Trip to Palani,Tiruttani,Tiruchendur and other Arupadaiveedu

Trip to Palani,Tiruttani,Tiruchendur and other Arupadaiveedu

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..…

The following temples are the Aru padai Veedu of Lord Muruga which means the most important temples.
Palani • Thiruchendur • Swamimalai • Thiruthani • Pazhamudircholai • Thiruparamkunram


Palani Murugan Temple


Details about the temple through links:

Official Website:

http://palani.org/


http://www.palanimurugantemple.org/

Other Wesites on Palani:

http://murugan.org/temples/palani.htm

http://www.palanitemples.com/famous_templesof_muruga.htm



http://www.answers.com/topic/palani-murugan-temple

Temple Phone Number:

Std Code-04545 Phone Number : 242236, 241417


How I went:

Have been here many times from Coimbatore. You can travel from Madurai or Coimbatore. The distance is roughly 3 hours by bus from both places.

Normally I take a 4 45 am bus from Coimbatore. Reach Palani by 7.15 am. You can either climb steps about 500 or there is a path called elephant path without steps but a little circuitous. Otherwise for Rs 25 the auto can leave you at electric rope way car station which is about 10 minutes ride. The electic car will leave you on top of hil in 10 minutes. It is best to first go and pray to the temple that is in the foot hill

http://www.kumbakonam.info/palanimurugan/templesaavinankudi.html

Once you are on top you can buy a special dharshan ticket and worship the lord. The major Prasad here is panjamirdam which is a mix of hill banana,jaggary,honey,ghee etc.

Once you come down you can visit other temples around using the link below

http://www.palanimurugantemple.org/

Once done normally I have a good breakfast at Chellam Canteen right opposite the bus stand . The food is good here.

hotels in palani

http://www.palanitemples.com/palani_lodges_hotels.htm


http://www.palanicity.com/hotel.html Use a 2 before each of the hotel numbers after dialing the std code 04545 for this link.




How to reach

Nearest Airport –Coimbatore

Nearest Rail Head/ Railway Station – DindigulJunction.

Road Access: There are many buses from Chennai,Coimbatore and Trichy.

Preferred travel base: Coimbatore

STD Code of Madurai -04545

Railway Station code for Chennai Central – MAS

Most south bound trains especially to visit the places above start from Chennai Egmore (MS) Coimbatore –CBE Madurai –MDU Trichy Thiruchchirapalli – TPJ Tirunelveli –TEN Tenkasi - TSI

For Internet/ Mobile Railway ticket Booking in India use

http://www.irctc.co.in/

Travel by Bus: From Chennai you can directly go and board busses from Koyembedu bus terminus.



For Travel by Private bus to and fro to any major town in Tamilnadu and some interstate destinations use the links below for bus booking through internet.

http://parveentravels.com/E-ticketing/index.php


http://kpntravels.in/ou/frmuserhome.aspx

Tiruttani Murugan Temple


Details about the temple through links:

http://murugan.org/temples/tiruttani.htm

http://www.answers.com/topic/thiruthani-murugan-temple

http://www.tiruttani.com/

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/m006.html

Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- Phone Number :


How I went:


Normally I take the Tirupati siiting train that leaves at 6.30 am reach by about 8 am and then take an auto for Rs.20 to leave me on top of the hill. You can also climb 300 odd steps and reach the temple. I take a special dharshan ticket. Beware of monkey that will snatch anything you hold hanging. I finish my dharshan and take a bus back to Chennai.
How to reach

Nearest Airport –Chennai

Nearest Rail Head/ Railway Station – Tiruttani. You can also take local electic trains to arokkonam from Chennai central. and then again take a local from there. Some locals go directly. Please enquire.

Road Access: There are many buses from Chennai.

Preferred travel base: Coimbatore, Palani or Dindugal.

