Summer of 2007!!

One fine day in the mid of April 2023, I was busy munching the bag of banana chips from Calicut (one of my addictions), sipping coke, and wondering why summers are so harsh. But there are also a few good things about SUMMERS - MANGOES, JASMINE FLOWERS, PEPSI-COLA, WATER FROM MUD-POTS, NIGHTS ON THE TERRACE-looking at the stars and getting lost watching the sky and school HOLIDAYS. I grew up in a family of teachers and had an opportunity to visit many new places during my summer holidays. Most tourist places, especially those with temples, were on the TO GO LIST. We got the chance to visit Bukkapatnam, Anantapur in 2007 as one of my uncles was retiring as D.E.O in the United Andhra Pradesh. So, we planned to attend the retirement ceremony and visit the nearby tourist places around the village was the plan. The famous saying” SWAMI KARYAMU SWAKARYAM” can be fulfilled on this trip. Everything was planned and we started in the morning after the ceremony, our first place to visit was The Veerbhadra Swamy Lepakshi temple which was one of the marvels of ancient Indian architecture. It was built in the 16th century and was carved out of rock which speaks a lot about the greatness of the Vijayanagar Empire. The shrine dedicated to Lord Veera Bhadra, the Lepakshi temple stands as a timeless art that includes beautiful frescoes and murals and has some impressive architecture. Also, it had some intricate carvings, paintings, and sculptures, many of which depict scenes from Hindu mythology. “I WONDER HOW THE SCULPTORS OF THAT TIME COULD BUILD SUCH BRILLIANT ART WITH NO MANY PIECES OF EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY”. The next astonishing thing was the unique hanging pillar, which is one of the main attractions for tourists. The pillar is said to be suspended in the air without any support, and it is possible to pass a thin piece of cloth or paper beneath the pillar. Indeed, the hanging pillar at the Lepakshi temple is a remarkable engineering feat that continues to fascinate visitors from all over the world. The fact that such a massive stone pillar can hang without any visible means of support is truly amazing. It is believed that the hanging pillar was constructed using advanced techniques such as the interlocking system, which involves the use of multiple stones that are precisely cut and fitted together. The pillars are so finely crafted that they fit together seamlessly, creating a self-supporting structure.. Apart from these two. We saw some other interesting features like a life-size Nandi statue and a giant footprint that's believed to belong to Lord Hanuman. We were happy and satisfied on our way back home. The trip was the most memorable one and I will cherish it forever.