Trip to Somnath and Dwarka

Trip to Somnath and Dwarka Dwaraka Temple

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan..you can also write to me on the mail id above for adding anything more to make it more useful and informative every small info will help as it has probably helped you so please write in..…


Somnath Temple

This is one of the 12 Jyotir Linga Temples of India in Gujarat. The other temple in Gujarat that is a Jyotirlinga is Nageshwar near Dwarka (http://www.indiantemples.com/Western/nageshwar.htm

http://www.templenet.com/jyotir.html


Details about the temple through links:

Official Website: http://www.somnath.org/egindex.html


http://www.templenet.com/Western/somnath.html

http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/religious-temples/jun_somnath.html

http://www.rajkot.com/tourism/somnath.htm

http://www.ahmedabadcity.com/tourism/html/temp_somnath.html

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Gujarat/Somnath.htm

Temple Phone Number: http://www.somnath.org/PILGRIM-FACILITIES.html

Std Code- 02876-- Phone Number :

How I went:

From Chennai I had traveled to Mumbai and took a train to Ahmedabad. You can take a train alternatively from Chennai direct to Ahmedabad called Navjivan Express or take a flight. From Ahmedabad I took a train to Veraval called Somnath express at 9.45 pm to reach by 6.15 am. Will provide where I stayed just to have a bath and vacate later. I paid about Rs 250 for the same. This hotel was in veravel itself. Then I took an autoat 7 am for Rs 100 to show me around. They generally have a list of places of interest around somnath. On the way I visited the place where Samadhi of Krishna is. Towards the end of the Avatar he was really annoyed by the goings of his fellow men and sitting here when a hunter mistook his feet for an animal and shot an arrow.


S#
Select
Train No
Train Name
Departure
Arrival
Runs on
1
1464
VERAVAL EXPRESS
08:15
17:10
M - W TH F S -


2
9221
SOMNATH EXPRESS
21:45
06:15
M T W TH F S SU


3
6334
VERAVAL EXPRESS
07:20
16:20
- - W - - - -



Return Train to Ahmedabad

#
Select
Train No
Train Name
Departure
Arrival
Runs on
1
1463
VRL JBP EXPRESS
10:05
18:25
- T W TH F - SU


2
9222
SOMNATH EXPRESS
19:30
04:00
M T W TH F S SU




If you come by this train 9222 back to ahmedabad you can book yourself in karnavati express at 4.55 am so as to reach Mumbai (borivalli) at 11.45 am.


Somnath temple actually two temples nearby. First is the original temple which has Shiva lingas in ground and first floor. Please carry vilva leaves and milk sold nearby as offering to lord. You can yourself pour it on the linga and also touch the linga…then there is a stair leading up..do the sme thing there too..after this go to new somnath temple about 50 mts away built by sardar patel and have a dharshan. Normally there is a que here. You are asked to deposit your belongings including cell phone in a counter meant for that. The sea side view is great. You can also bathe in sea. We finished our dharshan by 10 am Saw Bhalkha theerth, Triveni Sangam where three rivers meet.


How to reach

Nearest Airport – Keshod, Ahmedabad


Nearest Rail Head/ Railway Station – Veravel which is 5 km away from Somnath.

Road Access: There are many buses from Ahmedabad.


Preferred travel base: Ahmedabad

STD Code of Ahmedabad -072

Railway Station code for Chennai Central – MAS Chennai Egmore (MS) Coimbatore –CBE Madurai –MDU Trichy Thiruchchirapalli – TPJ Tirunelveli Tenkasi - TSI , Kumbakonam –KMU Mumbai –BCT for Bombay Central, DR for Dadar, LTT Kurla Lokamanya Tilak Station, BVI for Borivali,Ahmedabad –ADI . These codes are given to help you in booking through the site given below.

For Internet/ Mobile Railway ticket Booking use http://www.irctc.co.in/


Dwarka Temple

Dwarkadhish, lord Krishna


Details about the temple through links:

Official Website: http://www.dwarkadhish.org/

http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/religious-temples/jam_dwarkadhis.html

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Gujarat/Dwarka.htm

http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/religious-temples/ankur%20minde%20you%20that%20they%20have%20mx%20record%20point%20on%20qmail%20and%20%22A%22%20record%20point%20in%20PLESKz


http://www.indiantemples.com/Western/dwarka.htm


http://www.answers.com/topic/dwarka

http://www.ahmedabadcity.com/tourism/html/temp_dwarka.html



Temple Phone Number: http://www.dwarkadhish.org/contact-details.aspx

Std Code- 02892 Phone Number :

Hotels at Dwarka: http://www.dwarkadhish.org/tour-guide.aspx

How I went:

From Somnath we left for Porbandar at 11 am by a minibus which took about 5 hrs to reach. From here we again took a bus to dwarka which is about two hrs ride. We reached dwarka at 6 pm. Had a dharshan and slept in a lodge. There is a real good gujrathi bojanalya where you get home food here forget the name..this is run by two brothers and generally though both are next door kinds the one on the right if you face the hotel is recommended. We booked a private matador van ticket..many such people operate for the next day morning to take us around dwarka which is nageshwar a one of the 12 jotirlinga shrine of Shiva, gopi talav (where krishna used to play with gopikas and where you get the special slightly yellow mud called chandan that you apply on head and body ), bet dwarka(palace of lord Krishna for which you travel by boat) , rukmini devi temple. The charge is Rs 200. Generally these leave through the day..but we took the 6.30 am one..we had a good dharshan of all these and returned to dwarka by 1 pm. Rested till 3 pm. Took a bus to porbander about 2 hrs away. Had booked my tickets from Porbandar to Ahmedabad by train by 10 pm. So from 6 pm generally hung around porbander and then came to the wonderful beach here sat for about 3 hrs and then went to the station to board the train to Ahmedabad.

How to reach

Nearest Airport –Jamnagar,Porbander

Nearest Rail Head/ Railway Station – Dwarka,Okha. From Mumbai you can take the train below. You can take the same trai from Ahmedabad by 5 am also. Otherwise travel to porbander and take a bus from there to Dwarka which takes about 2 hrs.

1
9005
SAURASHTRA MAIL
20:25
15:13
M T W TH F S SU


Road Access: There are many buses from Ahmedabad,Rajkot,Porbander.

Preferred travel base: Ahmedabad

STD Code of Ahmedabad -072

Railway Station code for Chennai Central – MAS Chennai Egmore (MS) Coimbatore –CBE Madurai –MDU Trichy Thiruchchirapalli – TPJ Tirunelveli Tenkasi - TSI , Kumbakonam –KMU Mumbai –BCT for Bombay Central, DR for Dadar, LTT Kurla Lokamanya Tilak Station, BVI for Borivali,Ahmedabad –ADI,Veravel – VRL, Dwarka -DWK . These codes are given to help you in booking through the site given below.

For Internet/ Mobile Railway ticket Booking in India use http://www.irctc.co.in/


blog, dharshan, India, pilgrimage, plan, sight seeing, south india, temple, temple visit, temples, temples near, tour, travel, visit, visiting temples,trip, kumbakonam, kumbakkonam, Divyadesam,Divya Desam,Nava, hotels,lodges,arupadaiveedu, aru padai veedu, aalayam, alayam, worship, paadal petra sthalam, kovil,koil, heritage, hindu

Trip to Thiruneermalai and Trishulanathar temple near chennai airport

Keywords: Temple Temples India South India Tamilnad Tamilnadu Visit, Tour Pilgrimage, Dharshan ,



You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan..you can also write to me on the mail id above for adding anything more to make it more useful and informative every small info will help as it has probably helped you so please write in..…



Thiruneermalai

Tiruneermalai, Thiruneer malai, Tiruneer Malai


This is a divya desam of Vishnu ..

Details about the temple through links:

http://www.divyadesamonline.com/hindu/temples/chennai/tiruneermaialai-temple.asp

http://templenet.com/Tamilnadu/df061.html


Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- 044 Phone Number :22385484

How I went:

On 16th May 2007, early morning 6 am went by scooter on airport tambaram highway and after pallavaram there is a road that takes right which leads to the temple..was there by 7 am..there is a near dry temple tank..then there is a temple at the bottom of the hill and then there is a 200 step climb up a small hill that again leads to ranganathar temple.. had to wait long..generally I was told the temple opens at 8 am..did archanai/pooja with coconut et all and offered tulsi mala three pieces and one jasmine mala to the gods up hill and oe each to lords at the bottom of the hill..I loved this place after an hour proceeded to Trishulanathar temple enroute…


Trishulanathar Temple

Thrisulanathar


This is a divya desam of Vishnu ..

