[laluks]

Originally Posted by MorePower

Who wants lonely planet when you have the 'Civved' guide. Lalu, your travelogues are more comprehensive than any of these guides can ever get.

Keep the civvy rolling. Look forward to the next one. Cheers

Thanks MorePower.
Simply loved your comment

Next one is getting planned....

[Vihari]

Went through the whole TL once again. Enjoyed! ( You, searching for the 'beef' was just )

Originally Posted by Vancho

Wow.. Another superb log. If I ever get kicked out of this job, Lalu sir, you are responsible.

Originally Posted by chef-de-jeep

Hi Laluks,
Somehow your travelogues are the best, Savio

Originally Posted by lipaul

Beautiful pictures and wonderful narration as expected of you!

Originally Posted by MorePower

Who wants lonely planet when you have the 'Civved' guide. Lalu, your travelogues are more comprehensive than any of these guides can ever get.

Originally Posted by laluks

Thanks
Next one is getting planned....

Do you see the MAGIC of your Travelogues. Fellow members who rarely post, are still Newbies from a very long time, increase their post count on a TL of Laluks because they can not RESIST themselves from posting!

LaluKs Jai Ho!

- Sai

[laluks]

Originally Posted by Vihari

Went through the whole TL once again. Enjoyed! ( You, searching for the 'beef' was just )

Do you see the MAGIC of your Travelogues. Fellow members who rarely post, are still Newbies from a very long time, increase their post count on a TL of Laluks because they can not RESIST themselves from posting!

LaluKs Jai Ho!

- Sai

Sai,



You made my day.....

[Vihari]

Originally Posted by laluks

Sai,

You made my day.....

Well no comments, since very busy reading Civved - Parambikulam!

[laluks]

Hey! Just noticed today it becomes 5 years since I joined Team-BHP

Should update the detailed daily report of the trip in happiness

[abirnale]

Wonderful TL sir! Thanks to the most helpful tips and details about places to stay, visit and planning inputs that will help us do this trip Of course the credit is to your photographs that makes these trips look unique! You sure have got the eye for spotting those extraordinary frames out of ordinary things. No wonder why people wouldn't be tempted to use them - but without permission is not accepted obviously.

I have developed the feeling that if Laluks has done the trip, I don't need to plan, just read the TL on that place and head out! Simple the life has become and thanks to people like you on TBHP for this. Like you have built your FB page, I have a collection URL from all the stalwarts of TBHP TLs for myself to traverse someday. A wild thought of publishing a thread on TBHP with all such TBHP URL links as "places to visit in India before I die!" - a divine wish list! Maybe mods are listening too!

And congratulations on your 5th birthday in TBHP!

[samyboy]

Wow! the pictures are so very good. I already made up my mind to visit Pondicherry already. I too have two daughters.. little once. So it's going to be few years before I can do such a long trip but I can already see myself there.

Keep travelling and do bring us the reports. They are major source for inspiration.

[laluks]

Originally Posted by abirnale

I have developed the feeling that if Laluks has done the trip, I don't need to plan, just read the TL on that place and head out! Simple the life has become and thanks to people like you on TBHP for this. Like you have built your FB page, I have a collection URL from all the stalwarts of TBHP TLs for myself to traverse someday. A wild thought of publishing a thread on TBHP with all such TBHP URL links as "places to visit in India before I die!" - a divine wish list! Maybe mods are listening too!

And congratulations on your 5th birthday in TBHP!

Thanks for your encouraging words.
Your idea of collecting links is very nice idea

Originally Posted by samyboy

Wow! the pictures are so very good. I already made up my mind to visit Pondicherry already. I too have two daughters.. little once. So it's going to be few years before I can do such a long trip but I can already see myself there.

Keep travelling and do bring us the reports. They are major source for inspiration.

Thanks samyboy.
Keep tripping, and wishing you and your daughters all the joy of the world.

[Top-Gear]

Lalu,
Today morning I was reflecting on how I had earlier an 'allergy' to the name 'Lalu', till you came along and redeemed it.....

[laluks]

Originally Posted by Top-Gear

Lalu,
Today morning I was reflecting on how I had earlier an 'allergy' to the name 'Lalu', till you came along and redeemed it.....

Interesting, care to explain the story?
Everything's for a purpose I guess

[raj.barcode]

fabulous travelogue, i am a big fan of your photography skills but for me laluji is using too much of picassa or photoshop; virgin photos by you are a treat in themselves, please post more of them

Hope i didn't offend you, and by the way belated onam wishes too

[Top-Gear]

Originally Posted by laluks

Interesting, care to explain the story?

Lalu, here's a hint: the 'allergy' was due to a certain gentleman (your namesake) with short hair, whose personality and (mis)adventures gave a lot of 'fodder' to newspapers and tv channels.

Got it?

[laluks]

Day 01
09th August 2013
Bangalore - Pondicherry

After a very tiresome Thursday at work, which made me stay at work till late, I returned home to find the enthusiastic girls, covering in for me with packing my things, charging batteries, even setting up GPS co-ordinates for easy reference, print outs of confirmation vouchers etc..etc..

It was already 22:00 hours by the time I walked in, quickly had dinner and took some time to take a nap till 02:00AM.

After a refreshing hot water bath early morning, we set off rolling by around 02:30AM on Friday, the 9th of August 2013.

