Date: Sep 30 2014- Oct 1 2014
Travelers: Arun, Shilpi, Harsh, Muthusamy, Vijayalakshmi, Saraswathi, Sneha
Route: Karamadai(Coimbatore) - Dindugal - Madurai - Tuticorin - Tiruchendur
Distance: 430Km one way
Weather: Hot in noon, Pleasant evening.
Road Condition: Very Good till Tuticorin. Tuticorin - Tiruchendur is average.
Transport: Amsam Travels karamadai.
Tavera. Didn't want to take my Ka registered car for reasons everyone know ;).
Cost of Transport:
8Rs per Km, 1500 rent per day, 300Rs Driver bata.
Driver Vijay was good.
Must try Thoothukudi (tamil name for tuticorin) macroon in some bakery.
Stay: Hotel Tamilnadu. 1300Rs per room per night.
As always TTDC has hotels at right place. Temple was 5 min walk from hotel. Access road to hotel was very bad. Too dirty and pigs roaming on the roads. Stinking. Room was good. Bathroom clean. Few minor issues at hotel were there was no phone in the room. Had to go down to restaurant to order food. There was no health faucet. There was no hanger in bathroom.
Since only 6 rooms was booked they only had dosa for dinner.
Temple:
There are few priest standing in front who will take you directly inside the inner sanctum. 100Rs per person. They will get the special entrance for you.
They will also send you inside a cave to worship in pancha lingam.
Bad thing is the security who manages the queue will also ask for money.
Temple is so close to the sea but still not affected by Tsunami. Even if there are scientific reasons explaining it, just wondering how did they select the location.
Also we cannot rule out the promise made by water god to Lord Muruga that he will not to cross the boundary :)
As in Kanyakumari here too there are many peacocks. Early morning you sure can see them dance.
There is a belief peacock dance before rain but I see them do it in morning when there is no chance of rain. I think they just stretch out after a good night sleep.
Restaurant:
Unlimited Idly, Dosa and noodles with sambar and chutney. Sambar was too good. Restaurant manager was very kind. Enjoy a tasty buffet breakfast and a beautiful peacock dance just in front of the restaurant.