At Sankarankoil we were put up at Hamsa Heritage. By 4 PM we checked in there. This accommodation was suggested by a Friend and it lived up to the expectation. For Rs.1800 per night it provides a large room with the minimal amenities. We had tea and took a nap as we had driven from Madurai this morning. The weather at Sankarankoil was pleasant. As we neared Sankarankoil, it was cloudy and the breeze was welcoming. Post the nap we took a walk and had dinner at the hotel's restaurant called Meenthulli. Name suggested non-veg but it was a veg restaurant offering north Indian and Chinese items apart from local food. Many locals came in to get a flavour of non-local food here.
The next day, Wednesday saw us driving to Tenkasi after breakfast at Meenthulli. The KasiViswanathar temple at Tenkasi entrance was very different from the other temples we have seen so far in Tamilnadu. The huge gopuram can be reached only after climbing a hand full of steps. The width of the step is so big that it covers few foot to the right and few to the left of the gopuram giving a majestic view to the temple entrance. After leaving our footwear at the temple stand we went inside the temple. They would be closing the temple by 12 and had only 30 mins. There is no parking space provided by temple so we had to park in the surrounding street and rush in. The temple belongs to Pandya's time period, so looked ancient. You can experience fresh breeze as you enter the temple.
Tenkasi Kasi Viswanathar is said to be similar to the Viswanathar at Kasi in the North. Once we worshipped him we went to the adjacent temple to workship Goddess Ulagamman. We have to call it a temple and a separate shrine as it has its own compound walls and big like a temple on its own. As we go around the temple we see the shrines of Vinayakar and Murugar. Architecturally also inside the temple we see difference between the temples in the north and in the mid of Tamilnadu. By 12 we left the temple premises. Had lunch at the near by Hotel Anand. Meals was served hot and was tasty. Food was good and economical.
Our next spot was Kuttralam. Due to the rains in the adjacent states, the water was beyond limits in the falls till yesterday. As it was opened today, there was not much visitors. We went to the Main falls first after paying a entry fee of Rs.50. Water was falling magnanimously from that height. This is very near to the Kuttralanathar temple. Its as though the Lord is enjoying this stay just below the falls. Here we saw the Tenkasi Collector doing his supervising. Our next fall was the five falls which was for a entry fee of Rs. 50. The fee were collected for the car. This was crowded and had separate paths for Ladies and Gents so many preferred this falls. We then drove to the old falls, one has to climb few steps to this falls. On reaching the top, we can find separate dressing rooms and a seating area beyond which is the falls. There might have been a heavy falls yesterday, as we can see the marks on the rocks, today it was more controlled but cascading as silver. After spending some time here we moved to Thirumalai Kumaraswamy Temple.
Lord Murugar at Thirumalai stays on top of a hillock. We can drive all through to the top of the hill while there are two other options - steps to climb up the hill. At 4:30 PM the temple doors were opened. As we reached there bit earlier we went around the temple, the maintenance was good, renovation has been done recently. Rest rooms were available and clean. At 4 PM we entered the shrine and waited in the queue for 15 mins to get the Lord's darshan. Lord Kumaraswamy was in vibuthi kaapu and gave his blessings. After worshipping the God we left immediately to reach our hotel before sunset.
We had tea and got a quick refresh. at the accommodation. Then took an autorickshaw from the auto stand opposite the hotel for Rs.60 to reach the Sanakaramkoil - Sankaranarayanaswamy temple. As the name suggests the main God here is a combination of Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu. This is an age old temple sitting in the centre of the town whose name is derived from this temple's god. A pattu kutcheri was in progress in the temple premises on account of Marghazhi month. We saw God and Goddess being carried in pallakku inside the temple. After worshipping Lord Sankaranarayanaswamy in the form of Lingam we had to walk to the next temple to worship the Goddess Gomathiamman. This temple also houses the notes on how Poolithevar had sung in praise of this God while being arrested buy the Britishers during freedom struggle. The temple was sparsely populated due to late evening but we could not cover the full temple as its corridors were huge. Coming out of the temple we saw temple car enclosure.
We hired a autorickshaw back to Hamsa Heritage, had dinner at Meenthulli and went back to our room for the much needed slumber.
Comments