a drive to Idaikattur..01

Idaikattur is a small village by the river Vaigai, close to Manamadurai. I took a drive to visit the historic "Sacred Heart of Jesus"Shrine - a century old church of architectural significance.

The church was built in 1894 AD by French missionary Fr. Ferdinand Celle SJ with funds donated by Mary Anne- a French Anglican lady.

The church is an attempt to replicate the Rheims Cathedral in France.

The church has its own web site that has interesting info on its history...

a drive to Idaikattur...02

Idaikattur is the place where Siddhar Idaikattar lived and set the Navagrahas - the pattern followed by later temples...a small temple stands testimony to this important event in the history of temple architecture.
The countryside surrounding the village is green and yet rustic. The place is home to various bird species like kauthari, kadai, maina, karichan kuruvi, etc...

...'sithu pura' (small wild dove)

a pair of wild doves fluttering off at the sight of my car...

.'kana-koli'- a wild type of hen...very fast on its legs..

grazing cows and 'unni kokku' (cattle egretts)...

the scerene countryside...

the road leading to the village...

First brush...

she turns 3 ...

Her first brush with the brush her dad kept untouched for the past 10 years...