Travel, travel, travel, it continues. It is surprising that the same sights offer different experiences and views to different people, that is to say, sights are mixed up with time, day, luck, etc., but wherever in the world it is, one thing that will never be disappointing is the village scenery of that place. Their speciality is that whether it is natural beauty, life scenery, or festival scene, we can get a real enjoyment and experience that are not tainted with artificiality.
A place blessed with incredible natural scenery combined with sunny smiling Sunflowers which represent human hard work, this is what Sundarapandiapuram is. Definitely this trip is to see the beautiful Sundarapandiapuram, a Tamil village endowed with abundance of natural beauty. My “chariot” started rolling through Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Adoor, Punalur, and Thenmala, covered 152 km, and stopped in Thenkashi where Kashi Vishwanath Temple is situated. The plan was to stay the night at Thenkashi and leave for Sundarapandiapuram next morning. I reached Thenkashi at 4.00 o’ clock. I had hot Idli and Vada as soon as I reached there. Idli and Vada of Tamil Nadu is a favorite of mine. Though I have been to Thenkashi many times, I strolled around the temple and the surrounding areas till dusk and then spent some time admiring the night views inside the temple, had another plate of Idli and Vada before going to the hotel to stay the night. Sundarapandiapuram is a very attractive village in Tamil Nadu, which has been the shooting location of several films and albums. Early in the morning itself I started for Sundarapandiapuram on my “chariot.” I always make it a point to start my trips at the break of day itself in order to enjoy the awesome morning views.
The distance from Thenkashi to Sundarapandiapuram is 12 km. It is astonishing that during the months of July and August, visitors of the place are directed to the sunflower fields even without asking. Vast paddy fields bordered by huge palmyras, sunflower fields clothed in yellow silk, coconut groves, herds of goats and cattle grazing in postharvest fields, bullock carts on roads, Tamil girls clad in davani wearing flowers on hair, the whistling noise of casuarina trees like hooting of owls, small temples holding billhooks guarding the place, all these are factors that help in maintaining the culture and oldness of Sundarapandiapuram.
A few distance from Thenkashi, we can see lot of rocks near extensive fields, this is Puliyur Para, the place where the song ‘Randaka Randaka’ in the Tamil hit movie, Annyan, was picturized. As the film and song became popular, the rock also became famous. This rock is now “Annyan Rock.” The sights from this rock are very pretty. Unending fields full of blooming sunflowers are enticing, a lovely symbol of farmer’s sweat and hard work. They are ready to be cut by the month of August. The village scenery of Sundarapandiapuram is such that we will never get tired of seeing. This place bathed in natural splendor has other views too, of which the most important one is the 4000-year old Rukmani Sathyabama Sametha Sri Rajagopalaswamy Temple. Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and Sri Mupadathi Amman Temple are also some of the well-known temples. Periyakulam, a big pond which covers an area of 250 acres, is vital to this place. The life of this village revolves around this pond which resembles a small lake.
Sundarapandiapuram is so alluring, and the scenery that we come across as we wander around this place silently, without disturbing the villagers, as if we are also one among them, will persist in our minds forever. Another interesting thing of this place is the Agrahara (Brahmins Colony). The sight of Agrahara houses is a feast for the eyes and the mind. Even before the rays from the sun fall on the portico, the floors are cleaned and designs drawn with rice flour (arikolam). The houses are double storied with roofs covering the top and have painted traditional stone pillars in the frontage and stand in continuous rows on the street. This Agrahara is also a favorite film shooting location. The village is administered by a committee consisting of representatives of different sections of society. The criminals of this place are also punished by this same committee. Police will register case only when the crime is too serious.
Sundarapandiapuram is different and appealing in its entirety. Passing the groundnut farms fringed by casuarina trees and sunflower fields, the last few rays of sunlight started lighting the gold-colored clay lamps in Periyakulam, I realized that it is time to say goodbye to the pleasantly smiling village people and this fascinating place where they live.
