Ganpatipule, Day 2

Sequel to Day 1...

By Day 2 (1st June), we had decided that we need to extend the stay one day more to 3rd June and it wasn't an issue since it was a Sunday. As is always the case, a visit to any region in case of our family starts with the major temple in the area. I have no issues with that. In fact, I love it. I love to take in the piety of the place, learning about the history of the temple, the beliefs and trying to remember and link them with whatever little I already know. So the first spot for the day was the Ganpatipule temple, a temple devoted to Lord Ganesh as the name suggests. We also checked out of our first lodge and shifted to Durvankur. Luckily, Durvankur is at a walking distance from the temple and the beach. Before I miss it, I need to mention an ingenious method of drying clothes that I found at Morya lodge, which I had only heard of but never seen. Check the images and you will find out. No more neck straining for pushing clothes onto the drying rods....

The temple, the Ganpatipule beach and the MTDC resort are juxtaposed to one another. With the sea touching the temple, the scenery is awesome, but the popular beach also makes it kind of messy I feel. The sanctity of the place is diluted to some extent thanks to the beach-going public. The temple does the job of mentioning that devotees should try and wear traditional clothes such that it does not become a distraction for others. However, it is not just the clothes, it is the overall atmosphere. Add to that few groups of people who feel it is just another spot and try to "cover" the beach and the temple at the same time and that makes it all the more weird. Instead, imagine a temple that is separated from public places and touching the sea and you will probably agree with me. To some extent, Harihareshwar was inline with this environment and it was indeed pleasurable. About the MTDC resort, I have read good reviews about it. I even called the resort before leaving Mumbai and found that since May-June is a "tourist season", the booking has to be done atleast a week in advance and it can also be done online.

So going back to where I was, we reached the temple in the morning. There was hardly any queue being a weekday. On our way to the sanctum sanctorum (gabhara), we read and heard about the history of the place. It can be read in the image (click to see enlarged image). The temple is built on a hill. The gabhara houses only the chest and the stomach of Lord Ganesh, the  trunk is at a different place on the hill. In short the whole of the mountain is a representation of the Lord and so the pradakshina around the temple is a walk around the whole hill. The pradakshina is 1 km long (approx. 15 min). The place can get confusing for one who is not curious. The pradakshina starts near the main entrance of the temple and ends near the actual temple building. 

Though there are painted messages saying "Pradakshinecha Marg", you will find ignorant beach-going people or others loitering along the way with their footwear on. It can get irritating sometimes, but that's the way it was supposed to be. Post 10 am, walking on the pradakshina path can be quite terrifying, considering the laterite stone. Not only does it become super hot, but is also irregular in shape with peaks that can give you acupressure, acupuncture and terror all at the same time.. :| .....The prasad (generally ladoos) was not available for distribution due to heavy rush and this continued over the weekend when we paid another visit to the temple before we started our return journey. Bought a bag of karvand fruit and finished it in no time.. :)... Had some quick food at Shivanandan and we were on our way to Pavas. 

Pavas is approx. 40 km away from Ganpatipule and is popular for the place of samadhi of Swami Swarupananda. It was a calm place and it is more rewarding for people who are interested in spirituality, who are aware of his teachings. Amongst us, only dad had some idea about it while me and mom paid our respects by being quiet. We also had the privilege to find Parmarth Niketan, which is a centre that follows Parampujya Kalavati Aai. Such centres are wide spread across Mumbai and Belgaum. We attended a quick bhajan and were on our way out to return back.  

The way to Pavas and back was quite beautiful, running alongside the coastline, passing by beaches of Vaare, Aare, Bhatye and few others, each view picturesque. For me, as the saying goes, the journey was more pleasurable than the destination... :) .. Also, we enjoyed another shot of Kokam sherbet at a stall between Aare and Vaare beaches. The stall owner was a good person and also helped us with directions. It was an obvious stop on our way back too. But we tried Bhel this time. What's better than slowly eating away bhel while looking at the sun set into the sea at a distance...We also made a quick stop at Aare beach before that. The soil here was quite loose. One step would sink your feet 3 inches into it. The water looked quite clear though. Ganpatipule beach was the plan for the next morning...that and more in the next post...