Thrissur

Thrissur, located in the heart of the South Indian state of Kerala, is a city known for its rich cultural and historical significance. As the cultural capital of Kerala, Thrissur hosts the famous Thrissur Pooram, a spectacular temple festival that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it there.

What I was able to experience for the second time was the so-called Shopping Festival or Buon Natale, when thousands of Indians dress up as Santa Claus with red pointed hats and dance through the streets. The festival usually takes place on 27/28 December each year and is co-organized by the Catholic Church.

Thrissur is also home to the Vadakkunnathan temple, one of the oldest and most important Shiva temples in Kerala.

This is the second time that I have been able to use the city of Thrissur as a starting point for an eventful trip to India.

Coimbatore

Coimbatore, in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is not only an important industrial and educational center, but also a spiritual center made famous by the Isha Foundation. Founded by Sadhguru, a world-renowned spiritual leader, the Isha Foundation offers a variety of programs for inner transformation and yoga practice.

A prominent symbol of the Isha Foundation is the impressive Adiyogi, a 34-meter high statue of Shiva, which stands at the Isha Yoga Center at the foot of the Velliangiri Mountains. This statue, which is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest bust in the world, embodies the first yoga teaching and attracts spiritual seekers from all over the world.

I also stayed at the Isha Foundation ashram for a few days, took advantage of the yoga offerings and attended some religious ceremonies.
Tip: If you want to try out an ashram at really low prices, this one is highly recommended. With small social activities and accommodation in a dormitory, the stay is completely free. I preferred the hotel room option.

In addition to the really good vegetarian food, my personal highlight was Sadguru’s speech on New Year’s Eve 2023 in front of several 10,000 guests at the foot of the Shiva statue.

Madurai

Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world (this is often claimed, including by me), is located in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is famous for the magnificent Meenakshi Temple. This temple, which is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi (a form of Parvati) and her consort Sundareswarar (Shiva), is an important religious and cultural center.

The Meenakshi temple, known for its impressive Dravidian architecture, covers a large area in the heart of Madurai. The intricate and colorful gopurams (entrance towers), adorned with thousands of detailed sculptures of gods, goddesses, demons and mythological figures, are a prominent landmark of the city.

The temple plays a central role in the religious life of the Hindus and is an important place of pilgrimage. Thousands of believers and tourists flock here every day to visit the magnificent halls and shrines and take part in the spiritual rituals.

This is the second time I have been drawn to Madurai. And this time, I was once again able to admire the bizarre goings-on when God Shiva is carried into the bed chambers of his beloved Meenakshi in the temple in the evening.

Rameshwaram

Rameshwaram, located in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is an important pilgrimage destination for Hindus and one of the holiest cities in India. The city is known for the magnificent Ramanathaswamy temple, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva and houses one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Rama built a Shiva lingam in Rameshwaram on his journey to Lanka and prayed here to obtain forgiveness for his sins.

Pilgrims come to Rameshwaram to bathe in the holy waters of the Agni Theertham, which is considered a ritual purification before entering the temple. The spiritual atmosphere of the town and its deep connection to the Ramayana make Rameshwaram an important place of worship and spiritual retreat for devotees from all over India and the world.

I could feel this spiritual atmosphere in every corner of the city, whether at the bathing spot, in the restaurants or the temples.

But, and this is the other side of the spiritual focus, you won’t find international standards in food, for example, in this place almost at the end of the world.

Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari, located at the southernmost tip of India in the state of Tamil Nadu, is a unique place where the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal meet.

The city is known for its breathtaking sunrises and sunsets over the sea. Kanyakumari is home to the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial, dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, and the impressive Thiruvalluvar statue.

For me, Kanyakumari was a welcome change from Rameshwaram, as there were international-style street restaurants and a beautiful long beach. You look for such a beautiful beach promenade in India for a long time.

Kollam

Kollam, auch bekannt als Quilon, ist eine charmante Küstenstadt im südindischen Bundesstaat Kerala, die für ihre m

Kollam, also known as Quilon, is a charming coastal town in the southern Indian state of Kerala, which is famous for its picturesque backwaters. A special highlight in Kollam are the public boats that sail through the extensive waterways of the backwaters for a small fare.

The boat tours take you through a landscape of lush greenery, tranquil canals and traditional villages, providing a deep insight into the culture and way of life of the region.

This “public ship” is a nice change of pace, especially for tourists who want to get away from the usual tourist crowds.
Tip: Try to find the landing stage opposite the bus station. (Far left, next to the commercial boats)

Kochi

Back in Kochi, my journey soon comes to an end.

I use the time to take the public boat over to Fort Cochi a few last times and enjoy the facilities there. This year I have chosen the YMCA in Ernakulam (the mainland side of Kochi) as my residence.