary uses. It could also be stored for extended periods of time. As the king of spices, black pepper was dubbed “black gold” and propelled the spice trade forward. No longer the world’s largest producer of black pepper, Kerala’s climate is still optimal for plant growth. A twin monsoon washes the vine and pollinates the plants, encouraging high-quality fruit to flourish. In fact, legend has it that when da Gama requested to take a vine home with him, the king granted him permission, knowing that without the Kerala climate, the vine would be useless in Portugal.The tenacious vines wind their way up to the sky in search for sunlight, climbing whichever tree or stick that gets them closer. The best of the fruits are typically at great heights, and thus, black pepper is only harvested by men in Kerala.
Traveling Madurai to Thekkady Near Periyar National Park Bigfoot Journeys 2021-02-14 | Day 11 of our Spiritual Southern India tour finds us traveling from the ancient city of Madurai to Thekkady Near Periyar National Park, India toward the mountain jungles of Periyar National Park. Along the way we stopped to see a local family make bricks by hand. I think I enjoyed photographing their little girl more. Watching the parents fill molds with mud, turn over to dry in the sun, and eventually dried by a fire in a warehouse. Hard work!! On our way to Periyar National Park a family on a motor bike wanted to say goodbye. I was able to sit up front as I took in the rich farmland and natural beauty. Along the way I spotted a Christian Indian wedding ceremony in progress. Along the way to Periyar National Park we stopped at a nice well-deserved pit-stop. Beautiful place and awesome coffee. As we neared beginning our ascent in elevation toward the jungles of Periyar National Park we spotted some trees in the distance filled with giant fruit bats hanging upside down. Also, we spotted locals bathing and washing clothes in the river. As we came near to our destination I spotted some monkeys on the side of the road as we began our climb up the mountain on winding roads with our trusty driver sounding his horn around every turn. A little sample of our journey up the mountains into the Periyar National Park area. Fun ride! Finally made it to the Elephant Court Resort in the jungle near Periyar National Park. What an awesome welcome. A lei of flowers, the traditional "bindi" on the forehead, a moist towel, and a welcome drink. Time for lunch! Time for lunch and check out the Elephant Court Resort. Nice place. At the Elephant Court there were a troop of monkeys on our roof. We were already warned not to leave our room door open as they will invade our place and steal items. They also warned us not to make eye contact as it makes them aggressive. I'm not sure my camera lens counts. Damn, I love monkeys! Got lots of video of course
Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace & Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-02-10 | In Madurai we visited the Thirumalai Nayak Palace. Sylvia and I took a selfie in front of the throne. The Thirumalai Nayak Palace is a 17th-century palace erected in 1636 AD by King Tirumala Nayaka, a king of Madurai's Nayaka dynasty who ruled Madurai from 1623–59. his Palace is a classic fusion of Dravidian and Rajput styles. The building, which can be seen today, was the main Palace, in which the king lived. The original Palace Complex was four times bigger than the present structure. In its heyday, the palace was considered to be one of the wonders of the South. The Nayaks of Madurai ruled this Kingdom from 1545 until the 1740s and Thirumalai Nayak (1623-1659) was one of their greatest kings notable for various buildings in and around Madurai. During the 17th centuries the Madurai Kingdom had Portuguese, Dutch and other Europeans as traders, missionaries and visiting travelers. We had two opportunities to visit the Meenakshi Temple. The Temple closed right when we first arrived so we had to go back later in the afternoon. No photography or cell phones were allowed inside so at least we took some photos outside. The Meenakshi Amman Temple is the heart of the ancient city of Madurai. A religious and mythological symbol dating back 2,500 years, the temple’s 14 towers are each covered in thousands of colorful stone figures depicting animals, gods and demons. The line to get inside was really long but moved quite swiftly. The Madurai Meenakshi temple was built by King Kulasekara Pandya (1190-1216 CE). He built the main Portions of the three-storyed gopura at the entrance of Sundareswarar Shrine and the central portion of the Goddess Meenakshi Shrine are some of the earliest surviving parts of the temple. This place was immense and the artwork inside was breathtaking. Had an opportunity to observe the Hindu worship practices. We also had time to shop in the old bazaar outside.
Early Morning Vanakkam Walking Tour of Madurai Bigfoot Journeys 2021-02-07 | Day 10 of our Spiritual Southern India tour finds us wandering around the streets of Madurai before sunrise. Here we observed Hindu women performing Kolam. Kolam is a form of drawing that is drawn by using rice flour, chalk, chalk powder or rock powder, often using naturally or synthetically colored powders. A Kolam is a geometrical line drawing composed of curved loops, drawn around a grid pattern of dots. In South India and Sri Lanka, it is widely practiced by female Hindu family members in front of their houses. Kolams are thought to bring prosperity to homes. Every morning in Tamil Nadu, millions of women draw kolams on the ground with white rice flour. Through the day, the drawings get walked on, washed out in the rain, or blown around in the wind; new ones are made the next day. Every morning before sunrise, the floor of the house, or wherever the Kolam may be drawn, is cleaned with water and the muddy floor swept well to create an even surface. The kolams are generally drawn while the surface is still damp so the design will hold better. I'm pretty tired but it was fascinating. In Madurai, we eventually wandered into markets and strange narrow streets. The streets began to come alive with activity, sounds, and smells. We had an opportunity to sample a variety of foods. Sylvia had a "Bindi" placed on her forehead and a flower arrangement placed in her hair. I went for coffee and doughnuts. The fruit, vegetable, spice market was amazing! I was in banana heaven! We had fun hanging with the friendly locals. One woman bought me a traditional hot drink which was made of many spices and pepper. It really helped clear up any congestion I had.
