The Nilgiri Diaries- Call of The Blue Mountains

 The Divine Destinations: The Gothic Ecclesiastical Marvels

“There are memories that time does not erase… Forever does not make loss forgettable, only bearable.” – Cassandra Clare

To adhere to these very true lines, my third day in Ooty took me way back down the 1800s, the glorious part of this erstwhile sleepy hamlet. From a walk  into Old Ooty's Ecclesiastical architectural Marvels to a visit to a contemplative work through Ooty's oldest Cemetery to the best hot chocolate, Moody's and poori chutney in Ooty, Ruchika in Davidsdale.

I have always pondered on the past, strangely I find myself fascinated by it. While some dread an Era without technology,  I still enjoy a fine book, a cup of chai or wine, I still prefer letters written  in ink with a fountain pen. I still love architectures that takes me back to a bygone Era. 

My first stop as is my custom was a visit to The Cathedral for prayer and quiet reflection after which, walking through misty rainy Davidsdale,  I stumbled upon a magnificent but lonely church. The church was built in memory of the Lord Governor of British India and is now called the Unity Church built, 1838 A.D. The Church was erected in a French Revival Gothic Architecture. 

From the downcast yet beautiful Unity, a 5 minutes walk takes to a magnificent Anglican Church which replicates the most famed architecture of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, and is Christened St. Stephen's Church. The Church preserves some of the most elegant 18th Century Gothic Revival architecture apart from its facade,  the beautiful glass windows depicting The Blessed Virgin Mary with the Christ Child,  The Biblical Heavenly Ladder and Angels ascending and descending as seen by Joseph in the Old Testament and Christ The Good Shepherd. 

The Sanctuary decked with Wooden High Altar with a Silver Cross,  a Stained Belgian Glass Window depicting, Christ's Threefold Mission as Teacher (Rabbi to the Apostles), King (Kingship in Heaven) and Sacrifice (Crucifixion).

A quiet Lady Chapel with the Glorious Words of Our Lady's Magnificat, "all generations shall call me blessed" in Latin imprinted upon the Rood Screen and a wooden High Altar with a magnificent Baroque painting of Our Lady with Her Divine Infant and praised by St. Bernard and a consecrated virgin stood in silence, waiting for a wayfarer to pray an Ave Maria or two.

I do not know why people associate fear with cemeteries. I have often felt the need to visit a Cemetery to remind myself of  "vanity of vanities, all is vanity" in Qoheleth or King Solomon's words. A quiet walk through Cemetery quietly praying g for the souls I saw how several of them were Lord's, ladies, lieutenants and people of greatness,  I was reminded of that famous saying,  "what we were, you are and what we are, you shall be." The walk reminded me of Rabindranath Tagore's, "Jokhon Porbe ba Mor Payer Chinho ei baate":

When my steps will fall on this path no more,

Then will I stop rowing my boat to the shore,

I will end my trades and settle my debts

My visit will cease to the market place 

Remember me not then, beloved

Call not for me from those distant stars.

When dust will collect on this harp of mine

When the doors will hide behind the thorny vine,

The garden, the garb of the weeds will wear

And moss will cover the banks of the mere 

Remember me not then, beloved

Call not for me from those distant stars.

The same melody the flute will play 

The days will course in the unchanged way

Boats will be laden from the same pier,

Shepherds will frolic,

And cattle will graze in the same manner

Remember me not then, beloved

Call not for me from those distant stars.

Who is it that says I am not there that morning?

You will call me by a new name,

I will be there to join in every game

You will encircle me with renewed ties

And I will come and go as usual – the eternal I  

Remember me not then, beloved

Call not for me from those distant stars.