Seven days heritage Tour of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu continues to be the most favourite tourist destination of India with maximum number of tourists visiting this state (both domestic and foreign). 

It has magnificent old architecturally rich temples, beautiful hill stations, pristine beaches and rich heritage. It’s difficult to cover entire state in one tour, so we decided to cover its heritage part first in Aug 2018. We designed our own itinerary of one week and started our tour from Madurai.

We reached Madurai by flight in the forenoon and checked in a hotel, after fresh up, we started by walk to Meenakshi Temple (also called as Meenakshi Amman Temple or Meenakshi - Sundareshwar Temple) as our hotel was nearby.

The astonishing architecture of temple leaves you mesmerised. It has a great mythological and historical significance. The history of this temple dates back to 1st century C.E. 

This temple was nominated as one of the Seven Wonders of the World but could not make to the final list. However, this temple is certainly one of the Wonders of India and is worth visiting. 

It has four main towering gates (gopurams) and is spread in 14 acres. The temple also has 14 towering gateways, each of them is a multi-storey structure with mythological sculptures.

As per legends, Lord Shiva (Sundareshwar) married Goddess Parvati (Meenakshi) at the site of this temple. 

It is said that all gods and goddesses attended this wedding. This temple has numerous pillared halls “Mandapams”, one of the hall has a. beautiful idol of Lord Shiva in Natraja form. 

Temple also has a consecrated pond. We had good darshan at temple and thereafter we came to market. Here goddess Meenakshi is worshipped before Sundareshwar.

Visit to Madurai is incomplete without eating Idlis at famous Murugan Idli Shop and drinking a soothing local cold drink “Jigar Thanda”. So it was our dinner for the day which we relished fully.

Next day after breakfast, we checked out from the hotel and started by cab to Kanyakumari (250 km), a picturesque town, the southernmost town of mainland India, with famous Vivekanand Rock Memorial, Sangam of 3 seas - Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, Temple of Kumari Amman (a 3000 years old temple) and Statue of Thiruvalluvar. 

Post lunch, we first went to Rock Memorial by a ferry, took pictures there and witnessed the iconic sangam of 3 seas. 

 It’s a wonderful place where you get soaked in spiritual aura. After coming back, we visited Kumari Amman (Devi Parvati), an ancient temple of religious significance, here men have to have darshan without wearing a shirt.

Thereafter we proceeded to the Sunset Point and watched the fantastic view. After that, we had dinner and came to hotel to relax.

Next day (third day) early morning, we walked from hotel to the sea shore for seeing the Sunrise which was spectacular indeed. Came back to hotel, had breakfast, checked out and proceeded to Rameshwaram (310 km), on the way we had coconut water and freshly made palm jaggery. The road to Rameshwaram has a lot of scenic beauty with a lot of greenery and good number of wind mills.

Next day (fourth day) early morning we came to Rameshwaram (Ramnathaswamy) Temple (one of the 12 Jyotirlingas and one of the 4 Char Dhams, the only temple to have this unique distinction). This is believed to be the place where Lord Rama started his journey to get back his wife Devi Sita from the hold of Ravana. Later after victory over Ravana, Lord Rama came back here and performed a special puja for absolving him from the sin of killing of a Brahman (Brahm-Hatya as Ravana was a Brahman), here he established a Shivalinga and performed worship of Lord Shiva. Hence this temple is visited by Vaishnavas and Shaivas both with equal faith. Architecturally also this temple is very beautiful, it’s world famous corridor is really amazing and worth seeing. It is believed that a pilgrimage to Varanasi is not complete without visiting Rameshwaram.

After good darshan at temple, we came to Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple which has a huge statue of Lord Hanuman, this temple also exhibits floating stones believed to be used for making a bridge to Lanka.

Later we visited Dr. APJ Kalam National Memorial (inaugurated in 2017) which is really beautiful and a tribute to the legendary Rocket Man and ex president of India. We owe our allegiance to this great nation lover, scholar, scientist, honest, simple to the core and an upright man.

Post lunch we came to Dhanushkodi Beach (20 km from Rameshwaram, last land on Pamban island), once a thriving village but now an abandoned ghost town after devastating cyclone of 1964, here is the confluence of two seas - choppy Indian Ocean and calmer Bay of Bengal. Sri Lanka is just 24 km from here. This is the place from where Lord Rama and his Vanar Sena erected a stone bridge to Lanka (Adam’s Bridge or Ram Setu of submerged limestone shoals). We did a lot of masti on the beach (bay of Bengal side), fish lovers can have freshly fried fish here from the nearby small shops.

Next day morning (5th day) after breakfast, we started for Karaikudi (140 km), had a brief stop over on road to see the iconic Pamban Railway Bridge (1914) on sea which is an engineering marvel. It connects mainland India with Rameshwaram and Pamban islands.

After reaching Karaikudi (part of it is called Chettinad), we checked in a Resort, had famous Chittinad Cuisine Lunch on banana leaf and proceeded to see Making of Glazed Colourful handmade tiles which were used in big mansions here. Later we had darshan at temples in town. In the evening we visited some Chettinad Mansions which have unique architecture and are really good and colourful. Had Chettinad cuisine dinner and relaxed in our room at resort.

Next day (6th day), we proceeded to Thanjavur or Tanjore (105 km), this historical city in the fertile Cauvery delta (Cultural Capital of Tamil Nadu) was capital of gear Chola Empire for many centuries. This town is an important centre of South Indian art, culture and architecture. We first went to iconic Brihadishwar Temple ( a UNESCO World Heritage Site), it’s Vimana is 66 meters high and it’s walls are decorated with 81 postures of Bharatnatyam, it was built by Rajaraja Chola in 11th century. Seeing this temple is really a treat for your eyes and a challenge for your imagination as to how they could build such a huge and beautiful temple and it’s heavy gopuram about 1000 years back without any machines etc. This town is famous for Thanjavur Paintings (using gold foils and precious stones etc ), handloom silk and cotton sarees. This temple certainly deserves to be one among the seven wonders of the World.

In the evening, we proceeded to Trichi or Tiruchirappalli (57 km) on the bank of River Cauvery, checked in a hotel and relaxed after dinner.

Next day (7th day), early morning we left for Sri Rangnath Swamy Temple (a Swayambhu temple of Lord Vishnu at Srirangam, Trichy), had good darshan. Temple walls are painted with Fresco and Mural Paintings. The temple complex is the largest functioning temple complex of the world.

Thereafter, we roamed in the Trichy market, shopping in Trichy is an amazing experience particularly silk , bronze statues, stone work, wooden toys and art plates. Trichy is also famous for juicy jalebis though it’s predominantly a North Indian sweet.

We had a flight in the evening so came to hotel, had lunch, checked out and proceeded for Trichy International airport to take our return flight. Altogether an excellent 7 days trip.

Also read: sivakasi