Bharatanatyam Classical Indian Dance School in Madurai Bigfoot Journeys 2021-02-03 | Made it to Madurai and went off to an Indian Bharatanatyam Classical Dance class. The school aims at providing training to all, irrespective of age, religion, caste, creed and the like. It also believes that the beauty of Bharatam does not belong to any religion as a few might think. On the contrary it is accessible to people from all walks of life who have the passion to dance. The instructor was amazing and her students were adorable. Kalai Koodam - Academy of performing Arts is an institution which currently imparts training in Bharatanatyam, semi-classical and folk dances of south India, was started in September 2009. The school aims at providing training to all, irrespective of age, religion, caste, creed and the like. It also believes that the beauty of Bharatam does not belong to any religion as a few might think. On the contrary it is accessible to people from all walks of life who have the passion to dance. Learning Bharatanatyam imparts 10 valuable qualities in a dancer. Great presentation.
Chittinads Majestic Palaces, Flavor, and Culture 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-01-31 | On Day 9 of our Spiritual Southern India has us traveling from Thanjavur to Madurai experiencing Chittinad culture on the way. On the way we stopped to visit a hand made tile family owned workshop. It's obviously hard work. They make custom designs as customers sent photo ideas to their cell phones. Amazing! Along the way on our travels we spotted this old ancient abandoned rock fort. We then stopped at Chettinad to observe old palaces. Chettinad is the home of the Nattukottai Chettiars, a prosperous banking and business community and for high hierarchy, non-Brahmin Vallambar feudal community with an aristocrat title Nattar - Ambalam. It is also known for its local cuisine, architecture, and religious temples. The word "Chettiar" refers to the social caste of mercantile bankers. The Chettiars are known to be traders in salt and spices and this is reflected in the Chettinad cuisine. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, many residents of Chettinad emigrated to South and Southeast Asia, particularly Ceylon and Burma. By 2010, only 74 villages remained of the original 96,organized in clusters spread over a territory of 1,550 km2 in the Districts of Sivagangai and Pudukottai in the State of Tamil Nadu. It finds itself in the UNESCO nomination for palatial house sites of historic and cultural value. THE stately mansions of Nattukottai Chettiars of the Chettinad region in Tamil Nadu are a statement of the affluence the mercantile community enjoyed at the height of its prosperity during the British Raj. The palatial houses, with the built-up area measuring anywhere between 20,000 square feet and 70,000 sq. ft, were mostly built in the period between the early 1800s and the 1940s. The Chettiars had set up flourishing trading and business enterprises in Burma (now Myanmar), Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (including Java and Sumatra), Vietnam, Mauritius and the Philippines. After touring the Palaces of Chettinad we stopped in to a palace resort for a fantastic authentic Chettinad lunch at the Bangla. Chettinad cuisine offers a variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. We were waited on hand and foot at a beautiful outdoor patio. Our food was served in portions on a banana leaf. Too cool! Chettinad cuisine is perhaps the most renowned fare in the Tamil Nadu repertoire. It uses a variety of spices and the dishes are made with fresh ground masalas. Chettiars also use a variety of sun-dried meats and salted vegetables, reflecting the dry environment of the region. Most of the dishes are eaten with rice and rice based accompaniments. The Chettiars, through their mercantile contacts with Burma, learnt to prepare a type of rice pudding made with sticky red rice. One is lucky to eat like a Chettiar, they say in South India. They say it because a Chettiar table is a groaning board but also because the cuisine is uncommonly subtle and aromatic, a heritage of Chettiar participation in the centuries-old spice trade, the global import and export of pungent seeds and fruits and barks from places like Cochin and Penang, the Banda Islands, Arab ports in the Straits of Hormuz. To the coconut and rice and legumes that are staples of South Indian cooking they added Tellicherry pepper, Ceylon cardamom, Indonesian nutmeg, Madagascar cloves and blue ginger, or galangal, from Laos and Vietnam. Yummy. After lunch we were invited to tour the home of the owner. A photo of her husband caught my eye as he look quite similar to my father. They did mention that the Chettiars used to bring back chandeliers and mirrors from Belgium. Hmmmmmmmm. Amazing wood carvings around the door and interesting tiles on the floor.
