Most of the hill station tourist places are crowded and dirty.
So we decided to visit a most beautiful and serene place with a little bit of spirituality also. The purpose of this vacation was not to visit many places, but to spend a lot of leisurely time in a most relaxed manner.
"God's own country" Kerala was our first choice. We are here now in a most beautiful place surrounded by hills, showers often cooling the whole atmosphere and absolute peace in a most serene spiritual place.
"Veliyanadu" some 50 kilometers from Ernakulam in Kerala. "Chinmaya International Foundation" founded by His Holiness Swamy Chinmayananda. This is a beautiful place is a large campus, which has
1.the regular "Chimaya Vishwavidyapeeth, Deemed University",
2.Many modern Conference rooms/traditional Satsung mandapams for conducting spiritual classes,
3.A very ancient temple. and
4.The most Historical "Melpazhur Mana"
This is one of the buildings of Chinmaya University and it has Air-conditioned guest rooms where we were provided accommodation.
The most Historical "Melpazhur Mana"
The most historical "Melpazhur Mana" is now known as "Adi Sankara Nilayam" and this is within the campus of the "Chinmaya International Foundation" People usually think that His Holiness Adi Sankaracharya was born in Kaladi, but it is wrong. Actually he was born here in Veliyanadu at Edakkattuvayal about 50 kilometers from Eranakulam in Kerala.
This is the house of "Aryaamba" holy mother of Adi Sankaracharya the great philosopher, saint and the exponent of Advaitha philosophy. He was born in this house. This is a naalukkattu Kerala house with exquisitely carved wooden structure, on a sprawling 10 acre plot of land amidst greenery, water pond and a temple complex. Tradition holds it that Adi Sankara had his "vidyaaramba" and "Upanayana" done here.
The temple complex
Spiritual classes
Vegetarian Food is served in Annkshetra. It is in Kerala style and very tasty.
