Travelogue - Senji Fort

I have a wanderlust and to satiate it as family, we take trips to near and far places. I have been thinking of keeping a log of this. Maybe someone who see these pictures or stories could be intrigued to go to these places and enjoy the ecstatic moments I had witnessing the glory of the place.

Let me start with our weekend trip to Senji Fort or Gingee fort. There is a lot of read up about its history it is very important part to do some research on the place you are about to visit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gingee_Fort#Chakkiliya_Durg -  Please read up and understand the history. This very fort that you will be visiting was once the most powerful fort.

Today what is left is ruins but time travel in your mind with the imaginations of a very powerful warriors, commanders, wars, leaders your imagination will know no bound. There was a big hall - good enough to accomodate 100s of warriors, and this place has excellent 'echo' any strategy spoken here would have reached every single warrior - So loud.

The glory of the place is also about how there are Nayak/ hindu style architecture and mughal style architecture in the same hillocks.

This place once would have had beautiful deities... now probably they are in some private collection somewhere in the world. These Gods would have heard the prayers of the warriors who won and the warriors who lost. Senji would have had so much life in the times of its rulers but now the visitors are only interested in inscribing their names on the walls and nothing more.

Senji Fort is open from 9 to 4. Entry fee is Rs.15 for adults and kids until the age 15 is free (not sure 15 or 14) Other nationals Rs.100/-

There are three hillocks, these pics are from Krishnagiri or the Rani Mallai. I need to go back when time permits for the other 2.

Some pics from the trip.

Art and Craft Summer Camp 2017 @ Mugaliwakkam

Get ready for Bodhi Creative Studio's Summer Camp 2017

Bodhi's summer camp was well received last year for the variety and creativity it offered. This year we have a whole lot of creative things lined up. Limited seats per batch so book now.

Call 94444 09937 for more information or visit facebook.com/bodhicreativestudio

Creative Summer Camp at Mugaliwakkam, Porur

Bodhi Creative Studio presents -
Creative Summer Program at Mugaliwakkam, Chennai.

Bodhi Creative Studio’s program is designed and conducted by experienced professionals in spacious classroom and an environment that forges creativity.

Let your kids explore various media and learn how to be creative in an enjoyable way.

Every day will be a new experience in art for the kids - Chalk carving, Pot Painting, Art with Clay, Origami, Emboss Painting, Art from waste and much more...

All materials required for the program will be provided. 

Fresh batch starting from May 2nd to May 13th.

Limited seats only. Call 94444 09937 to enroll.

Quilling classes

I am thinking of taking quilling classes simply out of interest for that art. If what you see below excites you email me at nmathu (at) gmail (dot) com.

Drawing and essay writing competitons for the fifth year in Government School, Mugaliwakkam

This year on 12th of March 2014, we successfully completed the 5th - Annual drawing and essay writing competition in Government School, Mugaliwakkam, Chennai. The topis were - Drawing 6th and 7th - 'Indhiya Vizhakal' (Festivals of India). For 8th and 9th - 'Bhoomi yen veedu' (Earth my home). For Essay writing competition the topics were - 'Yennaku piditha manithar' - My role model. and 'Yenathu vazhkai latchiyam' - My life's ambition.

There was a good turn over of participants. Most of them had similar ideas but the ones who were different stood apart and won the prizes. We had the prize distribution on the following day prayer. It was received well by the students. The principal is going to retire this year, I hope the principal who replaces her will have the same attitude towards us.

Snapshots from the event:

Why I am blogging again

I have realized what a boring person I have become after reading my past blogs. I had blogged about small things that made my life worth living. Which I guess still exist but over powered by the so called mundane major part.

Looking back at some of Teju's videos has brought about a fresh change. I think I should start to blog or rather keep log of my life's small things. Well to start again I thought I will post Teju's welcome address at his school annual day program. A very proud moment for me mostly because when I saw for the first time children anchoring sports meet and annual day at his school it was so new to me. In my school only teachers do that part. That first time when I heard a kid announce/ speak I wanted Tejas to be standing there and doing it someday. That happened this year 2014.

Felt like I have achieved something personally. But on the contrary I sometimes feel that I am competing to be a good mother with someone whom I dont know but is better than me. Why do mother's have this pressure to make their child into something. Well, I was an average student all through out my school days but I figured what works for me and I have been quite happy the way my career has shaped. I tell people that I don't have IIT dreams or medical dreams for my son. I just want him to do whatever he does with excellence. But I am pushy sometimes. Need to ponder on this unknown/ non-existent mother who seem to be my competition always.

Anyway here's the video. 

4th Year competition in Mugaliwakkam govt school

This year the competition had a high turn around about 180 students participated. The topics were for drawing 6th and 7th Iyarkai (Nature) 8th and 9th Min urpathi. For essay writing competition 6th and 7th Mazhai Neer semipu. 8th and 9th Samudhaya Munetram. The competitions were held on 20/3/2012.

Painting and tamil essay writing competition for the 3rd time in Goverment school, Mugaliwakkam.

Looks like i am writing blog just once a year now. My last post was about the same event that I organized last year. I decided to write this year too since the blog came in handy to pick out the details of last years events.

This year I realized the principal is very comfortable with me she said a yes immediately. The topics were for 6th and 7th. Drawing: Sports, essay: Minsara semipu (saving electricity. For 8th and 9th Drawing: Anbaley azhagagum veedu, essay: Minn Urpathi (producing electricity)

The event happened on 3oth, 2012. about 250 students participated. It was nice to see increase in number of kids every year. The only problem was power it was not there for 2 hours and I had to talk in high pitch. But it was fun.

Hoping to do some more activities for the school apart from just this event. Let's see how it goes.