Details about the temple through links:

http://www.eprarthana.com/temples/chennai/tn216tris.asp?tid=216


Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- 044 Phone Number :

How I went:

On 16th May 2007, after finishing my vist to tiruneermalai, by 8 am I took a road very near trisulam station and opposite airport ..then took a right to thistemple..its about 2 km from main road…I found the temple to be of fairly old origin a good temple to see of lord Shiva…

Trip to Ashtalakshmi Temple and Kaligambal Temple Chennai

Trip to Ashtalakshmi Temple and Kaligambal Temple Chennai


Keywords: Temple Temples India South India Tamilnad Tamilnadu Visit, Tour Pilgrimage, Dharshan ,
Ashta Lakshmi Eight Kalikambal

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan..you can also write to me on the mail id above for adding anything more to make it more useful and informative every small info will help as it has probably helped you so please write in..…

Ashtalakshmi Temple Besant Nagar, Chennai

Today March 23rd 2007 is a Friday .this temple is near besant nagar beach..ask for kalakshetra colony and ask for directions ..it is on the beach….came here at 10.30 am..bought 3 small tulasi malas for Vishnu (Main Deity), anjaneya and guruvayur appan, and 9 bits of jasmine flower mala which is one for Laksmi (Main Deity) with Vishnu and others for 8 lakshmi’s you can get to do pooja to all 8 lakhmi’s listed below for Rs 101 by buying a ticket they will give a kum mum packet that you keep giving to priests..tehy willreturn it after doing kum kum archana to to the lakshmi’s to carry to the other lakshmi..so at the end you would have done poojas to all lakshmi’s and each lakshmi would have given her kum kum Prasad to you in the same packet…


The eight Mahalakshmi's are Sri Aadhi lakshmi the Goddess of health, Sri Dhanya lakshmi the Goddess of food, Sri Dhairya lakshmi the Goddess of courage, Sri Gaja lakshmi the Goddess of luck, Sri Santhana Lakshmi the Goddess of children, Sri Dhana lakshmi the Goddess of wealth, Sri Vijaya lakshmi the Goddess of victory and Sri Vidya lakshmi the Goddess of education. Other deities in the temple are Hanuman, Guruvayurappan and Ganesh

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/mahalakshmi.asp


http://www.saigan.com/heritage/temple/8lakshmi.html


Kaligambal Temple Chennai

This temple is in thambuchetty street..Tuesday and Fridays are very crowded…most info on the temple is in the link below which is their official site

http://www.chennaisrikaligambal.com/

On March 23rd Prahalad (son) and I reached this temple at 4 pm ..bought coconut et all for archanai and a 54 lemon mala ..did our first prayer to lord vinayaga ganesh on the side of the main temple and then went inside in que..after you exit from dharshan you can go around and come back in and que again for sitting in front of the goddess..there is no payment and no special ticket etc..everyone is allowed in que… this is the best part..

Trip to Panchavati Anjaneyar Hanuman and Prathyankara Devi near Pondicherry

Trip to Panchavati Anjaneyar Temple and Prathyankara Temple Moratandi Pondicherry

Keywords: Visit Tour Pilgrimage Dharshan Temple India Tamilnadu Tamilnad Panchavatee Hanuman Panchamukha Panchamuga, Anjaneya
Pondy, Puducheri
Prathiyangera prathyankara pratyankara prathyangira



You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan..you can also write to me on the mail id above for adding anything more to make it more useful and informative I will do that…

On 06-02-07 I went to koyembedu bus stand at 4 am and boarded a bus to pondycherry via tindivanam route…in about 2 hrs and 40 minutes I got down at Panchavati Anjaneya temple..please tell your conductor you wish to get down in this temple and that he has to take the responsibility of reminding you…it comes on the left hand side of the road and the temple is on the main road itself…my conductor kept shouting somewhere despite several reminders..so I missed out on getting down anyways 99% of the busses stop in kootu road which is just about 5 min ahead..got down there and too an auto from there for rs.20 getting back on the same road..thedharshan of 5 headed anjaneyar was good …did pooja and then 5 rounds of the temple..its a fairly new temple and has a link to the founder of anjaneyar temple nanganallur Chennai..they give you nice Prasadam to eat..for this you need to exit through the right gate(if you stand facing hanuman there will be a right wall and a small exit..on the very same side you also have very neat toilets..after eating proceeded to prthankara temple about 20 min from here

phoneno of panchavati temple: 0413-2678823, 2671232

Prathyankara Temple


http://www.pondyonline.com/User/Common/NikumbhalaShetram.aspx



I took an auto from panchavati for Rs 40 to drop me at Prathyankara temple..it is off the main road by about three km..bought coconut et all with red arali flower garland and then proceeded to do an archanai at the temple..u have to break the coconut outside the temple and carry it inside..someone will help u in this ..she is a very very powerful goddess thre are two statues of her one outside open to sky stand 72 feet tall and one inside slightly underground about 4 feet…this place is in the midst of 8 graveyards(don’t panic) ..you cant see them..many evil forces (if you believe) just leave as you enter the temple…I saw one lady jus tbehaving abnormally on entering and the priest caught her front tuft of hair and poured holy water and next 5 min she walked out as though nothing was ever wrong with her daughter and husband…I came out and then lit two lamps near the open to sky statue..the goddess loves to be worshiped on 8th day after full moon called ashtami..on this day they do pooja in midnight till 4 am..generally Tuesdays, new moon days and Friday are little crowded

temple ph no: 0413-3204288,2907871

From here if you want to get back to Chennai..go back in auto for rs 20 to the main road ie tindivanam pondycherry road ..dont try going back in tindivanam route Chennai busses..busses don’t stop or are very crowded…go to pondicherry in private busses that ply and take a ECR road bus to Chennai..i did that.. was back by 5 pm…

Trip to Tiruvannamalai Thiruvannamalai Thiru Annamalai Arunachaleshwar Annamalaiyar Seshadri & Ramana ashram,temple,travel,visit,tour

CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGE IN FULL BRIGHT SCREEN MODE TO SEE THE MAGNIFIED AND CLEAR IMAGE AND THEN USE BACK BUTTON TO GO BACK

Visit to Tiruvannamalai Thiruvannamalai Thiru Annamalai Arunachaleshwar Annamalaiyar Seshadri Swamigal & Ramanashram Ramana ashram skandashram skandashramam virupaksha cave

Keywords:

Annamalayaar or Arunachaleswarar Sri Yogi Ram Surat Kumar

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan..you can also write to me on the mail id above for adding anything more to make it more useful and informative I will do that…

For all your travel or taxi or lodging needs in Tiruvannamalai  please contact Mr.Palani of Surya Travels 9486203072 (info posted on Nov 13 2013)..You can refer my name as Ashok from Coimbatore. He will serve you well.

Use links below to know on the temple

http://tiruvannamalai.yogiramsuratkumar.net/Tiruvannamalai_Tourist_Information.html

What is so special about the place with respect to spitituality..read link ( http://tiruvannamalai.yogiramsuratkumar.net/Tiruvannamalai_Pilgrimage.html )

http://akdurairaj.tripod.com/html/temple_history.html

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/Tiruvannamalai/tiruvannamalai.html

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Tamil-Nadu/Tiruvannamalai.htm

Though I have come here many times I am blogging on this trip since I am taking Prahalad my son there for the first time under guidance of my Guru.Mr.Uma Chander on Swathi Nakshatra Day which is on 5th.


We came back on 4th afternoon 1.30 to Chennai from Tirupati and after resting till 3 pm went to koyembedu bus stand Chennai to take a bus to Tiruvannamalai which is about 4 hrs from the time the bus starts. Reached there by 8 pm.

I normally stay at kalaimagal lodge details below which is just 100 mtrs from temple..

Hotel Kalaimagal lodge-04175(std code) Phone 254215 normally a double room is Rs 350 here and you can do a phone reservation before you start ..similarly u canstay very next door to main entrance of temple in hotel arunachala 04175228 300,228400,228488.....www.hotelarunachala.com

If you want to stay near ramanashram and seshadri ashram you can stay at ARUNA home..u can call Mr.Satish/Arumugam for reservations on 9486722892 or on 04175 236120. http://www.arhometvm.com/ is their site and arhome_sathish@yahoo.com is their id for email contact.

