We walk through the dusty lanes of the ancient port town of Marakkanam and discover salt mounds and layers of history

So, we fancy ourselves as relic hunters. Since leather pants and utility belts won’t go too well when you’re hunting for history in rural Tamil Nadu (on the brink of a sweltering summer), we stick to capris and cotton tops. About 30-odd kms before Puducherrry, just as we’re breezing through the ECR, the salt in the air mingles with the wind in our hair. We have reached our destination; Marakkanam.

At first sight, it doesn’t look like there’s much to this town. Bullock carts block traffic, two-wheelers whiz past carrying huge loads and there seems to be no conceivable way to the sea, even if this is an ancient trade port and now, a fishing village. But soon, we discover there’s more to Marakkanam.

If you take one of the smaller routes just off the main roads and drive down, you see yourself stranded in the middle of mountains of rock salt; these shimmering mounds reflect light and are an absolute sight at close range. And just beyond this mound, you glimpse the panoramic world of salt pans. Square grids with salt mounds in between; people working in groups, the motor chugging along and at a distance, the traffic whirring past at breakneck speed; for a surreal moment, you wonder if you’re stuck in a Murakami novel before a thimble of salt brings you crashing back to reality.

Just beyond the salt pans are boat shops. While it’s rather odd to catch fishing boats stranded on land, you’ll find carpenters and others hard at work to put them back in the waters. Boat repair work shops are big in this area.

This brings one to Marakkanam’s significance as an ancient sea port. In the Sangam age, a lot of trade was being carried out with the Greek and Roman kingdoms. Among the major ports around this time that Ptolemy mentions are Mylarphan (Mylapore), Poduke (Arikamedu), Soptana (Marakanam), and even Comari (Kanyakumari). This port even features in Tamil works such as Sirupaanaattruppadaiand Perumpaanaattruppadai as Eyirpattinam.

In an excavation that took place in 2005-2006 near the Bhoomeswarar temple copper coins, terracotta pipes, copper rings, porcelain shards and iron objects dating to medieval periods were unearthed. We’re trying to find the excavation site (or its remains) but the flower seller outside the Bhoomeswarar temple throws us off course. “The only thing that’s been dug out here and cleaned recently was the temple tank,” she says dismissively, before trying to sell us jasmine flowers.

The temple seemed a more inviting option, even if the sanctum sanctorum remained closed in the afternoon. While the outer façade seems like it was painted recently, the interiors inside wear their age on their sleeve. Built during the Chola period, the intricate stone carvings on the pillars and its weary walls are reminders of another age. There are smaller enclosures inside and any lover of mythology and religion can spend hours dissecting the many stories of Shiva that are etched on them.

Outside the temple, we find a rundown façade that is shrouded in overgrown foliage. The old chariot platform lies in ruins, its arches mere bricks holding themselves together. “In the old days, people would climb up there to enter the ther,” the flower seller pipes up again, holding up a jasmine garland hopefully. But we walk away with a shake of our heads, our hunt coming to a close.

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Getting There

Marakkanam is about 120 km from Chennai and 35 km from Puducherry. It can be reached by bus or car.

What Not To Miss

The salt pans are a must see. Also visit the Boomeshwarar temple.

Where To Stay

Puducherry, Mahabalipuram and Chennai have good accommodation.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Travel / by Anusha Parthasarthy / April 25th, 2013

Stone quarrying activities in the vicinity of the Sankaranmalai hill located at Sankaranmalai of Chithalavai panchayat near Mayanur here, has threatened the 900-year-old historic later Chola period era inscriptions found here.

Locals here complain that large quantities of stones required for road-laying work nearby, was quarried from this hill. This would add to the damage of the ancient inscriptions if quarrying continued, besides spoiling the ecology of the place, they fear.

The inscriptions of Kulothanga-III of the 12th century, portraying his decree was discovered recently in the Sankaranmalai hill. The hill also boasts of a Siva temple at its top, which contains inscriptions of Kulothunga-III and the Pandya King, Veera Pandyan. The Sankaranmalai hill is situated at Madukarai, the boundary of the erstwhile Chera and Chola territory. Karur, earlier called as Thattaiyur, was under the rule of chieftain Kallingarayan, who was a representative of King Kulothanga in 1190 AD.

Inscriptions engraved in the rocks explain the devotional care of the Chola and Pandya kings to maintain the dilapidated Siva temple on top of the hill, and to regulate religious work. The inscriptions throw light on the religious and cultural practices of Tamils, besides the administrative system and the history of the period.

The Chola king who ruled from his capital at Thanjavur had ordered Kallingarayan to maintain and regularly perform religious rituals in the temple. It shows the works were handed over by Kallingarayan to Katchirayan, a chief of this particular location.The inscriptions composed of 42 lines embedded on a vertical rock facing south of Sankaranmalai says that in 1190 AD, the reign of Kulothunga-III, the historic temple located at Sankaranmalai was dilapidated. The inscription also has the orders of the King to maintain the temple by collecting taxes and proceeds from the wetlands, drylands, ponds, gardens, wells and trees within its boundaries, to provide sweets, fruits, and food to the temple and to perform rituals. For oil offering such as sesame and mango; taxes for coconut tree, palm tree, oil crusher and rock could be levied, states the King’s order.

As per the order of Kallingarayan, Avur Kanakan, the accountant, could engrave it on the stones and metals. He could cultivate the temple lands placing four trisulam around the temple lands – inscripted by Katchirayen and Viluparaiyan.

In 1196 AD, Kallingarayen reviewed the functioning of the temple and was satisfied with its maintenance. Then he had engraved the accomplishment of the order announced by the Chola king.

At the bedrock of the hill, inscriptions engraved by the Pandya king during 1218 AD can be found.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by S Godson Wisely Dass / ENS – Karur / April 05th, 2013