Neat on Suite: What to Pack for an Indian Temple Tour?
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Posted by Marci Hotsenpiller Jun 9, 2008 |
Working at Suite is an adventure in itself. Whenever things get hectic around here I love dropping into our travel section and living vicariously through the adventures of our travel writers.
Today I grabbed my backpack and sandals and visited the Temples of Mamallapuram in India, thanks to this article by Suite101 travel writer Satu Susanna Rommi:
“The Tamil Nadu town of Mamallapuram is an old temple town, a modern day stone carving center, and a cheap beach resort all in one. Mamallapuram (also known as Mahabalipuram) was an ancient seaport as well as the second capital of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. The Pallavas constructed many of Mamallapuram's Dravidian-style temples in the 7th and 8th century AD. Nowadays Mamallapuram is a backpacker beach resort, a stone carving centre and an open-air display of Pallava art. Its most famous sight is the 7th century Shore Temple, one of the oldest temples in South India.”
Satu is a part-time travel writer born in Finland, who has worked in London as a producer for the BBC World Service, and now spends most of her time in India. (She is a graduate of the journalism program at the University of Tampere in Finland.) I caught up to Satu in India via e-mail and asked her about the weather:
“It is always quite hot in the area and the temperature can rise to 36 degrees Celsius in the summer. December to March is the best time to visit. The monsoon is over by December, and in April it starts to get hot.”
As for packing, she kindly gave me some great advice:
“I would definitely bring good sunblock and insect repellent and if one is going to stay in a cheap place that may not have a mosquito net, bring your own mosquito net. Loose light cotton clothing protects from the sun - although this can be bought cheaply in India.”
Thanks Satu…see you on the beach!
-- Marci