DESTINATION--EAST-COAST-ROAD{T.N.}

The stretch of East Coast Road(E.C.R.) from Chennai to Pondicherry has a variety of exciting get-aways from Amusement Parks to Resorts to Theatres to Restaurants but of all these two important places a person with wheels on his feet shouldn’t miss are “Dakshina Chitra” and “The Crocodile Bank”.

Dakshina Chitra:-
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Literally translated, Dakshina Chitra would mean—A Picture of South India and this is just what you should expect as you step into this heritage Centre.There are different Houses belonging to various clans of these four southern states maintained intact along with their belongings.

In the Tamil-Nadu section you get to go into a Chettiar’s House, A Weaver’s House,A Brahmin pundit’s House.In the Kerala sector you have the Mapillai’s Abode, The Syrian Christian House(as seen in the picture), while from Karnataka and Andhra they have the Illkal House, Lambada House, Potter’s Hut,Fisher-men Huts etc.Each section has it’s display centre wherein you are taught various crafts like Pot making, basket weaving, paddy pounding and grinding, kalamkari or block-printing, puppet making, tribal embroidery, etc.All round the year there is some activity or the other going on in these Heritage Houses.It’s a big hit with the foreigners who throng the place.

Stay at Dakshina Chitra:-The Heritage Village has well appointed and comfortable Guest Rooms{AC/Non-AC}.Aesthetically designed and set in an ambience of a by-gone era,your stay will be truly an unforgettable one.From here you can even go to the Muttukkadu Lake which is a scenic spot, radiating peace and serenity.The Boat-house attached to the lake gives visitors a plethora of boating options.

Dakshina Chitra is situated on E.C.R. Road, Muttukkadu, Tamil-nadu-603118.
Tele:-954114-2272603; 2272783.
It’s open daily 10am to 6pm.Tuesday holiday.

The Crocodile Bank:-
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From Muttukkadu, 2kms further down the E.C.R. is the Crocodile bank.
Started in 1976 by Romulus Whitaker, The Snake Man of India, to conserve and protect the crocodile species that were nearing extinction.So, this piece of land was bought and enclosures built.Eggs were collected from various parts and hatched here.Today of the 23 species of Crocs in the world,14 can be seen at this place.

Apart from the Crocs you also get to watch many species of endangered turtles, snakes, lizards, tortoises etc.This is now the only Centre for Herpetology(study of reptiles and amphibians.) in India.

Other Attractions:-For Rs.50, you can take your photograph with a baby croc or a large Python.You can check out how crocs eat, how a snakes venom oozes out.There’s also a Crocodile Night Safari—oops, doesn’t that sound a bit scary?Well, if you are the adventurous sort, head for the Crocs!

Madras Crocodile Bank is situated at Vadanemelli, E.C.R. Road.
For further information contact mcbtindia@vsnl.net
http://www.madrascrocodilebank.org/
Telephone:-04114 2272447
So, Feet on Wheels, next time you visit Chennai or Pondicherry, don’t forget to spend a day at the Heritage Village and then go on a Safari to meet the Hundreds of Crocs in one enclosure.(see picture.—this one had 357 crocs in all.)
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DESTINATION--MANGALORE

If you are looking for the best of Goa and the best of Kerala clubbed into one, then Mangalore is the destination you should be wheeling your feet to.
It is the biggest sea-port and the second largest city in Karnataka,and a centre for the export of coffee and cashew-nuts(you can pick your years quota at very reasonable rates.}
Mangalore has a languid tropical atmosphere and a significant Catholic community dating back to the arrival of the Portuguese which can be witnessed in some of the huge Churches here,stretches of silver-sand beaches which gives it a Goan touch wherever you go.
On the other hand, the fertile stretches of paddy fields,circumferenced with coconut trees and houses with red-tiled sloping roofs,cooking the luscious Malabar cuisine in coconut and cashew gravy, gives the place a typical Kerala flavour.
Though the city is growing as a major commercial hub,it has still retained it’s old world charm.
The language spoken by the majority here,is a dialect called Tulu but the official language like the rest of the State is Kannada.English, Hindi, Konkani and Malayalam are the other languages spoken.
Best seasons to visit is between Oct-March.Summers are sultry and during monsoons it pours endlessly.

Places of Interest within Mangalore.
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1)Sultan’s Battery:-A stone watch tower near the Old Port, built by Hyder Ali when Mangalore was the major centre for trading during his reign.

2}Kadri Manjunath Temple:-Built in Kerala style,over a small hillock,surrounded by lush forests is very beautiful.The Lokeshwara Statue here is one of the biggest and the best bronze in India.

3)Govt.Museum or Bejai Museum:-Very close to the Kadri Temple and hardly a km from the K.S.R.T.C.bus stop has some very rare relics of the past preserved in here.

4)St.Aloysius College Chapel:-the painted ceiling is worth a look.

5)Milagres Church and Rosario Cathedral:-Huge structures similar to the ones in Goa.

6)Mangala devi temple:-Located near the back-waters formed by the convergence of the rivers Nethravathy and Gurupur.She is the Goddess of fortune and the city derives it’s name from her.

Places around Mangalore(in the 50km range)
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1)Someshwara:-situated around kms, sports one of the best silver sand beaches.

2)Ullal BeachL13km):-Calm and pristine environment with a Beach Resort(Summer Sands) where you can comfortably spend a day or two in peace.

3)Udupi;-(58 kms):-A piligrimage town with the famous Sri-Krishna temple built by the 13th century religious leader Madhavacharya.

4)Manipal:- The abode of some of the best educational institutions in our Country situated over a scenic hillock, 3kms from Udupi Central.
5)Malpe:-This beach is 6kms from Udupi and 66kms from Mangalore and is a popular picnic spot.The endless stretch of golden sand,swaying palm trees,is breath-taking.Just a boat ride away is the St.Mary’s Island which is another delightful holiday destination.

)Moodabidri(35kms):-An abode of Jain Bastis.The oldest of them is the 15th century Chandranatha temple which has a 1000-pillar hall.

5)Kaup:-The famous Light House stands over a beautiful stretch of unspoilt beach covered on one end by black rocks that jut out majestically from the Arabian Sea .Many a romantic numbers in Indian Movies have been shot on this beach.

6)KarkalaL55km);-The statue of Gomateshwara(Bahubali)finished in 1432,stands on a small scenic hillock from where you can get some wonderful views of the Western Ghats.

Getting Around:-Mangalore is well connected by Rail, Bus and Air.There are regular flights to Mumbai and Chennai(via Bangalore).Konkan railway trains run efficiently between Mumbai and Mangalore via Goa.There are South bound and North bound trains too. Private buses ply to the rest of the State and the neighbouring states.Bangalore is just 357kms away.

Places to Stay:-Some very good hotels like Hotel Mangalore International, Taj Manjarun , Summer Sands Beach Resort(at Ullal) are some of the best places to stay.Also try out the wonderful beach resorts at Malpe.

Right now we have just covered the 50km range from Mangalore but there are many more exquisite get-aways in the 100km range.But then that’ll be yet another journey with our Feet on Wheels.
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Hi Folks!
What are feet for if you don't put them on wheels and go roaming around the world.This is exactly what this blog would be doing.Taking you around to some wonderful get-aways to holiday spots to historical sites of India.So, on your mark-get-set-and let's go.................