Thiruchendur 1 - Murugar temple

 After having visited 4 of the 6 abodes of Lord Muruga we planned to take on a trip to the fifth one in July. As soon as the month was born we got our tickets booked to Thiruchendur. Train tickets were not available due to short notice so got to do with bus. Its our maiden tryst with AC Sleeper Coach. So all excited, we started our trip in the night of 2nd July. With the current sky rocketing prices of fuels, no auto rickshaw was ready to ferry us to the bus boarding point for a normal rate. After walking for almost we 2 kilometers we finally paid a heft amount to reach the YBM travels bus boarding location. First time availing the booking through Redbus, it has coordination process. There were reminders sent, messages sent on bus information, delay in bus arrival and confirmation on boarding too. Bus reached our place 30 minutes late and there was enough traffic to slow down till we crossed the city limits.

YBM travels

Bus was themed in blue. Our seats were in the upper deck so got a good view of the road. A bottle of water and a  small tetra pack of frooti was given to each passenger. Small pillow and a blanket was provided to aid in the journey. TV was available but wasn't working. All seats were full by the time we crossed Chennai. Two breaks in journey at 10:30 PM and 3:30 AM made a comfortable journey for the passengers. But restrooms were not good in spite of levying Rs.5. The total journey duration is 10 hours but owing to 30 minutes delay we were expecting to reach by 7:15 instead of the planned 6:45 but we actually reached Thiruchendur by 8 only. Over all a comfortable journey, the driving especially over night was good.

We were dropped at the Thiruchendur bus stand where Omni buses stop. From here we took the local autorickshaw to our place of stay. We had called up Anantha Grand and booked our stay here for 2 days after getting our tickets in Redbus. From the bus stand Anantha Grand is 1.5 kms away and were charged Rs.80 by the auto-wallah.

Anantha Grand

One of the newly come up hotel in this premises is on the narrow street that leads to the back side of the temple where the shops are. Hotel was neat and clean, key card was give, lift was accessible, hot water available through-out, air conditioner was new and working pleasantly. Adequate toiletries and bath towels were provided. Pillow was quiet stiff making it quiet uncomfortable, no water bottles were given. Room service was good and staff were friendly. We stayed for 2D and 1N for a price of Rs.4700 as its highly priced over the weekend. Due to power shut down on 4th July the cable TV wasn't working while the other appliances were working with the on-premise generator facility. Water was good but we heard that most of Thiruchendur gets water supplied from outside. We were put up in the second floor in a super deluxe room. It has AC, standard double cot, TV and a sofa and very little space to move around.

People here have the habit of having vadai along with tea like what we saw in Madurai. So room service got us tea and kaaravadai. The Kaaravadai was a look alike of bonda but the contents and taste was different. After that we freshened up and went down to have breakfast in the Saravana Bhava hotel just two building away. A small restaurant with just 4 tables in a confined space, provided average food with good service. Tamil breakfast items are only available but we could do with it. Went back to the hotel for a slumber. By 1 PM we got ready and set out for lunch. Most the restaurants that lead to the temple are brimming full. Finally got a table in Balaji's and had meals. Rice is good, sambhar seem to always have carrot in it. Rasam and Kozhambu also tastes different. Meals is priced at Rs. 120. The weather was very hot so we got back to the hotel deciding to go to the temple in the evening. Being a Sunday the temple had more pilgrims and even special entry queues were moving very slow.

By 5 PM we reached the temple premises and were told the pilgrims have moved out and the Rs.100 special darshan entry was free. Yes, it was free for 60% of the distance but to cover the rest of the 40% and get the darshan of Lord. Senthilandavar it took us nearly 1.5 hours. Men had to take off their shirts and vested before entering the sanctum. As soon you enter the inner sanctum, numerous priests surround you and offer to let you sit down for a darshan along with archanai, garlands and Prashad for Rs.500. We could say no to few of them but fell into the words of an elderly priest. Though we could sit down and worship the Lord for few minutes we ended up paying him Rs. 800, he was hell bent on that. This act of the priests makes its uncomfortable for us who come to pray to the God. Later we learnt that this act was asked to be stopped by law but was got it stayed and came back. Just as we got out of the temple on the beach side, all devotees were given hot Pongal prasadham.

We could not go around the praharam just outside the inner sanctum as the way is blocked. So one cannot appreciate the temple architecture. On the beach facing side of the temple, compound has been built. Around the premises numerous beggars are there to give the pilgrims some discomfort. Even though the footwears are to be taken care for free the in-charge demands money. None here is ready to accept any denomination below Rs.10 and there was one person demanding for Rs.20. People do all this even though at the temple premises, free food is provided from morning to evening. Huge queue stands outside the Annadhanam hall while the current batch is in-progress. On the other hand, the Pongal prasadam received are just thrown away or left abandoned in the temple compound. What an irony or is it the attitude of people?

Our next stop was at the temple beach. We sat on a boat at shore and witnessed people enjoying the beach - playing with the waves, playing with sand and enjoying food from the beach side counters. We had a different version of bhel puri. Though the day time was quiet hot here, the evening at the beach was chill with the breeze. From here we walked back to the hotel. Later at about 8 PM we went to Hotel Ramesh Iyer and had Dosa and Uthappam. Food was good here with sambhar being the same as earlier and 3 varieties of chutneys. From here we went to Anantha Grand to call it a day.