Other lodges where you can stay are in the link below

http://tiruvannamalai.yogiramsuratkumar.net/Tiruvannamalai_Lodge_Addresses.html

I also visit this place during kartikkai deepam when I stay at ashrams below.. use the std codes above..u need to reserve here before hand u can also mail them..generally you need to donate Rs.1000 to ashram for feeding the poor..the rooms would cost Rs 100..if you are planning a visit during deepam book your rooms in ashram latest by August..ramanashram ( http://www.ramana-maharshi.org/ashram_frameset.htm ) also serves food during your stay..seshadri ashram has a canteen you can buy from.. both ashrams are literally next door and it may cost rs 20 or rs 30 from temple or bus stand to ashram by auto.

other ashrams where you can stay are given in link below

http://tiruvannamalai.yogiramsuratkumar.net/Tiruvannamalai_Ashram_Address.html

It is supposed to be very good for you if you can do the girivalam going around the mountain or hill Arunachala near its base which is 14 km..( http://tiruvannamalai.yogiramsuratkumar.net/Tiruvannamalai_Girivalam.aspx )the route is tar road and on plain ground....any day is preferable.. but full moon day and the day of deepam are the most preferred…it will be very very crowded on these days but still you can walk around..it takes 4 hours by walk to do the giri valam girivalam parikrama if you don’t have the time you can go around the mountain in auto ..on the way there are 8 lingas shiva temples in 8 directions which you are supposed to visit and offer prayers as you go around..the auto charges are rs 200 for this

http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/ organises tours on full moon days..click on the link and go to tours and see the details which are given below

Fare Details
Tickets
Coach
Fare per person
Adult
A/C
Rs.500/-
Adult
Non A/C
Rs.290/-
Remarks
Special Darshan Rs. 50/- extra for the tour leaving at 10 a.m.
Tour Days & Duration
One-day tour. Leaves Chennai on all Full Moon day at 10.00 a.m. / 2:00 p.m. and returns at 6:00 a.m. on the next day.
Places Covered On the tour
Thiruvannamalai Girivalam
Book Online Book Offline

Seshadri ashram-236999,238599

Ramanashram 237292

Ramanashram
04175
237292

ashram@ramana-maharshi.org
http://www.ramana-maharshi.org/ashram_frameset.htm
Seshadri ashram
04175
236999
238599




After settling in the room we had our tiffen and slept….next day morning 6 am we were there in temple after bath..bought coconut et all for archanai first on the entry gate is a ganesh vinayakar ..prayed to him..then immediately you have lord muruga temple where he appeared in front of Arunagirinathar…then there is a bid nandi (bull)..then you enter inside ..at 6 am you can normally find the koil madu cow fully decorated ..offer it agathi plant leaves..the person minding the cow will offer this to you…seek its blessings..if you want to watch the cow opening the temple door be there in front of the door by 5.15…they do a pooja to cow and then only open the temple by a push to the door by the cow..you will also find the temple elephant seek its blessings..on the side you get vilva leaves in a temple authorized shop..shiva is very fond of this..buy kum kum for the goddess …you can also nuy ghee for pouring in the lamp in front of lord shiva…by now you will be near a big orange vinayaga lord ganesh..pray to him.. after this you can get a special entrance ticket for rs 20.. see the lord..if you want to do special pooja or abhishekam the two people whose contacts are given below will be of help..please call them one or two days in advance so that they can assist you please pay them personally what you feel generally rs 100 and above…they are temple priests so don’t talk to them as if they are some tout or guide or someone who is after money..please treat and talk normally and respectfully…


PT Shankar Sivaachariyar
9443219925
04175220188 (residence)
Pt.shankar@yahoo.co.in


V.Murthi gurukkal

9443542859

After lord shiva’s siva’s dharshan he call lord Annamalaiyar here..go around the outer pathway and then reach the temple of goddess Unnamulai Amman. The special entrance ticket for twenty is for both …after this come out and pray to navagrahas planets..and then go around the temple (inner outer path that will circle both lord shiva and goddess) once or three times..exit..near the outer nandi you will find patala linga a place underground where ramana maharishi meditated and from where seshadri maha rishi brought him out…


After exiting we went to seshadri ashram which can be viewed in half hour ..in front of this ashram is a hotel which serves continental cuisine that is good..there is lot of space and lot of foreigners will also be there seen relaxing…then we went by walk to ramana maharishi ashram meditated and then walked to the back of the ashram where there is a gate that leads to a pathway which takes you to a cave skandashram skandashramam where ramana maharishi had meditated..the climb is about 40 min up the mountain track..fairly easy climb since the path is a rough laid path..you will gasp for breath though..after meditiating at the cave where you will realize what silence is…just go slightly up on stairs that lead from the cave about 20 steps and you will reach a nice stream of water and a big tree under which you can relax..then you take a different path down right in front of the cave to virupaksha cave where again ramana had meditated…this cave is bigger dark and silent too..then you visit gughai namasivayar temple on the way down..ask some one for directions..if you keep going down you will reach the outer wall of the temple..take an auto to you place of stay..from here we took an auto for rs 250 to and fro to meet an 80 year old saint called Shri Vellaianandha Swamigal in a place called Karumarpatti which is about 20 km from Tiruvannamalai and got his blessings... we did all this and then vacated the room, boarded the bus to Chennai (there is a token system for reserving seats in a line..please use it) and were back in Chennai at 5pm on 5th…

Near temple i would recommend abirami hotel for breakfast and lunch..
Near ramanashram opposite seshadri ashram there is Aura Usha in for continental feed especially for foreigners it also has indian food and buffet...again in seshadri ashram there is a hotel just inside entrance which serves good breakfast and lunch and dinner...

If you have time you could also visit TiruKovilur Divya Desam Vishnu temple and thiruvarangam vishnu temple from here these are at 45 distance..it may take 4 hrs to and fro...

Trip to Tirupati Tirupathi Thirupati Tirumala Balaji Venkateswara temple,travel,visit,tour,Seva

The above is the leaflet for going to Tirupati from chennai (std code 044) by bus by APSRTC ph no 65439987, cell 9840580577 and fax 24353373.

CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGES AND USE FULL BRIGHT SCREEN MODE TO SEE CLEARLY

THe tour covers kalahasthi also on weekends when it starts at 6.30 pm instead of 5 am.

They also arrange the dharshan ticket with a guide to take you.

Trip to Tirupati Tirupathi Thirupati Tirumala Balaji Venkateswara temple

TTD Tirumala Tirupati devasthanam devasthanams link to know more on the temple..

http://www.tirumala.org/

http://withfriendship.com/user/fraud/tirumala-tirupati-temple-photos.php

By Tirupati we mean the lower foot hill..and Tirumala refers to the top of the mountain..

Please see the link below to know on Tirupati and Tirumala it is exhaustive…

The link below is for knowing on Tirupati though the link says tirumala at the end..

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Andhra/Tirumala.htm

The link below is on the temple on top of the hill tirumala

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Andhra/Triumala.htm

From Chennai you can reach here by bus or car (approx 3 hrs drive) or by train which is what I find convenient..people coming from north etc can alight at Renigunta junction very near tirupati

Important Note: There are enough share jeeps busses frm renigunta and lower tirupati to go to tirumala(hill top). lower tirupati to hill top jeep charges are rs 25 per person and nearly same by bus. lower tirupati station to bus stand is rs 20 by auto. renigunta is just 20 minutes drive from lower tirupati. for visiting tiruchanur and govindraj perumal temple from lower tirupati after you finist the hill dharshan it is rs 80 by auto as a package. for going to kalahasti(famous shiva temple where you can do pooja for rahu) and back you can hire a jeep or auto at rs 400 to and fro from lower tirupati. for any tour of many temples in lower tirupati you can engage an auto for rs 300 or so. car will be costlier. my sugesstion is auto as long a syou are 4-5 persons.

For people who wish to stay at lower tirupati ie foothills(from here main tirupathi temple on the hill is about half hr drive by share jeep @ rs 25 or by local busses at same cost) u can stay at

Bhimas Deluxe Hotel 34-38 G. Car Street Tirupati - 517501 Phone:+91-877-2225521 Fax:+91-877-2225471 .THey have non ac and ac rooms at Rs750 & Rs 950(respectively) + taxes. Another hotel nearby is Mayura ph no 0877 2225925. APart from this there are so many hotels for stay and all are not even 25 meteres from station. So you can come here without any fear on availability of rooms.

I normally plan to see the lord as he is Vishnu on Wednesday which is his day..

