Thodikkalam- By Chance
It was a trip , made with a different agenda . Visiting the Thodikkalam shrine was only by chance . Before starting out to Kannur, had to brush up a little on a few basics about the place. Weather , food , safety , the usual . The World Web is more than useful . It gives what is sought and also what is not sought . That's how the name Thodikkalam snared the mind- a name i had not even heard of a year ago. Google said there is a medieval Siva temple there. Not far from base camp. It HAD to be visited. Because of that one picture that appeared on screen with that name ! Obsession at first sight . Old temples in obscure places have a charm all their own . Peaceful to Dreamy to Evocative to Mysterious - adjectives glide through a gamut of sentiments difficult to express. If that old temple is situated in a lush woodland ,by an ancient pond ,with remnants of carved stone scattered around , then it becomes a classical , "Lost World" site. Thodikkalam sounded lik