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Thiruchirapalli 6 - Kallanai Dam & Shopping

 Trichy's third day saw us visiting Sri Ranganathar's temple in the morning. We came back to the hotel and took our car to Kallanai - another bucket list for Trichy drop around. It took us around 30 mins to reach Kallanai driving for 17-18 kms. On reaching the spot - Grand Anaicut, we were asked to park and walk thought he bridge as only 2 wheelers are allowed to ply on it. 

Kallanai is built during the early Chola empire and stands strong even today witnessing various eras in history. On a February month, as the raining season is off we get see some water in the river and the dam with a slow flow compared to the December month. We walked all the way on the bridge seems the water, sand, birds on a breezing late morning.  We could see the bust of Sir Arthur Cotton after walking through 2/3rds of the bridge. He was one from the British empire to check the dam. He was overwhelmed with the strength of the dam built centuries ago and informed his empire that further enhancement can done on the dam over the ancient one. 

Towards the end of the bridge is the Karuppasamy temple. On the other end of the bridge is the Karikaala Chozhan Manimandapam.

Glad to see that the Manimandapam is not just a namesake, the place had picture, paintings of King Karikaalan's achievements and his statue on a elephant. Very next to this mandapam is the park for children and various eatables sold.

It was a wonderful experience to watch water gushing out even though the flow is comparatively slower.  Many localities were having a bath in spite of the warning boards against it. As a Tamilian you cannot leave this place being utterly proud of   your ancestors.

On the way back to our hotel we had lunch at Hotel Suvai near the Trichy Central bus terminus. It was a very decent veg restaurant standing to its name. After a siesta we took a small shopping trip to the NSK road very near to the rockfort.

This shopping area could be compared the flower bazaar in Chennai. It was quiet crowded being a Saturday evening. We went to the Mayilmark Mittaikadai and for mixture and wheat halwa. Then did some window shopping with the street vendor. Also went to Saratha's - Trichy's famous textiles. It was quiet huge and we can see shoppers coming out with bags and bags. As it was getting around 7 PM, we took an auto back to hotel for Rs. 150.

From our hotel is the famous Parthasarathy vilas mess. This is in one of the Thiruvanaikaval surrounding street. It was difficult to get a table there at 8 PM. Many were waiting for table to get free. We had their famous ghee dosa called the super by them. It had the aroma of ghee and tasted good too. With this we called it a end for our third day in Trichy.

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Location: Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India

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