STD Code of Madurai -04545

Railway Station code for Chennai Central – MAS Tirupati - TPTY

For Internet/ Mobile Railway ticket Booking in India use

http://www.irctc.co.in/


Travel by Bus: From Chennai you can directly go and board busses from Koyembedu bus terminus.


For Travel by Private bus to and fro to any major town in Tamilnadu and some interstate destinations use the links below for bus booking through internet.

http://parveentravels.com/E-ticketing/index.php


http://kpntravels.in/ou/frmuserhome.aspx

Tiruchendur Murugan Temple

You can reach this place from tirunelveli using busses or more comfortably by the list of trains given below. These do not need any reservation jus buy a ticket and get in. It takes 2.5 hours.

Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur Passenger runs between Tirunelveli Junction Railway Station and Tiruchendur Railway Station. Both stations are located in Tamil Nadu. Main stations on the way are Srivaikuntam, Nazareth and Kayalpatnam. The train operates daily and covers a distance of 62 km. Second class seating coaches are available.

Train Timings

Tirunelveli to Tiruchendur:
07:00 AM
11:15 AM
06:15 PM

Tiruchendur to Tirunelveli:
06:50 AM
02:00 PM
06:15 PM

Base fare: Class 2S – Rs 13.00

As on 24th Aug 2007 the above trains are not there as the trackes are being converted to broad guage.

There are many busses from tirunelveli new bus stand and the travel time is 1.5 hhrs to 1.75 hours. There are many busses from near railway station terminus to new bus stand. Auto will cost you Rs 80. The distance between railway station and new busstand is about 8 km.

Details about the temple through links:

http://tiruchendur.org/


http://www.answers.com/topic/thiruchendur-murugan-temple

http://www.tiruchendur.com/temple.html

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/m005.html

Hotel I stayed: Mani Iyer Hotel- Normal room tariff Rs.195-Boarding and lodging 04639 242109

Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- Phone Number : 04639-


How I went:

Have been here many times. I take a train from Chennai to Tirunelveli by night. Morning by by 8.30 you can be there. From there there are regular passenger trains that leave to Tiruchendur(list and timings given above). They take 2 hours to reach tiruchendur. You can also take a bus from Tirunelveli to Tiruchendur.

Once there I stay in hotel near temple beyond which the auto will not go. Near that last point there are two hotels. Mani iyer is one of them.


Once there I normally take the help of Mr.Ravi. Tell him Ashok Chennai had given the phone number. Am giving his contact details below. For a general good dharshan through him he charges Rs.100. If you want to do a milk offering etc for each it would cost Rs.150. Cost of participating in the pooja process charged seperately by the temple is Rs.100 for the pooja offerings.

Madras ravi-9344002239(mob) 04639243891(residence)..9443461309-raja his relative's cell no who will convey to him. Ravi’s house address is
145 veeraraghavapuram street,tiruchendur.628215 Generally he is in temple. If you call residence between 1 pm and 4 pm and afte 8.30 pm to 10 pm, he will be there.

He can take you around for a good dharshan of the temple and guide you. This place has so many touts who pounce on you and will just burn your pockets. So please be careful.

It is best to rach tiruchendur by 7pm or so in the night catch lord's last pooja at 8pm and retire to sleep. Wake up at 4 am and proceed to sea nearby the temple. Take bath in holy water of the sea near temple till sun rise and then proceed to Gnali Kinaru a well which is also holy water very near sea(rs 1 is chargedfor entry) this is a big well where steps will lead you to aplace where you will have two metal mugs..you can take bath to hearts content and wash of the sand from sea abth in the body and head etc...and then towel dry and proceed to the temple...please pay rs 5 and visit 5 lingas (panch linga) inside a small cave within the temple..lord muruga had sought his father shiva's blessings here..then proceed to worship the main lor muruga. ..there is also narayan, lord saturn and bhairav in the outer circle of the temple.

