Pari's Blog

Going up the hill. Total of 920 steps (including where steps were missing). It's a pretty steep gradient. Looks like the side rails were put in recently.

Found it strange why there were steps at a stretch and then not any for a long stretch - without any noticeable change in gradient.

City kids these days are so unfit. I thought I'd have to keep up with them, but it was the other way around. It was pitiful but funny: they were panting, tongues sticking out, hanging limply against the rails. Take plenty of water, you'll be parched by the time you start your way back down. Also the rock looks rough, but is glossy smooth - so unless you're into cheap thrills, don't do this on a wet day.

These idols are carved into the hill, located half way to the top (a climb of about 410 steps from the foot of the hill).

All these carvings stand in silent witness of what was once. There seem to be no Jains (of the Samanar or Digambar tradition) in Madurai to honor these today.

Seems very derelict, except for the water-feed pipeline (the natural springs are all gone), and a board by I think the Archaeological Society of India. Without that board this hill would have been blasted for quarrying, without even the slightest second thought.

Samanars were digambar (i.e. sky-clad/nude). Note the kundalani serpent criss-crossing behind the Samanar from foot to head.

Hill top is marked by this "flag pole".

Nagamalai.

The local kids named rock as the phantom (though it looks more like an ogre, waiting to snatch them). Thiruparamkundram and Passumalai can be seen in the distance.

You can just barely make out the four gopurams of the Meenakshi temple in the distance, center, just barely below the horizon.

Meenakshi temple gopurams (zoomed in).