Have been here many times..this is a trip that I am blogging on..Prahalad (son) and I got up at 4 am on 3rd Tuesday… had a bath and went to Chennai central station and boarded the 6.25 sitting train (low fare) (u get enough tiffen to eat breakfast on train so you don’t need to carry)

Station code Chennai MAS and Tirupati TPTY..have given the trains starting from Chennai with time blow similarly have given the return train timings from tirupati to Chennai in the table below that

S#
Select
Train No
Train Name
Departure
Arrival
Runs on
1
6053
TIRUPATHI EXP
13:50
17:00
M T W TH F S SU


2
6057
SAPTHAGIRI EXP
06:25
09:30
M T W TH F S SU


3
6203
TIRUPATHY EXP
16:35
20:05
M T W TH F S SU



S#
Select
Train No
Train Name
Departure
Arrival
Runs on
1
6054
MADRAS EXPRESS
10:05
13:20
M T W TH F S SU


2
6058
SAPTAGIRI EXP
17:20
20:35
M T W TH F S SU



Reached tirupati at 9.30 am..there is a seva called arjitha seva at 5.30 in the morning..you can book for that in Chennai t nagar office (phone 044 std code-24343535..you can enquire on which date it is available from..this also entitles you to a room booking at tirumala from chennai itself by having your photo and right hand fore finger print (biometric) for a date generally 20 days ahead onwards.. …generally I land at tirupati like I did at 9.30 am and then immediately go to srinivasa complex rs 20 by auto from tirupati station..there you have counters where generally arjitha seva booking is available for the next day at 5.30 am..i have always been able to get it..generally I also call the numbers below to find if the day I propose to visit is some special day at tirupati like rama navami etc..if they say it is a normal day then you will get the seva ticket..if it is a special day then there is going to be lot of crowd and I generally avoid it…it is also best to avoid visiting here in vacation time ie april may june..it will also be very hot here…real sweltering heat…
Updated Aug 2010:NOW THEY HAVE OPENED ANOTHER ROUTE FOR CLIMBING DIRECTLY WITH 2000 ODD STEPS IN 2.5 HRS CALLED CHANDRAGIRI ROUTE..NOW ALL SEVAS HAVE BEEN RATIONALISED AND IF U WANT QUICK DARSHAN U JUST GO UP THE HILL AND GO TO VAIKUNTAM COMPLEX BETWEEN 9 AM AND 6PM AND GET A RS.300 SEEGHRA(means fast darshan) DHARSHAN TICKET AND HAVE A DARSHAN AND COME OUT IN 1 -1.5 HRS.
Postal Address
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams TTD Administrative BuildingK.T. Road Tirupati 517 501Andhra PradeshIndia.
Phone/Fax

STD Code of Tirupathi 0877

Phone: +91-877-2231777 (Tirupati)Phone: +91-877-2277777 (Tirumala)Fax: +91-877-2230358
Rate of arjitha seva ticket is Rs.200 children below 12 years need not buy it…otherwise any adult has to buy one for himself/herself..so if 2 adults are there you need two tickets and rs 400 will be the ticket cost and so on for every extra adult.. if u dont get this ticket in the same srinivasa comples ask where sudharshan tokens for rs 50 are issued and register there...i have also used this and seen lord balaji in 2 hrs time ...generally this ticket will give you a time of visit you can go upto 1 1/2 hrs before the time or after the time and join the que in vaikumdam complex.. for going to vaikundam complex ask any local jeeps to drop you near the entrance of the que ..they will tell u where to join the que...

So with the arjita seva ticket I am guranteed of a dharshan of balaji venkateswara with relative ease and peace the next day and an accomodation..after this from the srinivasa complex we hire an auto Rs 30 to drop us near the alipiri gate the starting place if you are going to climb up the mountain (others can go fron srinivasa complex to bus stand or just near the station to take a bus or take a jeep at rs 25 per head to reach the hill top tirumala in 25 minutes)..

some photos of the steps...

http://aarbalaji.blogspot.com/search/label/Tirupathi%20Tirumala

you can handover your luggage at counter near the start point( please ensure you have locks for the bags)..they(temple authorities) will transport the bags up free of cost and you can collect the same near the exit..)climbing is a tad difficult for old people..it is 16 km uphill and about 3800 steps..first 2000 are steep…after that it is 2-3 steps and a flat piece then again steps…you can always rest and climb..there are enough refreshments, water all along..the path is also covered on top so that rain or sun doesn’t hit you directly..asthmatic patients( I am slightly asthmatic especially during dec and jan) please be on light stomach and take your drugs and cortisol spray..if you are on full stomach you will find it difficult to climb..generally climb early in the morning 4 am or by 6 pm..(till then once you have booked your tickets for the dharshan you can go around tirupati or rest..)..the climb takes 4 hrs for me..am a fairly fit person…we reached up and immediately went to the centralized room booking counter very near the exit..your dharshan ticket entitles you to room you need to pay according to the room type and no of persons..generally get decent rooms at rs 100..SINGLE PERSON IS NOT GIVEN A ROOM..IF YOU ARE SINGLE YOU HAVE TO STAY AT LOWER TIRUPATI(FOOTHILS OF TIRUMALA)you can also ask for cottages which are independent houses..then there are ac rooms too..i normally ask for rooms very near the counter where they book since I find that easy.. just before rooms or cottages are allotted ask them if they are near the temple..if not from far away cottages it is a tad difficult to commute..normally many people come in car or va they take those cottages since they always have ameans of transport..the other thing is availability of different shopping things you require everyday like tea coffee etc is in plenty near the temple and not so near slightly far cottages..THERE ARE ALSO PRIVATE COTTAGES NEAR VYSRAJ MUTT APROXX COST AC WOULD BE 900 FOR A DOUBLE ROOM...AM GIVING ONE SUCH COTTAGE NO SRI VYASARAJ MUTT 0877 2270352, 2270096 U CAN BOOK YOUR ROOMS HERE BEFORE YOU START ON YOUR JOUNY FROM ANY PLACE...
during winter it will be very chill you can carry your own warm clothing or wollen carpets are available on rent in shops near by..every accommodation complex has hot water geysers from where you have to fetch hot water to your room…after this there is a hotel called mayura (they have the hotel in 3 places on the hill)where the food is tasty and very reasonably priced..we had our lunch..rested till 3 pm tonsured our heads mottai at places called kalyan ghatta you can enquire on which is the nearest place for tonsuring (hindi taklu) you get a free blade..i carry some blades with me as half blade cannot tonsure shave etc..i also carry my own rajor which fits the blade…you can tip the barber rs 10…they cant demand it..then had a nice bath enjoyed the feeling of freedom you have when you shave of your hair from the head..and then hired a taxi for 200 (sharing) to go to 6 places lords padam(feet) sila thoranam (http://www.tirumala.org/ptv_tm_others.htm) and chakra thirtha…then they will take you to papavinasam water falls, akash ganga, venugopalswamy temple etc..you can take bath there.. ensure you hit the forest gate to go to both the falls before 6 pm other wise you cant go as gates will be closed..only the entry is restricted you can have a bath and come back at 9 pm too..there are busses that take you here too..we came back and had a bath at swami pushkarni (temple tank)..http://www.tirumala.org/ptv_tm_teerth.htm the water is only chest deep for an adult so go down the steps and then it is flat and not slippery ..it appears deep near till the railing it is not..after railing it may be deep..so enjoy your bath…when you come out there are showers to bathe again…after this we ate again rested for the night…for generally travelling to places within tirumala you can take jeeps..the average fares are rs 20…

On 4th morning we got up at 3 am had a bath and took a jeep rs 20 to drop us near the arjita seva que ..each seva que starts at a particular place so ask on this..by 4 am we stood in the que ..you can also reach here by 4.45 am..your dharshan will be late..the que generally starts moving within half hour and please ensure that you don’t carry cell phones as you are screened for them..keep what you are carrying to the very minimal.the que lead you to the dharshan point by 5.45 am..this is not a jostling kind of que..you can be fairly free..have your dharshan and come out and see the gold plating on top of the temple from view point..drop money in hundi and exit..yout archanai ticket also gives you two free laddos to be collected..exit the temple entrance and ask some one on how to reach the counter…rs 2 per plastic bag is sold..buy this for collecting your ladoos..prasad..you can buy more too by paying…after this we vacated our rooms and took a jeep downhill…it leaves you near the station from there we went to tiruchanur padmavati temple by auto rs.60..it is customary to visit this temple after a dharshan of lord Balaji..after this we visited govindraja perumal temple again customery..this temple is 50 meters from station..after this we had a good breakfast at bhimas deluxe very near the temple and station which is a very good hotel to stay as well as have food..then we took our train back to Chennai at 10.05 am and reached Chennai at 1.20 pm.

