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Thanjavur 4 - National Food security Museum & Thiruvaiyaru

In the evening, though legs were begging for a break we headed to the recently come up National Food security Museum in Thanjavur. It was almost 5pm when we reached here. Its in the Thanjur-Pudukottai road. Although it was closure time, the security checked with the authorities and allowed us inside. It is a state of the art exhibition showing India's Agricultural evolution from dependency to self-sufficiency and food storage is carried out. Interactive display monitors, a 7 min AV and a quiz at the end completes the museum. Tells you how grains were stored in different countries in the old age, how food crops went from the origin country to the rest of the world and what are those crops, how good are lentils for health, how each state in the county flavors on its popular dish. Next to this museum building is a model exhibition on how the land is ploughed, harvested, grains stored and distributed through rationing.

Came back to our stay after having tea on the way.

It was long day so wanted to call it off with a good dinner. As suggested in the internet, we went to Nasar idiyappam paaya restaurant. It serves 4 idiyappams with paaya having 2 leg pieces. There is also kothu idiyappam with egg, mutton and chicken and there is also mutton and chicken dosa and parotta varieties. The take away area too was crowded at 9pm.


Thiruvaiyaru

Our third and last day in Thanjavur, we wanted to visit Thiruvaiyaru before leaving. First had our breakfast at Subbaiah tiffins - a small eatery tucked inside a railway campus and its also called railway canteen. Dosa stone is on a wood furnace. Stone tables with cement benches form the restaurant. We had pongal, dosa, rava dosa and 2 vadas for Rs. 125, a pocket friendly and stomach filling tasty experience which should not be missed.

From here we proceeded towards Thiruvaiyaru Aiyarappar temple. Near the temple the road narrows and ends up in huge traffic. Kaveri flows very near to this. The tributaries of the river give the name Thiruvaiyaru to this place. Its a huge temple complex, Lord Aiyarappar presides as Lingam along with Nandi. His consort is called Dharma Samvardhini has a separate temple next to this, while both are connected, each has a separate entrance too. This temple too has been built by Cholas and further improvised by the later kingdoms. There are 4 gopurams, a temple pond and a huge outer praharam. The Lord and his consort connected through a corridor where lies the huge  Thandayuapani mandapam.  We had a good darshan of Lord Aiyarappar and Goddess Dharma Samvardhini.

We came to the main road, where we see the arch entrance to Saint Thiyagayar's house. Thiruvaiyaru is famous for its links to Karnatic music and each year Thyagaraja Aradhana music festival is held here. Beyond this arch is the famous Andavar sweets for Ashoka halwa. We happen to taste the special Ashoka halwa when we went and it was out of the world. The shop sees halwa being sold in kgs in just minutes. 

Next we stop at the Pushpa mandapam - this is like the padithurai or the ghats in Varanasi. A similar steps leading to the river near the main road is like a garbage. Enormous efforts have to be taken by the administration to maintain this neatly. Thereafter we reach our stay to get checked out marking the end to our Thanjavur journey.

Just before moving out of Thanjavur we worshipped Punnainallur Mariamman near the outskirts of the city. The temple was open beyond 12 noon, may be due to Friday, we had a good darshan of the Goddess Mariamman. The temple was flanged by devotees at that hour too. From here we continued straight to Kumbakonam.

Aiyarappar Temple mandapam
Aiyarappar Temple pond
Aiyarappar Temple corridor
Aiyarappar Temple sculpture
Punnainallur Mariamman Temple

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Location: Thiruvaiyaru, Tamil Nadu 613204, India

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