Hotels and Lodges in Tiruchendur

Hotel Mani Iyer -04639-242109,245769,246342,246343

Hotel Moorthy Mani iyer(New hotel and a sister concern)- 04639-246344

Both the above hotels are very near Temple

http://www.tiruchendur.com/lodges.html after dialing 04369 std code please use 2 before each of the hotel nos given in this link.


How to reach

Nearest Airport –Madurai . From Here you can take a 2 ½ hrs bus ride to Tirunelveli.

Nearest Rail Head/ Railway Station – Madurai Junction.

Road Access: There are many buses from Chennai,Coimbatore and Trichy.

Preferred travel base: Tirunelveli or Tiruchendur itself.

STD Code of Tiruchendur -04639

Railway Station code for Chennai Central – MAS

Most south bound trains especially to visit the places above start from Chennai Egmore (MS) Madurai –MDU Trichy Thiruchchirapalli – TPJ Tirunelveli –TEN

For Internet/ Mobile Railway ticket Booking in India use

http://www.irctc.co.in/

Travel by Bus: From Chennai you can directly go and board busses from Koyembedu bus terminus.


For Travel by Private bus to and fro to any major town in Tamilnadu and some interstate destinations use the links below for bus booking through internet.

http://parveentravels.com/E-ticketing/index.php


http://kpntravels.in/ou/frmuserhome.aspx

Swamimalai temple

Please read the link of mine below

http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/05/trip-to-tiruvalanchuzhi-tiruvalanchuli.html

Thirupparamkundram Temple

Please read the link of mine below

http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/05/trip-to-madurai-meenakshi-amman.html

Pazhamudircholai Temple

Please read the link of mine below

http://templevisitsofashok.blogspot.com/2007/05/trip-to-madurai-meenakshi-amman.html

Please use the link below to know on some other Muruga temples

http://www.murugan.org/temples/

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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, heritage, hindu

Trip to Kutraleeswarar, Tenkasi Viswanathar Temple

Trip to Kutraleeswarar, Tenkasi Viswanathar 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..…


Courtallam is very famous for it water falls with medicinal properties. The time to visit is generally between June 15th to Aug 15th . After the monsoon is over the water falls dries out.

General link on courtallam

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/ontheroad/courtallam1.asp

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/ontheroad/courtallam2.asp

http://www.chennaionline.com/toursntravel/ontheroad/courtallam.asp

The temple near it is of Kutralanathar.

Kutralanathar Temple:

Kutraleeswarar Kutralanathar Coutrallam Kutralam Kutraalam,Courtallam,Thirukutralam

Kurumpala Kurumbala

Details about the temple through links:

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

http://www.indiantemples.com/Tamilnadu/kutrkutr.html


Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- 04633 Phone Number :

How I went:

Courtallam is very famous for it water falls with medicinal properties. The time to visit is generally between June 15th to Aug 15th . After the monsoon is over the water falls dries out. There is a train which runs from Madras Egmore (station Code MS) to Tenkasi just 6 km away from Courtallam on Monday,Wednesday and Saturday. TSI is the station code. On other days it is best to come to tirunelveli (Station code TEN) and take a bus to courtallam which is about 1 ½ hrs from here.

I had reached here from Papanasam on 1st night at 9 pm. Put up at Shivanarayana lodge Rs.250 or Rs.300 Ph:9443417005(Mr.Arunacalam). Other lodges like kurinji etc were full due to season time. Kurinji hotel and lodge(more famous for quite some time) phone no is-04633- 283236, 283267( double room Rs.195, delux double 250 and ac 450( there is off season discount too).then there is dalvoy house where u can stay-04633-283027,283447