Civvy all set to go. She is still a beauty at 96K+


It was slightly drizzling and was a cool 24 degrees by 02:30AM in Bangalore


The idea was to reach Kalpakkam by sun rise, and to enjoy the ECR road before entering Pondy. Pondy was targeted at 11:00AM.

I drove through the truck pile up at Hosur with patience and took the deviations on the Highway in the name of six laning to reach Kanchipuram exit. From then I drove through two lane roads via Chengalpettu to reach the ECR road. At Chengalpettu I got carried away to drive on the beautiful road to Tindivanam. The moment I realized I did the course correction and crossed a railway crossing and continued on towards ECR road.

I paid the toll towards Pondy and entered the ECR road and took the deviation to Kalpakkam.

We reached Kalpakkam Beach by 08:00AM. Kalpakkam township is a bit inside from the ECR road, and the township was wonderful.



The estuary still has not opened to the sea


The fisherman was on his daily routine, irrespective of my enthusiasm


Civvy was enjoying the drizzle


Reaching the beach was confusing, I did not find a path


There was a place where you could sit and enjoy the sunrise by the sea.


The roads in the township




A board to remember our visit. The security got very jittery on seeing me click this board, and rightfully so, it is indeed a sensitive installation out there.


By 08:15 we were done with our short visit to Kalpakkam and continued on the ECR road.


continued...

[laluks]

Day 01
09th August 2013
Bangalore - Pondicherry


While enjoying the drive on ECR, we noticed a detour saying Alamparai Fort and Back waters. We curiously took the turn and reached the Fort.

The Detour from ECR Road to Alamparai Fort and Backwaters

The ruins of Alamparai Fort (also called Alampara) lie near Kadappakkam, a village 50 km from Mamallapuram on the land overlooking the sea. Constructed in the late 17th century during the Mughal era, the Alamparai Fort once had a 100-metre long dockyard stretching into the sea, from which zari cloth, salt, and ghee were exported. During 1735 AD it was ruled by Nawab Doste Ali Khan. In 1750, for the services rendered by the famous French commander Duplex to Subedar Muzarfarzang, the fort was gifted to the French. When French were defeated by the British, the fort was captured and destroyed in 1760 AD. More recently the structure was damaged in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Alamparai was a seaport in historical times. The place had other names like Idaikazhinadu, Alamparva and Alampuravi. The fort was built during the Mughal era between 1736 and 1740 CE. The fort was initially under the control of the Nawab of Arcot, Doste Ali Khan, and was later gifted to the French. After the Carnatic wars, when the French lost to British, the fort came under the direct control of the British and was demolished in 1760.

Alamparai is mentioned in several places in the diaries of Ananda Ranga Pillai, Dubash to Dupleix in French India. It was the primary port of trade for the Arcot nawabs. They had a mint there, and later, at the request of Dumas, the governor of Madras Presidency, The People who worked in the Mints of Alambarai (it is mentioned as 'Alampuravi') moved to Pondicherry and established a mint with the approval of the Nawab of Arcot. It was a regular port of call on the Coromandel Coast, having a 100 m (330 ft) dockyard. The other contemporary ports were Pulicat, Madras, Mylapore, Sadras (12 km from Mahabalipuram), Pondicherry, Cuddalore, Porto Nova, Tharangambadi (Tranquebar), Karaikal, and Nagapattinam. The fort experienced further damages during the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2005 and portions of the dilapidated fort remains under the sea. A team of archaeologists found out coins minted during the rule of Nawabs. Some rare artifacts like the arms and ammunition used by the Nawabs and French were also found in fort.


The fort can be reached on driving down the East Coast Road, about 100 km (62 mi) from Chennai, 5 km (3.1 mi) from vedal and 50 km (31 mi) from Pondicherry (Puducherry). Local fishermen assist tourists in a boating experience around the fort. The fort covers an area of 15 acres (0.061 km2). The fort is built of bricks and limestone and at its centre there is a mausoleum. There are tall walls around the fort and brick steps lead to the top. The watch tower from the fort provides good view of the surroundings.

There are references to the region in Sangam literature Ciṟupāṇāṟṟuppaṭai as a trade post. As of 2011, the fort received an average of 25,000 visitors every year. The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) listed the fort as one of twenty lesser known tourist spots in the state. The Corporation listed the fort in the international tourism fair held at Berlin. The fort is pictured in several commercials and cinema. Portions of Pithamagan, a 2003 Tamil film, starring popular actors Suriya and Vikram, was shot in the fort.

Some details of Alamparai Fort




The Fort was indeed in a very bad state of affairs






I took some time to wonder what this is all about


The girls were equally shocked with the find!


We walked towards the ruins


Remains of a small mosque


The ruins


Intriguing


But it had its own beauty


Jr. PPG gets herself clicked for memories of the place


PPGs


Trees can even grow on walls!


I guess this place gets a lot of rainfalls, the erosion was evident


The way to the backwaters


continued...

[laluks]

Day 01
09th August 2013
Bangalore - Pondicherry

Sr.PPG gets herself a profile picture


PPGs at the backwaters of Alamparai


The place was indeed beautiful




Sea shells attached to a rock, interesting!


It was time to get back




The fort walls




We walked back to Civvy


A last look at the ruins


Civvy testing her articulation skills


We said bye to this fellow and started back to ECR road by 09:45AM



The localites asked me if I was interested in a backwater boat ride. I did not take it, but thought I'd give you guys that information.

continued...