So crux is whether you have a dharshan booking if so on which date and time..plan accordingly..ideally two to three day will be real good and the weather at tirupati in winter is awesome and fresh..if you want you can also do your room booking at tirupati (lower foothill) and be back there for the night stay go back up again jeeps are always available to go up…

Important: Please plan to go to Sri Kalahasti about 25 km from tirupati (lower foot hill) the temple of shiva and worship rahu raghu..this is a planet that requires propitiation...see link below

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.net/India-Guide/IndianStates/Andhra/Kalahasti.htm

Online seva hotel hundi booking

Though I am a total net person I have never been able to get any seva booking on this as it is not available or quota not released..I think it is just used by the people in the know to book for themselves within the ttd…just giving the link…

http://www.ttdsevaonline.com/eseva/eSevaHome.aspx

Trip Tour to Kumbakonam and Navagraha Temple Temples -Part TWO

Please see the link below first to get a general idea on navagraha navagrah temple trip tour

http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/05/trip-to-navagraha-temple-temples.html

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan




I had taken a train to trichy on 7th aug 2006 and after visiting uchi ucchi pillayar there to seek his blessings embarked on my navagraha tour trip by coming from trichy to kumbakonam by 10 pm…put up at MSM Lodge phone no Std code (0435) phone.no. 2431512...other hotels in kumbakonam...please see links bellow for hotels in kumbakonam..have stayed in MSM lodge most times and in hotel rayas(near mahamaham tank)ph no 0435 2422545, 2423172, 2423170,fax2422479, site:www.hotelrayas.com ..msm is cheaper say rs 250you get singel room... msm also has a slightly newer hotel very near the tel no is 2433224,25..i stay in msm because it is very close to the bus stand where i get busess to go to various temples easily

http://www.kumbakonam.tn.gov.in/BoardLodge.htm


http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/hotels/privatehotels/ThanjavurHotels.aspx?catid=C7&subcat1id=C7S2&subcat2id=C7S2S10&sm=C7S2S10

you can alternatively take the direct train no 6177 rockfort express at 10.30 pm from Chennai egmore (and not Chennai central) to reach kumbakonam at 7.30 am.. if you want you can get town at tanjore thanjavur at 6.15 am traveling by the same train and visit brahadeeswarar temple big temple and then come to kumbakonam… station code chennai egmore (MS) Kumbakonam (KMU) Tanjore Thanjavur (TJ)

temples in and around kumbakonam

http://www.kumbakonamonline.com/abouttemp.html

Visited on Tuesday 8th Aug 2006

Mars Chevvai, Angarakan Mangal Navagraha Temple

This is doctor shiva and he helps in any health issues you have Came here at 6 am..there is a well maintained toilet and bath right near the east tower... had a bath in huge temple pond inside (it supposed to be very powerful pond for cleaning up your health)..you shld take bath here..buy salt pepper mustard and jaggery(gur) then put salt, pepper and mustard after circling your head with it 3 times clockwise in a box meant for it and take jaggery to teple pond and put a small piece inside pond and other pieces in a tub near by......after this did archanai to shiva and ambal..then to muthukumarasamy who is lord muruga and then archanai to lord mars who stands separately..then visited jatayu’s cremation place(kund)place inside where you get some round tablets(called thiruchandurundai) for good health…from here I proceeded to sirkali temple ...and then to ketu’s temple

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/vaitheeswarankoil.asp

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s207.html

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/mars.asp

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/angaaragan.asp

Sirkali, Sirgazhi, seerkali, Seerghazhi

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/sirgazhi.asp

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s088.html

Ketu Navagraha Temple

Rahu kalam is between 3 pm and 4.30 pm..on tuesday i went..otherwise ask people for rahu kalam on the day of visit and go during this time...did pooja to shiva and ambal and then to lord ketu….you can pay for the pooja to ketu..rs 250 for dosha rectifying pooja and rs750 for abishek..it is done only during rahu kal..…it is very crowded on a Tuesday which is a day liked by ketu for pooja…


http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/Navagraha/keezhperum.html

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/lordkethu.asp

The details below is of priests at the temple and the temple address.. the priests whose contact details are given below will be of help if you want to do a pooja..please mention Mr.Ashok of Chennai had referred


Keelaperumalpallm
04364 std code -phone 260582
9442860605
ManiPattu Gurukal
kethustalam,naganatankoil,kelaperumalpallam,Vanagiri 609105

04364 STD code -phone 260088
9443564643
Manikarthikeya Gurukal
kethustalam,naganatankoil,kelaperumalpallam,Vanagiri 609105

Please mention Mr.Ashok from Chennai had referred.

Visited on Wednesday 9th Aug 2006

Mercury Budha Budh Navagraha Temple

On Tuesday evening reached the lodge mentioned below right in front of the temple and slept over..got up at 5 am ..it is customary to take bath first in three temple ponds agni pond, soorya pond and Chandra pond..and then went to the temple..... did that…there is a ganesh near shiva lingam outside..first did pooja to him ..then did archanai to shiva..then proceeded to do archanai to ambal and lord mercury budha after this I had been asked by my guru to do an abhishekam to agoramoorthy agoramurthy aghoramoorthy aghoramurthy…lord shiva is in full form idol here and not a linga ..he is real tall..he is supposed to ward of all evil eyes etc.. left for kumbakonam…there is a very nice mess called Baskar mess nearby the budha temple where you get good breakfast and homely meals/lunch...
Ramalinga lodge-Tiruvengadu

4364 275410
9442398180
At tiruvengadu you may take the help of Priest T.A Dakshinamoorthy

04364-26631(info given by Mr. A.M Damodaran after reading my blog and visiting the place. Thanks a lot since any addition to this blog from different people with useful info is useful for people around the world. )

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s263.html

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/thiruvenkadu.asp

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/budhan.asp

Visited on Thursday 10th Aug 2006


Jupiter Guru Navagraha Temple

Took a bus from kumbakonam to this place Aalangudi..ask in busses that go to mannargudi to drop you off there..tell the conductor...Got down and walked a kilometer to reach the temple pond this is not near the temple..u need to ask people there..dipped my feet and did proshadham(sprinkling water on head)..went to the temple and did archanai to lord shiva and ambal and then paid rs 750 to do an abhishekam (various offerings like tender coconust,turmeric water, rose water etc) poured on the main deity Jupiter dakshinamoorthy..only if you go at 6.30 am can you do to the main deity after that you can only do to the urchava moorthy separate idols that are not fixed in temple..returned to kumbakonam

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s039.html

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/guru.asp

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/alangudi.asp

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/LordGuru.asp

Mr Siva whose contact details are given below will be of help if you want to do a pooja..please mention Mr.Ashok of Chennai had referred

Alangudi
04374 std code-phone residence-269763 Mobile: 9442820658

Siva


Visited on Friday 11th Aug 2006

Venus Sukran Sukiran Navagraha Temple

Took a bus from kumbakonam to this place Kanjanoor kanjanur. Got down and took an auto..did archanai to shiva and ambal ..then lord venus is again shiva an ambal together..did my archanai lit lamp and went to tirunageswaram temple to do pooja to rahu…

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s060.html

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/Lordsukran.asp

Raghu, Rahu Navagraha Temple

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s164.html

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/lordrahu.asp

Also see my own blog on this temple using link below..

http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/05/trip-to-tirunageswaram-rahu-temple.html

ThirunageswaramOn 11th morning I reached this temple at 10 am. I had seen from the almanac that it was rahu raghu’ star sadhayam today ..This place is just 6 km from kumbakonam and regular mini busses can take you here if not auto charge is rs 60…..bus no 13,15,22,23,58,60 go here..This is the famous temple of rahu raghu…..I went to the temple tank inside the campus but very near the entrance to the temple and dipped my feet and did proshadam …ideally u need to have a bath in this tank..prayed to lord ganesh..and then prayed to lord shiva, ambal (godess ..there are two goddesses ..in one of them there are three godesses) and then to navagrahas in front. Thereafter lit 21 lamps… paid rs 100 to get a milk abhishekam done to rahu during rahu kalam between 10.30 and 12 am ..many people participate in this and milk is provided by the temple authorities..it is best to do it in rahu kalam (refer almanac for time for each week day)..and still more preferable to do it on one of the stars of rahu ie swathi, aridra or sadhyam sadabisha in rahu kalam…you can get a list of various schemes of temple to propitiate rahu year long…the milk turns blue when poured on rahu idol and then white again…they ask you to assemble after the ceremony in a corridor when they give Prasad in a bag along with a bottle of milk which was pored on rahu..please drink it immediately as it will not last longer than that and will curdle and become bad

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s164.htmlhttp://www.kumbakonam.info/kumbakonam/tinages/info/myth.htmtherehttp://www.kumbakonam.info/kumbakonam/tinages/info/myth.htmthere

is a temple guest house –phone-04352463354 where you can stay or there are many houses coverted for stay near the entrance..there is a nice brahmin mess about 25 meters from the entrance tower of the temple…forget the name ..wil write in later..I furnish below the phone number of chellappa gurukal who can organize for the pooja with sufficient notice ..he is one of the priests gurukkal at rahu raghu temple in tirunageswaram thirunageshwaram..mobile no 9443578604..you can refer my name and that I am from chennai..

