As for me, I decided to head out to the temple. Although I have visited temples before in Jaffna it was always special going to one in India, and also one held in such high regard by worshippers themselves.
One thing that you will observe very quickly when visiting a Nporth Eastern temple are the ceremonial pools that lie outside each complex. Inviting, cool and filled with other bathers, the pools give a harmony to the crowds that usually throng the temples themselves.
I liked Matabari, not for the temple itself (although I appreciated its importance and architectural content), but for the people. I was able to talk to many people both pilgrims to the temple who were surprised to see a foreigner making it this far out, as well as the locals in and around Udaipur. Wow. That was the highlight of the trip. As I had decided to walk the 4 sweltering km's to the temple from Udaipur, I decided to stop at virtually every tea stop and sweet house on the road. This is India, there is always food and chai, and where there is chai, there is conversation. As I have always said, half the time it is the journey as well as the destination that makes travel worthwhile. And if it is not for the people, then it would not matter where I went, the surroundings would not be as beautiful.
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Getting there and away:
Udaipur city is a two hour bus/shared taxi ride from Agartala. You can walk the 3-4km from Udaipur city centre/bus stand to Matabari or hop in an auto. There is a state run resthouse at the Matabari temple, by thre ceremonial lake. Like most things run by the Tripura State Government, the service is truly third world, but thankfully, so are the prices. Cheap food can be had surrounding the temple and there is a lively night market too in which to sample the local delights.
1 comments:
must visit..
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