Nagar Kovil, Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

The road to Nagar Kovil from Kudaththanai.

The historic Nagar Kovil temple rebuilt.

I met the temple priest and inquired about the origin of this temple. He said it belonged to very ancient times, of the time of the 'Yakkar and Naagar'. A very pious Hindu recluse had been told in a dream to come to this place. When the recluse came here he saw a 'five headed cobra' under a tree. He had started a place of worship and it thrived with time. In the 1950s it drew large crowds. It was destroyed during the recent past and is now rebuilt.

Road to the beach.

Sand dunes.

'Purple Heron' in the paddy field.

The sea shore.

Click on the web-link below to see a video I prepared out of the photos I took on this visit:-

http://youtu.be/_TmKfw_Z0MU

Point-Pedro to Sakkottai, Sri Lanka.

These pictures are of scenes on the road from Point-Pedro to Sakkottai.

Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa5cfkwZF4E&list=UU1dqepitfAJwrQWLD-gZ3NA

Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

The new market.

A tree with a Hindu idol under a Margosa tree near the bus stand.

Shops surrounding the bus stand.

The road to Viyapaarimoolai.

The town of Point-Pedro is active. A new market building is coming up in place of the old market.

Munaiady, Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

The road at Munaiady.

The northernmost point  of Sri Lanka, Munaiady, Point-Pedro.

The light-house Point-Pedro.

Fishing boats at Munaiady.

The coastal road leading to Point-Pedro from Thumbalai is now open for traffic.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IwotoZ0fl0&list=UU1dqepitfAJwrQWLD-gZ3NA&index=8

Environs of Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

Puloly road to Point-Pedro.

An anomalous coconut bunch, Katcovalam.

Road in Katcovalam.

Well with pulley.

Typical village scenes around Point-Pedro.

Scenes from Manalkaadu, Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

A pond with lotuses.

An Indian Pond-Heron in the lotus pond.

The road leading to Point-Pedro.

A paddy field.

From sand dunes to paddy fields, the variety of scenery in this area is fascinating. The bird life in the December to March is also notable. It is a harsh land demanding much and giving back little.

Manalkaadu beach, Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka - Devastated by a Tsunami, Sri Lanka.

An abandoned well.

Rebuilding on a ruiined site.

Abandoned village.

The cemetery on a sand dune and a new settlement two Kilometers inland.

How can one imagine a tragedy of such proportions. Losing one's house, losing one's village, losing ones family, losing friends and relations, losing all the well tended trees - what a tragedy. Life starts again and for a newer generation the associated stories will become legends.

Manalkaadu beach, Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

The track to Manalkaadu beach.

Houses destroyed by the Tsunami.

A view from  the beach.

The Tsunami reached nearly two Kilometers inland from the shore and literally wiped out the dwellings in its path. The fury of the Indian Ocean was felt here in its full force on the Eastern shores of Sri Lanka.
The fury of the Tsunami wiped out the residents close to the beach. Similar occurrences are  recorded in tales and legends going back more than two millenia. The shorelines facing the eastern parts of the Island and of the Indian sub-continent have these tales. Prosperous trade emporia like Vallipuram in Sri Lanka and Kaverippooom Pattinam in South India were wiped out in a matter of minutes. Indra was the God of the Oceans and the destruction of Kaverippoom Pattinum in South India was attributed by the populace, to a failure to hold the annual festivities - called Indra Villaa - to this God. This is related in the Tamil Buddhist epic 'Manimekalai' written about the 2nd Century AD.

Birds seen on the way to Manalkaadu, Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

Black-headed Ibises

Painted-Storks

An Egret in flight

The road from Vallipuram temple to Manalkaadu beach is littered with small ponds where swarms of beautiful birds come to feed. I took these pictures there in December 2011.
Video:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ben1xU2fU-A

The road to Vallipuram via Thumbalai, Sri Lanka.

Goats with restraints put around their necks to prevent them entering into fenced areas where crops are grown.

A wayside chat of two bicyclers.

'Nellandai Pillayaar Temple', Thumbalai where a 'Kaaththavaraayan Kooththu' was held annually.

The turnoff to Katcovalam an old village.

Stone sculpturers at work, Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

The artist.

Work on a pillar for the temple.

Steel chisel used to shape the granite stone.

These stone artisans have a tradition going back nearly two.  Granite stones for carvings in temples are imported from India and these artisans work on the stones with skills acquired from their elders spanning many generations.

Thumbalai road, Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

'Theru-moody madam' - a 'madam' (resting place) covering the road.

The adjoining temple.

The 'Theru-moody madam' and the adjoining temple were landmarks I knew in Point-Pedro from the 1940s. They are still intact and the temple is undergoing renovation.

Point-Pedro, Sri Lanka.

'Odakkarai' famous for its luscious'Appam'. Note the small window in the wall at ground level. This opening was used to trade the 'Appam, Thosai, Pittu, Idiappam' with 'Sambal'. It is still operational but the goods are sold out by 7am in the mornings and 6pm in the evenings.

'Amman' temple at 'Odakkarai'.

Well near the Kovil near the 'Therumoody madam'

Water reservoirs around a well. Fresh-water is a precious commod is used to irrigate the trees adjoining a well.ity and is not wasted. Even the water from bathing