A 3 day trip to holy south indian cities..Part-1

The journey started at 10:30 PM on 22nd feb. I wanted to sleep then and i want to sleep now as i am jotting down my experience. In morning the bus hit Madurai. I woke up my mum and told her that we were in temple city. Madurai looked like an old, dirty town. ( I have no clue why is tamil nadu dirty, but consistently i have observed that while its earning from tourism in immense, they don't learn that hygiene factor is important.) Here, a man walking on dirty streets without slippers, welcome to Madurai.
We got down and were taken to a nice hotel by our tour operator( Thankfully, had it been dirty too, he was in to get a good piece of mind for me.). We were told that we were near Meenakshi temple and we could visit the same and be ready for a trip around city by afternoon. We got ready and walked towards Meenakshi temple. The temple was huge. It has four huge doors and has magnificent stone carvings all around. There is a temple of Lord Shiva and Meenakshi. To me the temple looks mysterious because its too huge and dark. We boast of technology, but the funny part is we cant even maintain what people could make 1000 years back. The temple needs better maintenance. The temple was dark inside with some small openings through which sun descended its rays into the temple. And, lets not talk of pandits and their constant cry for money. I feel like asking God that why did he become so biased about his bhakts. What if i did not have 50 rupees, was i not supposed to see him then?
Afternoon was welcomed by a tour guide. We were taken to some palace which has been converted into a museum. The carvings were wonderful, BUT it cried out loud for maintenance as well. It was dirty, unkempt and full of people. It will not survive the century if not taken care of. From there, we headed for some big lake. There is a temple right in mid of that lake. The temple is empty year round. Once in year, god and goddess are brought to visit the same. So, we are shown the same from distance and i so badly want to go to the temple and see it. BUT, its something to be seen from distance, OK.
Next, we travel some 20 kms off Madurai to visit another mysterious temple between hills. There is an animal cut infront of a closed door every day in name of "bali".The door opens once in an year because that's how God likes it. We enter inside to see a whole new mysterious world. Its all a huge huge mansion carved out of greyish huge rocks. Its been told to me that it was constructed when cement did not exist. The cement was replaced with a mixture of jaggery, eggs and sand. Amazing if that is true. The building is huge. I have never seen such huge temples ever in life. They are huge stone pillars carved with millions of statues which i find difficult to interpret. Its huge and beautiful, but as i say, there is an element of mystery, it says you cant explore me, i am beyond you. The paths look difficult to interpret, its usually dark inside and the pillar trails ends nowhere. And then i realize that i am probably in 25% part of that mysterious place and will be too scared to go to other 75% alone, but i would want to.
We head back to reach to a relatively modern temple, huge beautiful idols, but then its not mysterious as Meenakshi and the other temple. There are stories around the coming up of each temple. How God prayed to make Goddess happy, who was kind of cross(atleast that's what i got out of the story). The one who prayed even got gold lotus from a pond which now has only pink natural lotus. But yes, Meenakshi temple is beautiful and huge. You must check out the four main doors which are 9 stories and have more than 1000 idols carved in it. The idols inside are huge and carved out of black stones. There is a 1000 pillar hall in Meenakshi temple which looks more like dancing hall to me. Its now converted into a museum with anything and everything that broke down in temple due to lack of maintenance.
So, after a long day, we came back to hotel. Tonight, we were supposed to sleep for next 3 days it was going to be BAD. I have no clue when did i fall asleep but i know that i was discovering the mysterious temples in my dreams and they were not dark. They were beautifully lit and i wondered how kings in olden times visited such huge temples. I was dreaming.
However, i would say that commercialization of temple looks bad to me. They are supposed to be places where people could go and sit in peace. There is nothing like that which remains in temples anymore. Poor stand in long queues, they are pushed out. Its the financial capacity based on which God's view is sold. I feel bad about this aspect. There were huge hoardings suggesting that only Hindus could enter in temple shrine. I have no clue. Does God or the temple management know whats my caste? When you are charging money to see God then why restrict it on other factors? God, do you see all this?

Anyway, i am dreaming and i realize that when king enters the temple, its only him and his family. Poor people get to see once in a while. God did not construct it, mind you, King constructed it. God did not set the rules, people set them. God seems to be tired himself working 20 hours a day and accepting offerings from millions when he is supposed to be the giver. Then i look at his idol, he is smiling. He says, i smile at all of you. I love you all, even after paying you cant see me. I am your faith, you search me in all easy places while i reside in you. Do good and be good. This is a historical heritage building, i happen to be sitting here because i thought king did a great job. Yes, he did. I got my answer, thank you God! :)

Location- Madurai
Food- Average
Cleanliness- Bad
Travel- 8-9 hours journey from bangalore
Place to Visit- Meenakshi temple (Such temples are not a common site. Architectural marvel)