After a good night's sleep in this idyllic place, we woke up to a beautiful morning of sun and warmth, and a delicious breakfast on the verandah, overlooking the lake and the mountains. Today we went down the challengingly-potholed road in differently-suspensioned autorickshaws into the nearby "village" of Athoor (a village of some 5000 people). There our guide Pandi showed us the nearby temple where sometimes hundreds of people gather to make offerings to the gods in the hope of the gift from God of a child, or success in business, or other significant ventures. Priests are on hand to impart blessing, but as they cannot live on offerings alone, they have "civilian" jobs as well. There are two priests in attendance at this village temple, and Pandi pointed out a number pencilled on the temple wall. It was the priest-on-call's mobile number (they cover a month each at a time). Sounded like an arrangement the Anglican Church could adopt in rural areas!
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