Chennai’s Best Badam Milk at Kakada Ramprasad & Triplicane Tour

Ever since I read Vinod’s post on Kakada Ramprasad, i have been wanting to go there and taste, what he described as chennai’s best badam milk. Past Sunday, got a chance to visit the place and slurp down a delightful glass of rich creamy badam milk – really very yummy.  Now, going there was a hassle (germophobes and neatness freaks may find this trip not to their taste). The narrow streets, the grime and traffic in the sowcarpet area was a bother. Kakada Ramprasad is a sweet shop on Mint Street. We found it after asking a few people around. It is 50 buildings away from the interesection with Audiappa Naicken Street (or simply Audiappan Street).  In the intersection, there is a lodge/hotel and you need to face away from it and head down Mint Street.  What a difference 20 years make? Sowcarpet and the whole Georgetown area was the place to go, whatever you wanted to buy 20 years ago. All the wholescale and major retail outlets and businesses were in this area then. Now Sowcarpet looks decrepit. Sad.

Then we went to the Triplicane area because Priya Raju wanted to check the place out. Another congested/grimy area of the city. We decided to visit the famous Parthasarathy Temple. As we parked the car, we noticed the Bharathiar Illam – the firebrand poet Subramania Bharathi’s residence converted into a museum. It has a lot of pictures of Bharathiar with fellow freedom fighters including one rare photo of Mahatma Gandhi taken in 1919. Lots of poems and letters (copies, of course) written in Bharathiar’s own handwriting. The exact room in which Bharathiar stayed also is part of the museum. It is sad that Bharathiar died at the age of 39 without actually living to see India’s independence. “Endru Thaniyum Indha Sudhandhira Dhaagam” (translation – When will this thirst for Independence be quenched?)  gives the goosebumps even today when i hear it.

After that we checked out the famous Parthasarathy Temple. It is a famous Vaishnava Temple. Couldn’t help wondering why it is not as prosperous looking as the Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore?

On whole a delightful sunday.

Comments

  1. Anonymous said July 9, 2007, 10:02 pm:

    Hi Sukumar, I have been to the temple so many times, but never knew about the Bharathiyar house. Should see it next time.

    I have always found TP temple more peaceful than Kapaaleeshwarar temple.

    Since you love restaurants, did you ever visit Annalakshmi on mount road. The Paal payasam there is simply the best.

  2. Anonymous said July 9, 2007, 11:13 pm:

    Archana,

    I agree TP temple is more peaceful. I haven’t been to the Annalakshmi in chennai but been to the one in Coimbatore. I’ll check the chennai one out. -Sukumar

  3. Anonymous said July 11, 2007, 8:17 am:

    Triplicane Ratna Cafe’s ‘Sambar Idly’ is one you should try sinking your teeth into. And a bucket full of sambar along with it !!!! Also those small milk shops in “BIG” street which open only at around 8 PM. You must try a glass of hot, thick milk with some ‘haldi’ and pepper. You will simply love it!!!!

  4. Anonymous said July 12, 2007, 1:43 am:

    Yes Mahesh. I have tried the Ratna Cafe Sambar Idly. it is definitely worth the hype. I will try the small milk shop stuff next time i go to triplicane.

  5. Anonymous said July 13, 2007, 3:46 am:

    Bharathiyar is surely a great inspiration. I find it difficult to read Tamil but my mom’s always there to read it and explain it to me.

    Should visit the museum if I get a chance to come down to Chennai.

  6. Anonymous said July 13, 2007, 8:02 am:

    Thanks for stopping by Saraswathi. Bharathiar is amongst the rarest of poets whose words inspire you to do things. You must get hold of a Bharathiar Anthology and read it. His words and usage are quite simple for the most part. – Sukumar

  7. Anonymous said July 31, 2007, 11:09 am:

    Nice blog sukumar..