Temples of Torture or Places of Passion?
Trip Start
Nov 25, 2009
1
29
56
Trip End
Apr 15, 2010
Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India
Saturday, February 20, 2010
It is home to quite a few temples some very historic ones built in the 7th century, and one of the 5 elemental temples of Shiva (think this one was Earth). Each temple had its little unique thing from not only each other but from loads of the other temples I have visited - and no I am not talking about masturbating men or anything like that. One temple has a tank (think dirty water with fish in it that people bathe in) that has a submerged statue that is only bought out every 40 years when they drain the water - its due again in 2019 and apparently the 40 day festival draws over a million people. Then there are the stone carvings - lots with karma sutra depicted, now I understand the masturbation thing if there is this much sexual iconography its no wonder people find that there worship turns more carnal.
The only downside in this little town is the restaurant situation where they have a menu and list things but then only offer about 4 choices (all the rest is unavailable), not that this is uncommon in Indian restaurants as they often just want to head you in the direction of the menu or thali (rice or chappati with a few different sauces/curries/dhal/curd(yoghurt) so its a mixed plate and usually really good and cheap). Anyway I was just wanting some rice (biryani or a fried rice) but they only had dosa and chappatis and I just wasn't in the mood so I left - and was so glad I did when I saw the rat running from the kitchen. 2 restaurants later I finally got what I wanted and it was so cheap it was ridiculous (20 Rupees or 50 cents AUD / 30 pence) and so good too with no rats.