I mostly come to the water falls at Courtallam between 10th Aug to 24th Aug since I can have a bath freely. Otherwise between June and Aug the crowd is real heavy. I also make it a point to hit the water falls( mainfalls very near hotel..other falls are 5 falls abt 4km away, old falls 8 km away, tiger falls 3 km away,citraruvi 1km away, shenbagadevi falls 5 km away)) late in the night by 11pm when you can have a good bath. Leave all your things in room, keep money tightly packed inside two or three plastic covers in the shorts you are wearing to the water falls..you can have a good oil massage on the way..i had a full body ayurvedic massage at Rs.250. Is is enough if u have have a massage for rs 50 which includes rs 20 oil bottle) Bathed till 2 am. The best thing is people stay here for 1 week , keep having massage and go to falls and bathe..the water pouring from such great hiegt again massages the body and all the oil dissappears ..then they go back have food rest for a while and then again have oil massage and bathe have food..this cycle goes on..till today no one catches cold etc here) Then came back and slep in the room. At 6 am I got up and visited Kutralanather Temple did archanai et all. There are two ambals(lady godesses here)

There is view point of the falls at the backside of the temple. There is also agastiyar’s statue there. I had a peculiar vision of him. The experience was something I would cherish. I saw a green radium kind of glow around him in the form of aura.

Tenkasi Viswanathar temple


Details about the temple through links:

http://www.tenkasitemple.org/


http://www.dinamalar.com/koil_english/16_Kasiviswanathar_Tenkasi.asp


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenkasi

http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/Gallery/PhotoGallery/pages/tenkasi-temple.htm


Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- 0---- Phone Number :

How I went:

From Courtalam I took an Auto for Rs 50 to drop me at the temple at 8 am. You can also take the very many busses that ply the route. This is supposed to be the kasi temple of the south. Did my archanai etc and left for tirunelveli from where I had booked my ticket in Nellai express back to Chennai.


How to reach

Nearest Airport –Madurai

Nearest Rail Head/ Railway Station – Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli,

Best is to go to Tenkasi which is just about 6 km away from courtallam.

Road Access: There are many buses from Tirunelveli to the above places. There are two bus stands in Tirunelveli. So ask people where to board. Generally it is the new bus stand.

Preferred travel base Tirunelveli.

STD Code of Tirunelveli -0462

Railway Station code for Chennai Central – MAS

Most south bound trains especially to visit the places above start from Chennai Egmore (MS) Coimbatore –CBE Madurai –MDU Trichy Thiruchchirapalli – TPJ Tirunelveli –TEN Tenkasi - TSI

For Internet/ Mobile Railway ticket Booking 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 Nava Tirupati and Papanasam Temple

Trip to Nava Tirupati and Papanasam 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..…


Nava Tirupathi, Tirupati Tirupathi Divya Desam


Details about the temple through links:

http://home.att.net/~srivai/nt.htm


Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- --- Phone Number :

How I went:

On 1st aug 2006, morning I hired a taxi at 6 am started from Vaikuntam which opened at about 7.45 am..you can start at 7 am to avoid waiting…then the taxi driver took me one after the other to all the temples and by 12 pm be sure to finish the temples because then the temples start closing and you may then be left out from seeing one or two of them.. so generally see it in slightly hurried pace though I feel there is enough time…I did not have any breakfast..if you wish to have have some bread etc at 6 am at some tea stall on the way..dont stop for elaborate breakfast as you may end up not seeing some temples. These are vashnavite equivalent of navagraha temples near kumbakonam which are built around shiva temples.

The taxi trip cost me about Rs 600. Taxi Provider–vinod-9843337456



Papanasam Temple

Papavinaseswarar, papavinasar


Details about the temple through links:

http://mailerindia.com/temples/history/index.php?papanasam


Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- 044 Phone Number :

How I went:

On 1st aug 2006, afternoon from Tirunelveli I took a bus to Papanasam about 60 kms from there about 1 ½ hrs. This temple is situated on Tamiraparani river in which I had a wonderful bath. Worshipped shiva and left for Courtallam for overnight stay there and visiting Kutralanathar and Tenkasi Viswanathar on 2nd Aug 2006. Bus takes about 2 ½ to 3 hrs hrs to reach courtallam from Papanasam.

How to reach

Nearest Airport –Madurai

Nearest Rail Head/ Railway Station – Tirunelveli Tenkasi is about 6 km away.