Maratha Palace 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-01-29 | We end Day 8 of our Spiritual Southern India Tour at the Thanjavur Royal Palace, also called the Thanjavur Maratha Palace Complex or simply Aranmana. It is a sprawling heritage site that lies just north of the Brihadeeswarar Temple. It is part of the Vijayanagar Fort area, with a history dating back to the Thanjavur Nayaks that reigned over the region between the 16th and 17th centuries. Built by Vijaya Raghava Nayak, the palace fell into the hands of rival Chokkanatha Nayak after he defeated the last Nayak king. Shortly afterwards, however, his ally and Maratha general Venkoji took the kingdom of Thanjavur for himself, beginning Maratha rule in the region. From 1674 to 1855, the ruling Bhonsle family called this palace home. In 1799, when most of the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom fell to the hands of the British, the Bhonsle royal family remained in the palace and controlled its premises and the Vijayanagar Fort. Even after the final Maratha king of Thanjavur, Shivaji, died in 1855, the family held on to the palace even though they had no more power. Today, the Thanjavur Royal Palace consists of a Royal Palace Museum and the Sadar Mahal Palace, along with a Durbar Hall, the queen’s courtyard and the Raja Serfoji Memorial Hall. There is also the Saraswati Mahal Library and a small bell tower. While some parts of the palace still retain their intricate colors and beauty, many parts are in ruins.
Sri Ranganathswamy Temple 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-01-26 | Now on to the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. The temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of the Hindu deity Maha Vishnu, located in Srirangam, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. this temple lies on an islet formed by the twin rivers Cauvery and Coleroon. Constructed in the Dravidian Architecture, this temple is glorified by Alvars in their Divya Prabhanda and has the unique distinction of being not only being the foremost among the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu. It is also the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world. It is one of the most illustrious Vaishnava temples in South India rich in legend and history. The temple has played an important role in Vaishnavism history starting with the 11th-century career of Ramanuja and his predecessors Nathamuni and Yamunacharya in Srirangam. The largest living temple complex in the world Sri Ranganathaswamy is a jewel box of gods. Architecturally astounding and incredibly ornate bright, bold colors decorate each ornate layer of the main tower. Also known as Thiruvaranga Tirupati, Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is a UNESCO world heritage site that was developed over centuries with contributions from multiple rulers and dynasties. The temple is dedicated to Ranganatha, a reclining form of Hindu deity, Bhagwan (God or Lord) Vishnu and it’s massive! Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the entire temple complex spans over 156 acres. It is venerated as a center of pilgrimage and a unique temple-town, life inside temple walls is equally as spiritual, beautiful and serene as the architecture. The corridors just outside the inner sanctum are cool and shaded. Making them the perfect place to sit and stay a while.
Interesting Visit to Amma Mandapam 4K Bigfoot Journeys 2021-01-22 | Next, we visited the Religious Hindu Burning Ghat of Amma Mandapam. Interesting place with an elephant, flowers, and Brahmin priest performing rituals for the faithful. Stepping further into the space of Amma Mandapam we realized we were surrounded by mini rituals held by local Brahmin. Some were for departed ancestors. Others for fertility and still others for healing illness.
The Brihadeeswarar Temple 4k Bigfoot Journeys 2021-01-18 | On Day 8 of our Spiritual Southern India Tour we enjoyed a visit to the Brihadeeswarar Temple. Most of the Great Living Chola Temples, which are UNESCO World Heritage Monuments, are located in and around Thanjavur. The foremost among these, the Brihadeeswara Temple, is located in the center of the city. Thanjavur is also home to Tanjore painting, a painting style unique to the region. Brihadishvara Temple, also called Rajarajesvaram or Peruvudaiyār Kōvil, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in South bank of Kaveri river in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the largest South Indian temples and an exemplary example of a fully realized Dravidian architecture. It is called as Dhakshina Meru (Meru of south). Built by Tamil king Raja Raja Chola I between 1003 and 1010 AD, the temple is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Great Living Chola Temples."The original monuments of this 11th century temple were built around a moat. It included gopura, the main temple, its massive tower, inscriptions, frescoes and sculptures predominantly related to Shaivism, but also of Vaishnavism and Shaktism traditions of Hinduism. The temple was damaged in its history and some artwork is now missing. Additional mandapam and monuments were added in centuries that followed. The temple now stands amidst fortified walls that were added after the 16th century.Built out of granite, the vimana tower above the sanctum is one of the tallest in South India It was, in all likelihood, one of the tallest structures in the world at the time of its construction. The temple has a massive colonnaded prakara (corridor) and one of the largest Shiva lingas in India. It is also famed for the quality of its sculpture, as well as being the location that commissioned the brass Nataraja – Shiva as the lord of dance, in 11th century. The complex includes shrines for Nandi, Parvati, Kartikeya, Ganesha, Sabhapati, Dakshinamurti, Chandeshvara, Varahi and others. The temple is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Tamil Nadu.