Visited on Saturday 12th Aug 2006

Saturn Sani Shani Navagraha Temple

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s160.html

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/lordsani.asp

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/lordsani.asp

visit the link below for details

http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/05/trip-to-tirunallar-thirunallar.html

Visited on Sunday 13th Aug 2006

Sun Sooryanar Suriyan Navagraha Temple

http://www.suriyanarkoil.com/engmodeofworship.htm

http://www.suriyanarkoil.com/contact.htm

Took a bus going to mayiladuthurai...you have come near the place when you come to aduturai...after that it is 5 minutes..you have to get down and walk or pay rs 20 and take an auto to drop you off there about a km walk..tell the condductor to tell you when you reach suriyanarkoil.

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/maysun.asp

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/suryanaar.html

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/surya.asp

visit the link below for details

http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/05/trip-to-sooriyanar-soorianar-suryanaar.html

Visited on Monday 14th Aug 2006

Moon Chandra Navagraha Temple

Took a bus from kumbakonam to this place Tingaloor. Got down and took an auto..there is a temple pond outside the temple..u need to ask people there..dipped my feet and did proshadham..did archanai to shiva and ambal..then went to lord moon Chandra and did special poojas and archani to him..went back to kumbakonam

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/Navagraha/tingalur.html

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/moongod.asp

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/chandran.asp

Took the train rockfort express at 7.30 pm from kumbakonam to Chennai ..thus ended my navagraha tour..

Trip to Navagraha temple temples Navagraha Tour Kumbakkonam Kumbakonam- Part One

Trip to navagraha Navagrah temple temples near Kumbakonam –dosha pariharam rectification of planetary dosha

Please see my photo images above ..they give a good idea on how you can reach..the distance in km and other temples nearby ..please click on the image and use fullbright screen mode on your computer screen to see full details..even the phone nos of temples with std code is there in the image ..after viewing image click back arrow (left handside top of computer screen)
You can also use link below for route planning

http://www.marskarthik.com/navagraha.html

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan


General tips:

It is Preferable to plan a two day tour. If you can you should visit each of the temples on the weekday at 6.30 am to 7 am meant for it except rahu and ketu..Ketu is better to see on Tuesday during rahu kalam and rahu on Saturday or rahu kalam on any day ..for all other dharshans avoid rahu kalams for the weekday which is given below. If you are covering the navagrahas in one day please go to rahu raghu temple during rahu kalam for the weekday which is given below. Generally all the temples close at 12 pm and reopen at 4 pm. So avoid going to the temples during that time. You can rest have lunch and start moving to the next place. If you have come for navagraha dosha pariharam of a particular planet it is preferable to choose the week day of the planet- refer table below and then do an abhishekam for the planet..you can ask the temple offices inside to provide you the cost details generally none exceed rs.750..it is always advisable to enter the buy coconut et all, mala garland (not compulsory if u find it costly u can jus include a small piece of flower with coconut. These are normally sold in front of temple. Many also include grain meant for the planet and a cloth piece in color meant for the planet.. refer my photos above for details…

First step find the Rahu Kalam for the two days that you are going to stay. During those plan visit to ketu and rahu temples.

First from kumbakonam visit Sooryanar koil sun temple at dawn, proceed to Kanjanur venus temple, rahu temple (visit oppiliappan Vishnu temple divya desam and aiyavadi prthayankara temple near by)..afternoon visit alangudi and thingaloor..dinner rest..

Next day go to by 5.30 am leave for Vaitheswaran koil (mars temple), Thiruvenkadu Mercury temple, Keezha perumpallam ketu temple and then proceed to Tirunallar Saturn sani temple

There are many tour operators in kumbakonam and nearly every taxi guy can take you around these places.. it may cost about rs 1800 by taxi and that is the only way you can see all in one day..otherwise for alangudi above and thingaloor you can use a bus..for sooryanar etc you can take an auto at rs 250 for half day..for others you can take a bus.. going to ketu temple aone is little difficult by bus as there is a bit of a rush..

Sunday- is day for planet Sun Surya Soorya Suriya –Rahu kalam is between 4.30 pm to 6 pm-Place to go Sooryanar koil Suryanaar Koil Suriyanar koil

Monday- is day for planet moon Chandra –Rahu kalam is between 7.30 am to 9 am - Place to go Thingalur Tingalur Tingaloor

Tuesday- is day for planet Mars Kuja Mangal Chevvai –Rahu kalam is between 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm - Place to go Vatheeswaran Vaitheeswaran Vaideeswaran koil.

Wednesday- is day for planet Mercury Budhan budha budh –Rahu kalam is between 12.00 pm to 1.30 pm - Place to go Thiruvengadu Thiruvenkadu Tiruvengadu Tiruvenkadu Tiruvenkaadu

Thursday- is day for planet Jupiter Guru Brahaspathi Brahaspati –Rahu kalam is between 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm - Place to go Aalangudi Alangudi

Friday- is day for planet Venus Shukran Sukra Shukra –Rahu kalam is between 10.30 am to 12 pm – Place to go Kanjanoor Kanjanur

Saturday- is day for planet Saturn Sani Shani –Rahu kalam is between 9.00 am to 10.30 am- Place to go Tirunallar Thirunallar

http://www.pariharam.com/navagrahatour.aspx

http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/ (please click on temple and then navagraha temples)

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/Navagraha/navagraha.html

OTHER NAVAGRAHA TEMPLES

(VASHNAVITE OR NARAYAN ORIENTED)

TIRUNELVELI -NAVA TIRUPATI-

http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/05/trip-to-nava-tirupati-and-papanasam.html

AHOBILAM(NEAR CUDAPPAH-ANDHRA)-

http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/04/trip-to-ahobilam-17th-18th-19th-march.html

CHENNAI:
given below is an interesting reading on unknown chennai navagraha temples

http://puggy.symonds.net/~madan/navagraha/tour.html
http://maraboorjc.blogspot.com/2006/07/2_21.html

http://www.geocities.com/mh_kamraj/navagraha_chennai.htm

GUWAHATI-http://www.north-east-india.com/assam/navagraha-temple.html

Now that you have a good understanding

Please proceed to my part II of navagraha tour trip which is my next blog...

Trip to Ucchi Uchi Pillaiyar and Thayumanavar temple Trichy Tiruchirapalli

Trip to Ucchi Pillaiyar and Thayumanavar temple Trichy Tiruchirapalli Thiruchi Tiruchy Tiruchirapally

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan



Came here on 7th evening ....normally the bus stops at chatram bus stand at trichy..from here take a bus to central bus stand or an auto(rs50)…I put up at Hotel GURU near the central bus stand..double room at rs.300..phone no 0431-2415881 very near this hotel you also have sharada lodge 0431 2460216 which is cheaper and good too..for other hotels in trichy use link http://www.trichy.com/hotel.htm below hotel guru you have a nice veg eating place for lunch breakfast or dinner..they serve meals thali both in the afternoon and night..

On reaching trichy hired an auto rs. 40 to the temple. There is a ganesh pillaiyar(Manicka Vinayagar) before the step starts..did archanai garlanded lord with arugampul (grass liked by him)..then you come to shiva temple called thayumanavar ..did archanai..details in the link below and proceeded to rock mountain top..it is quite a climb and old people need to decide on whether they can climb..if so they will take an hour to climb slowly..there are toilets on the way.. roughly u need to climb 416 steps and on the way approx 250 steps thaumanavar templeof shiva is there..that will be closed between 12pm and 4 pm..6am to 8pm ucchi pillaiyar will be open...

