Travel : Rameshwaram -Madurai-Trichy-Thanjavur Temple Tourism

 Travel : Rameshwaram -Madurai-Trichy-Thanjavur Temple Tourism


Dear Friends,

Few tourism experiences can match the thrill and awe that we feel while visiting the religous and architectural marvels of Southern India. The temples dating back 1000 - 2000 yrs or even more simply defy our imagination with their grandeur and finesse.


Four such temples which can be visited in one short trip of 4-5 days are Brihadeeswara Temple (Thanjavur), Sri Ranganathswamy Temple (Trichy), Meenakshi Amman Temple (Madurai) and Sri Ramnathswamy Temple (Rameshwarsm).

Lets start our journey from Bengaluru in a hired cab.

*Travel from Bengaluru

*Besides good hotels at all the places, you may explore these accomodation options :-

  •           Station Headquarters Trichy
  •           NCC Group Headquarters Madurai
  •           Coast Guard Unit Rameswaram
  •           INS Parundu Ramnathpuram (1 hr 15 min short of Rameshwaram)


1st Day


1. Move from Bengaluru to Trichy. Start early and reach Trichy by 2 pm. Keep luggage in Hotel or Guest Room and take some rest.

2. Move to Thanjavur and vis Brihadeeswara Temple. It is a must to learn about the history of Thanjavur and this temple before visiting it.

3. Return back to Trichy and visit Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple. Another religious masterpiece of mammoth dimensions.

4. Night Halt at Trichy.


2nd Day


1. Travel from Trichy to Madurai. Reach Madurai by 9 am.

2. Visit Meenakshi Temple.

3. Return to Trichy for Night Halt.


3rd Day


1. Move from Trichy to Rameshwaram.

2. Visit Sri Ramnathswamy Temple.

3. Visit Dhanush Kodi.

4. Visit Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple (Floating Rocks).

5. Night Halt at Rameshwaram.


4th Day


1. Visit Kalam Memorial.

2. Visit Villondi Teertham.

3. Move from Rameshwaram to Trichy.

4. Night Halt at Trichy.


5th Day


1. Move back from Trichy to Bengaluru 


Note Important Points :-


1. Check timings of afternoon and evening closure of each temple. For example, Ramnathswamy Temple (Rameshwaram) is closed from 1 pm to 3 pm during which entry is not permitted.

2. Coordinate from NCC Group Headquarters Madurai in advance to give a letter from Group Commander addressed to Meenakshi Temple authorities to facilitate Special Darshan for you. This is extremely important to have Darshan. They give this letter for officers of armed forces and it is honoured inside the temple.

3. There is a detachment of Indian Navy at Rameshwaram. Coordinate from Navy friends in advance for the Detachment Commander to give a letter addresssd to Ramnathswamy Temple authorities to facilitate Special Darshan for you. This is extremely important to have Darshan. The letter is honoured inside the temple. It will not only save a lot of time but also enable a fulfilling darshan.

4. When you visit Ramnathswamy Temple (Rameshwaram), keep an extra set of dry clothes in handbag. First, take a bath in the sea at Agni Teertham. Then in the same wet clothes, walk to the

entrance of 22-Kund Snaan. Keep your slippers outside. Option of normal queue with Rs 25/- ticket per person or quicker process with Rs 250/- per person to Pandas waiting outside. The Panda will be with you from entry to completion of 22-Kund bathing. Hand bags, mobiles etc will be permitted through him. Your Panda will personally put water on you in every Kund. After the 22nd Kund, there is a Changing Room to change into dry clothes. Then move internally towards Main Temple. Your Special Darshan letter will now be required to be shown to the Security Guards at 2-3 places and you will keep skipping the normal queue (which is very large). The Security Person just before the Sanctum Sanctorum will collect the Letter and then you walk in front of the deity for Darshan.

4. While travelling on the road, there will be requirementt of short halts for washroom convenience, breakfast, 
lunch etc. There are several outlets of Adyar Ananda Bhawan (A2B) and Saravana Bhawan which are located enroute. These can be planned for short halts as I have found them all to provide good vegetarian meals, adequate seating, hygienic washrooms, parking space etc. Locations can be checked on Google Maps while driving.

5.  Must read about all these places and temples on google and watch You Tube videos. Know the history, culture and heritage that you are going to be soaking in during the trip.


All the best.

#Temple

#Tourism

#Travel

Images : Courtesy World Wide Web

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