Road Access: There are many buses from Tirunelveli to the above places. There are two bus stands in Tirunelveli. So ask people where to board

Preferred travel base Tirunelveli.

STD Code of Tirunelveli -0462

Railway Station code for Chennai Central – MAS

Most south bound trains especially to visit the places above start from Chennai Egmore (MS) Coimbatore –CBE Madurai –MDU Trichy Thiruchchirapalli – TPJ Tirunelveli –TEN Tenkasi - TSI

For Internet/ Mobile Railway ticket Booking use 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 Nellaiappar Nellaiyappar Temple Tirunelveli

Trip to Nellaiappar Nellaiyappar Temple Tirunelveli


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..…


Details about the temple through links:



http://www.chennaionline.com/hotelsandtours/Placesofworship/12temple32.asp

http://www.indiantemples.com/Tamilnadu/nelltiru.html

http://www.answers.com/topic/nellaiappar-temple

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s179.html


Temple Phone Number:

I had the fortune of being shown around by Mr.
R Suresh Pattar
43/2 swami sannithi theru tirunelveli town 622006
0462-2321562,9894016850

You could also take his help if you are doing any special poojas at the temple.

Std Code- 0462 Phone Number :

How I went:

I came here by bus from Madurai. The travel time from Madurai to Tirunelveli is 2 ½ hours on 31 july 2006 afternnon reaching here by 4 pm.

Put up at hotel aryas. For the phone number of this hotel and other hotels use link below:

http://www.tamilnadutourism.org/hotels/privatehotels/TirunelveliHotels.aspx?catid=C7&subcat1id=C7S2&subcat2id=C7S2S12&sm=C7S2S12


Entered Tirunelveli nellaiappar temple 5.50 pm sought the blessings of lord Ganesh, did my archanai to shiva and abhishekam to Shiva, and had got a maroon saree for amman which was tied around her .. there is also a shrine to lord muruga…Hopefully saw real shiva in disguise at around 8.15 pm..
exited by 8.50 pm from the temple.

There is a nice veg hotel for having food called Saravana right in front of the temple. The food is good here.


First step Kundalini got aroused at 10:51,52,53 pm in Jupiter hora


How to reach

Nearest Airport –Madurai

Nearest Rail Head/ Railway Station – Tirunelveli Tenkasi is about 6 km away.

Road Access: There are many buses from Tirunelveli to the above places. There are two bus stands in Tirunelveli. So ask people where to board

Preferred travel base Tirunelveli.

STD Code of Tirunelveli -0462

Railway Station codeS:

For Chennai Central – MAS

Most south bound trains especially to visit the places above start from Chennai Egmore whose station code is (MS) Madurai –MDU Trichy Thiruchchirapalli – TPJ Tirunelveli –TEN Tenkasi - TSI

For Internet/ Mobile Railway ticket Booking 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 Madurai Meenakshi, Tirupparankundram, Pazhamudir Cholai Azhagar Koil temples and Thiru Moghur Divya Desam

Trip to Madurai Meenakshi, Tirupparankundram, Pazhamudir Cholai Azhagar Koil temples and Thiru Moghur Divya Desam

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..…


Use the link below to know generally on temple in and around Madurai

Madurai temples:

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


Some hotels in Madurai - http://www.madurai.com/hotel.htm



Meenakshi Amman Temple

Details about the temple through links:

http://www.maduraimeenakshi.org/

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

http://www.madurai.com/meena.htm

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/madurai/excellence.html

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s028.html


Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- Phone Number :

How I went: Arrived here from Rameswaram after visitng Thiruppulani and Nainar Koil on 30 july 2006 at 7 pm. Put up in Hotel KPS near College House and walkable distance from Meenakshi temple. Otherwise you can take a cycle rickshaw or auto to the temple. The 24 hr check out rent is Rs 150. You can also stay at College house near this place which is a little costly. I anyway have my food at college house only and a must try Jighardanda(a cold milk shake kind of thing) at place called Famous in East marret street. I immediately went to the Meenakshi Temple and did the archanai et all. First you should go to Meenakshi and then only to Shiva.