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/uchhi.html

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/uchi.asp

Thayumanavar Taayumaanavar koil Trichy Thiruchi Tiruchy Tiruchirapally Tiruchirapalli

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s132.html

http://www.pariharam.com/TempleThayumanavar,Trichy.aspx?TempleID=TMPL038

proceeded from here to kumbakonam about 3 hours drive in bus and rested for the night msm lodge so that i can start my navagraha tour each week day staying for a whole week starting from tuesday 8th august 2006

Timings: Maanika Vinayakar Temple: 6 am-noon, 4-9 pm (10 pm Fri); Thayumanavar Temple: 6 am- 12.5 pm, 4-8 pm; Uchchi Pillaiyar Kovil: 6 am- 8 pm; Temple Tel: 0431-2704621; Website www.thiruchyrockfort.org

Trip to Tirunageswaram Rahu temple, Aiyavadi prathyankara, Oppiliappan Uppiliappan

Trip to Tirunageswaram Thirunageswaram Rahu temple, Aiyavadi prathyankara, Oppiliappan Uppiliappan

how to go how to reach

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications / doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan


Thirunageswaram

On 23rd evening prahalad (son) and I reached this temple at 4 pm. This place is just 6 km from kumbakonam and regular mini busses can take you here if not auto charge is rs 60…..bus no 13,15,22,23,58,60 go here..This is the famous temple of rahu raghu…have been here earlier..we went to the temple tank inside the campus but very near the entrance to the temple and dipped our feet and did proshadam …ideally u need to have a bath in this tank..prayed to lord ganesh..and then prayed to lord shiva, ambal and then to navagrahas in front. Thereafter we lit 21 lamps…we paid rs 100 to get a milk abhishekam done to rahu..many people participate in this and milk is provided by the temple authorities..it is best to do it in rahu kalam (refer almanac for time for each week day)..and still more preferable to do it on one of the stars of rahu ie swathi, aridra or sadhyam sadabisha in rahu kalam…you can get a list of various schemes of temple to propitiate rahu year long…the milk turns blue when poured on rahu idol and then white again…they ask you to assemble after the ceremony in a corridor when they give Prasad in a bag along with a bottle of milk which was pored on rahu..please drink it immediately as it will not last longer than that and will curdle and become bad…

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s164.html

http://www.kumbakonam.info/kumbakonam/tinages/info/myth.htm

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/lordrahu.asp

there is a temple guest house –phone-0435 std code phone no.2463354 where you can stay or there are many houses converted for staying and lodging near the entrance of the temple..there is a nice brahmin vegetarian mess hotel about 25 meters from the entrance where you can have food…forget the name ..wil write in later

I furnish below the phone number of chellappa gurukal who can organize for the pooja with sufficient notice ..he is one of the priests gurukkal at rahu raghu temple in tirunageswaram thirunageshwaram..mobile no 9443578604..you can refer my name and that I am from chennai..


Prathyankara Aiyavadi Ayyavadi Aivar Padi

You can take an auto to and fro for rs 40 ..i went to this temple and got myself dropped at oppiliappan temple after about half hour in this temple..it is situated amidst 8 grave yards..she is a very powerful godess…you can only offer kumkum and ghee..there is a shiva temple inside this .. I am told this is the same place where Indrajit woshiped her as Nikumbala and sought her blessings...I am also told that you can pay Rs 5000 on Amavasya day and join in homa done there to here at 9am to 2 pm.... temple ph no 0435 2463414 cell 9443124347 and 94424 22053

on the abov eno you may contact A N dhandapani or Mr Kartikeya or Mr.Shankar..please refer that Mr.Ashok from Chennai had given the ph nos...

Different spellings below
Prathiyangera prathyankara pratyankara prathyangira

http://www.pariharam.com/Temple_Aiyavadi.aspx?TempleID=TMPL010

Also read on Prathyankara Pondichery puduchery from the link below

http://www.pondyonline.com/User/Common/NikumbhalaShetram.aspx

There is one more prathyakara temple in Chennai in Sholinganallur on old mahabalipuram road...temple phone no is 044(std code) 24501404(phone)

Oppiliappan Koil Thiruvinnagar,Tiruvinnagar

This is one of 108 divya desam of Vishnu..details below..

temple phone-std code 0435 -phone2463385

Address:

Arulmigu Venkatachalapathi Swami Temple Oppiliappan Koil Tirunageswaram - 612 004 (Kumbakonam Taluk) Phone (0435) 246 33 85, 2463685, fax 0435-2463906
email: uppliappankoil@sancharnet.in or uppiliappankoil@sancharnet.in..mail both these ids with one in cc

Temple Official Web Site:http://oppiliappantemple.org

Other Websites on the temple:

http://www.divyadesamonline.com/tiruvinnagar.asp

http://www.chennaionline.com/hotelsandtours/Placesofworship/2007/05temple165.asp

from here you can go back to kumbakonam ..rahu temple is just walkable distance from here..we stayed overnight in the rahu temple guest house for rs 100…

Trip to Sooriyanar Soorianar Suryanaar Sun Temple Kanjanur kanjanoor

Sooriyanar Koil

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications / doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan



This temple has all the planets in separate small temples..the temples main deity is lord soorya who faces lord Jupiter in the temple…it is customery to buy a rs 150 ticket and 10 coconut basket , 11 lamps and a separate red and yellow cloth…first you do pooja to ganesh light a lamp then proceed to lord surya soorya and then jupiter,offer the cloth, light two lamps in place provided inside the sanctorum and then come out and do pooja to all the other planets and light lamps..
We have to do 11 rounds of the temple and then face noth in front of flag mast and prostrate and leave the temple which we did..there is a person named Kathirvel who is helpful..we need to tip him and the priest..

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/suryanaar.html
Temple ph no is 0435 2472349

Kanjanur kanjanoor (Temple for Lord Venus or navagrah navagraha Venus)

This temple is of navagraha planet lord venus sukra shukra..you can go from soorya temple to this place

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s060.html
http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/Lordsukran.asp

Read also the links below:

Navagraha

Part 1
http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/05/trip-to-navagraha-temple-temples.html

Part2

http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/05/trip-tour-to-navagraha-temple-temples.html


http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/05/trip-to-tirunallar-thirunallar.html


http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/05/trip-to-tirunageswaram-rahu-temple.html

Trip to Mahalingeswarar, Tiruvidaimarudhur, , Tiruvidaimarudur Thiruvidaimarudur, Tiruvavaduthurai Tiruvavaduturai

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications / doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan




Mahalingeswarar, Tiruvidaimarudur Thiruvidaimarudur

You should ideally go to Sooriyanar koil temple pray to lord vinayak ganesh pilliyar there come to this temple pray to lord shiva and then go back and pray at sooriyanar temple..detail below..this is a very famous temple and there are 27 star lords to whom you can do pooja according to your star of birth..other details in link below..

temple phone 0435 -461946

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s034.html

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/thiruvidaimarudur.asp

Tiruvavaduthurai Tiruvavaduturai

This is a very famous temple ..details below

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s029.html

Trip to Tirunallar Thirunallar, Tirunallaru Sani Shani Saneeswarar Ambakarathur Ambakaratur Ambagarattur Kali

Click on the image above to read it better...USE FULL BRIGHT SCREEN MODE ON UR COMPUTER to see it in detail..afterthat click back button on the left hand top corner of your computer screen...
http://www.marskarthik.com/navagraha.html -read this link for navagraha route planning.
Trip to Tirunallar Tirunallaar Thirunallar, Tirunallaru Sani Shani Saneeswarar Ambakarathur Ambakaratur Ambagarattur Kali

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications / doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan




Thirunallar
For a guide and for any help please refer my name as ashok and call Mr.Gopi on 9842430157.

For budget stay on the door of temple u can call moorthy on 9788045769. If u are landing there on a saturday it will be very very crowded so you can call him by thursday and reserve ur rooms.

From Kumbakonam busses to karaikal will pass through thirunallar.
This place is the temple for Saturn shani Sani. You can travel from kumbakonam by bus to karaikal and reach here..its about 2.5 hrs ride..We reached here early morning from tirukadaiyur tirukadavur after an hrs drive to karaikal by bus and then a 10 minute drive from karaikal to this place. We had come here on a Monday as I had earlier come on a Saturday the most preferred day to come here as Saturday is his (Sani’s) day. The procedure is to go to nala theertham temple pond (view picture in the link - http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/Gallery/PhotoGallery/pages/Tirunallar.htm )after applying gingelly oil… have a dip in the temple pond
and then washing off with soapnut powder..dip again and throw a one rupee coin and black cloth after circling your head into the pond..you shld also leave all your old clothes that you are wearing there..u can ask for procedure to do it with any of the many vendors near the pond..aftr bath you come to a ganesh temple which is near the side of pond and break a coconut to smithereens and proceed to the temple..Saturday’s unless you go one day in advance(by friday afternoon 4 pm max but preferably by 11 am friday..) you will really have trouble getting rooms there..it is so crowded..similarly please be ready to be jostled by thousands of people coming there on Saturday..you will also find it difficult to board a bus back to any other place as they will be jam packed..as you enter take special dharshan tickets and archanai tickets…first woship lord shiva(6.30 am vey next to shiva on left hand side near tyagarajar they wld do a milk abhishegam to emarald linga..if u tell the attendent and tip you can have a prasad of the milk and plantain..) here and then ambal the godess and then lord Saturn after lightling 9 gingelly seed tied cloth wick in gingelly oil lamps sold near lord saturn..when you do archanai to lord Saturn you can offer black clothes, gingelly seed, a special blue flower sold in front of temple to lord Saturn..you can also do regular archanai's to lord in your name in absentia..the office functioning at the temple will do this for you at a nominal cost..list of what they can do for you is available at the office with the amounts in the photo above...

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s160.html

http://karaikal.nic.in/Administration/PlacesOfInterest/MNTOURISM.htm

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/lordsani.asp

office phone no- 04368 -236530, telefax 236504 email sds@kki.pon.nic.in

Mr.Y Krishnaswamy Executive officer Thirunallar temple residence no 04368 236504

Ambakarathur Kali

There are busses from tirunallar Sani Saturn koil street to this place which is 25 minutes from there. The kali is powerful here..read link below pages 1,2,3. We did archanai here and offered arali flower ans 54 lemon mala…if you take an auto from tirunallar to and fro they ask Rs.200.

http://www.hindubooks.org/templesofindia/sarvam_sakti_mayam/tamilnadu/ambakarathur/page3.htm

This place is on the way to kumbakonam..so we took a bus from here to kumbakonam which took about 2 hrs to reach.

Trip to Devipatnam

Trip to Devipatnam on 25th April 2007You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshanI started at 4 am from Madurai Mattuthavani Bus stand to Ramanathapuram which takes about 3 hours. There are buses to Devipatnam which is about 14 km..I took an auto to and fro from Ramanathapuram for Rs 250. We can finish this visit in about 2 hours. The roads ae very bumpy as new road 4 lane highway is being laid..it is advisable to be there early in the morning between 5.45 and 9 am…for pooja to navagrahas they charge 301, pooja with nava danya 501 and specific remedies about a 1000 bucks..u can also jus go and see the navagrahas without paying anything..I did a pooja for 301 …took a wonderful bath in sea which is very shallow and calm for about 1 hr and then did my pooja and finally left a plantain for the crow to eat on a place meant for that..since I am an astrologer I know the mantras for navagrahas and all the various priest there seem to be telling the right mantras only and didnt see much cheating.. these navagrahas were installed by rama and I hear Agastiar had ordained all the navagraha gods to assemble here for rama..with this as an astrologer I have done poojas to navagrahas near kumbakonam, and at nava tirupati near tirunelveli, at ahobilam- nava narasimhars and at Devipatnam..so hopefully I have got their good blessings and in the process reduced many navagraha doshas..cheershttp://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/devipatnam.htmlhttp://www.chennaionline.com/columns/downmemorylane/diary167.aspu can reach me on sify for astro consultations using the link belowhttp://sify.com/lifestyle/astrology/v_ashok/

Trip to Tiruppovanam Thirupuvanam Tiruppuvanam and Madappuram Madapuram Kali

Trip to Tiruppovanam Thirupuvanam Tiruppuvanam and Madappuram Madapuram Kali

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan

On 24th apr 2007afternoon we took a bus from kumbakonam at 1.30 pm and reached Madurai maatuthavani bus stand at 6.30 pm and then took a taxi for rs 400 round trip to go to these places and drop us back at Madurai..these places are 22 km away from madurai..you can also take a town bus..

Tiruppovanam

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s213.html

This is a famous 275 shiva temple ..we did an archanai here then went to kali temple about 2 km away


Madapuram Madappuram Kali

She is very famous here she stands with no roof and about 12 feet high..we sought her blessings..ammavasya days will be very crowded..we offered 54 lemon mala and archani and went back to madurai on the way we had jil jil jigarthanda jil jil jigardhanda at a shop called Famous in east marret street..dont miss this it is like falooda but lot more tasty and a speciality of madurai..proceeded to college house famous eating place in madurai where
We had our full meals dinner ..we rested for the night at a lodge called KPS very near college house ph no 0452 -2341541,2349945..room rent rs 150..we jus wanted to rest in a bed between 10 pm and 4 am..early in the morning we could manage decoction coffee at 4 00 am near our hotel opposite the theatre..you can also proceed to tiruparamkundram muruga temple, meenakshi temple, alaghar koil, palmudurchozhai muruga temple in madurai..

Trip to Tiruneelakudi Thiruneelakudi Tiruneelakkudi Thiruneelakkudi

Trip to Tiruneelakudi Thiruneelakudi Tiruneelakkudi Thiruneelakkudi

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications / doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan



Thiruneelakudi

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s172.html

On 24th Apr 2007 we proceeded from tirunageswaram guest house near rahu temple to this temple which is 7 km away..We did an abhishekam to the lord here to ward off all our karma vinai sins of past birth..I furnish below the phone number of chellappa gurukal who can organize for the pooja with sufficient notice ..he is also the gurukkal at rahu raghu temple in tirunageswaram thirunageshwaram..mobile no 9443578604..there are two shivas sivas here and two ambals..we came into the temple after going to markandeya kulam temple pond nearby..and then we came to the temple pond in front of the temple and then went in..it was also the star birthday of my guru Mr.Uma Chandar for who we did an archanai first..this lord absorbs as much gingely oil as your sins are…we ate pongal salt and sweet after that and proceeded to kumbakonam..rom there we took a bus to Madurai which is 6 hrs away to see madapuram kali…

Trip to Tirupambupuram, Thirupambupuram, Tirumeichur Thirumeichur, Koothanoor, Aadi aadhi Vinayagar Vinayakar temple.

Trip to Tirupambupuram, Thirupambupuram, Tirumeichur Thirumeichur, Koothanoor, Aadi aadhi Vinayagar Vinayakar temple.

You can write to me on templeashok@yahoo.co.in for any clarifications /doubts..i shall try my best to be of use to u so that u have a good dharshan



On 22nd April 2007 afternoon we left at 3 pm from tirukadayur to thirupambupuram tirupambupuram koil..both rahu and ketu are together in this place and is a very good place to ward off your naga doshas..adhi seshan is said to have done tapa here..we took bath in the temple pond..did archanai to shiva and ambal and then took a ticket for rs 135 ..collected temple provided articles in a tambalam (decorative plate) also provided by them to clear ourselves of dosha..we sat at the rear of temple..some 50 other people were there..this is done during rahu kalam..any almanac will give you this..it varies by the day of week for us it was Sunday and so rahu kalam was between 4.30 to 6 pm we were instructed by the gurukal priest on how to do the pooja..each had to keep rs 11 in plate..rs 10 is taken by priest after that we had to assemble in front of rahu ketu to do the abhishekam to them and then again reassemble to get our plate back..we had to circle our head with a small naga (serpent) metal replica and put it in hundi and light two lamps and deposit black gramdal and kollu gram( the nava dhanyas you donate to get rid of rahu and ketu doshas) near the lamp and with that it got over..

Have given the temple ph no below Seshapureswarar koil -04352469555

Kumbakonam to karaikal bus ask for karkatthi bus stop if you are coming by bus and take an auto from here..by bus you can also reach from kolumangudi..we proceeded to thirumeichur



Thirumeichur-lalitambikai lalita sahasaranama

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s234.html

This is a famous shiva temple and the ambal godess here is lalitambika lalitambikai on who many chant lalita lalitha sahsaranama sahasaranamam everdya in their houses..she is really very beautiful..from here we proceeded to Koothanoor

Koothanoor saraswathi

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2001/10/25/stories/13250799.htm

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/placesofworship/koothanur.asp

This is the only excusive sarsaswathi godess of learning temple ..we gave her a white sari..placed some pens for my son to write his exams with on her padam (feet) and did an archanai and proceeded to aadhi vinayagar koil some 2 km away..

Aadhi aadi vinayagar

Here the vinayagar ( lord ganesh temple)..this lord is the original lord ganesh befor he got the elephant head..there is a siva and ambal temple too…from here we returned to tirukadaiyur to stay there for the night…we were back by 9 pm…there is a very good hotel for having food tiffen breakfast lunch dinner..it is a mess a little inside just outside the temple sand entrance..