After this, I had met a driver near taxi stand of College house. His name was Murugan arranged for taking me to tiruparankundram and thirumogur for Rs.425..His cell no is 9344132725. I asked him to report at 5.30 am on 31st which he did very promptly.




Tiruparankundram, Thirupparamkunram, Tirupparankundram, Tirupparamkundram

Details about the temple through links:

http://www.murugan.org/temples/parankundram.htm

http://www.answers.com/topic/thirupparamkunram-murugan-temple

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

http://www.madurai.com/thirup.htm

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/s183.html

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/m002.html



Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- Phone Number :

How I went:

On 31st July early morning at 6 I was at tiruparangundram temple. After praying to lord ganesh, I went to the tepam (temple tank), fed the fish be very very careful as I found the steps very very slippery.. one slip and you would bang your head on the many steps and will be in deep water.. there are many small cave kind of rock cut temples. This is one of the main aru padai veedu of Lord Muruga. Finished and left for Thiru Moghur.


Thiru Moghur Divya Desam

Details about the temple through links:



http://www.srivari.com/pandiyatirupathigal/thirumoghur.htm


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

Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- Phone Number :

How I went:

This place is about 18 km away on a deviation from the road to trichy via melur. I had been given the contact of

Ramakrishna battar
Thirumoghur 625107
04522422744
9842524325

He is a priest here. You can refer my name as Ashok from Chennai. I did the regular pooja and also paid for doing pooja on 11 Thursdays to Chakrathalwar who is very powerful here. This is one of the 108 divya desam. The place is so very green and serene.

Thiruvadavur Shiva temple (MUST SEE DEFINITELY VISIT)

You have to go from thrumoghur temple roughly another 20 km to this temple. Manickavasagar one of the 4 main nayanmars( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nayanars) http://www.shaivam.org/periintr.html...used to visit this temple and perform poojas...you can also visit his house which is very nearby...i found this temple too very serene and without any crowd but so powerful..even thought i would settle down near this temple..please make it a point to visit this temple..


Azhagar Koil

Details about the temple through links:

http://www.madurai.com/azhagar.htm

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/df102.html


Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- Phone Number :

How I went:

My friend Mr.Balu took me in his bike to this place. You also have regular busses from Madurai to Alagharkoil which is a 40 minute ride. The temple is real good. This is a Vishnu temple.

Pazhamudir cholai, Pazhamutir

Details about the temple through links:

http://www.murugan.org/temples/palamuthircolai.htm


http://mailerindia.com/temples/history/index.php?pazhamuthircholai

http://www.templenet.com/Tamilnadu/m003.html


Temple Phone Number:

Std Code- Phone Number :

How I went:

From Alagharkoil, this place is just 4 km away and busses strart from near the temple to take you up hill to Pazhamudir cholai. This is another Aru padai Veedu of lord Muruga where he tested Avvaiyar. The Naaval fruit Tree is still there and gives fruit in a non season time. There is a small water fountain (Chunai) a little further up hill. The water is tasty here and is considered sacred.

By 1 pm on 31st my friend dropped me back at the hotel in Madurai. I had my lunch and proceeded to Tirunelveli about 2 ½ hours from here.


How to reach

Nearest Airport –Madurai

Nearest Rail Head/ Railway Station – Madurai Junction.

Road Access: There are many buses from Chennai,Coimbatore and Trichy.

Preferred travel base: Madurai

STD Code of Madurai -0452

Railway Station code for Chennai Central – MAS

Most south bound trains especially to visit the places above start from Chennai Egmore (MS) Coimbatore –CBE Madurai –MDU Trichy Thiruchchirapalli – TPJ Tirunelveli –TEN Tenkasi - TSI

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 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..